The Daughter She Gave Away

by Lisa Timoney

A completely heartbreaking story about the impossible dilemmas two mothers find themselves facing. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Amanda Prowse, and Emma Robinson. You’ve been keeping a secret from your daughter her whole life…

When Meg gets a terrible diagnosis, her only thought is for her family. How will her husband Simon and their beautiful, sweet-hearted, 14-year-old daughter Grace cope when she’s gone?

She also knows that she has to finally tell Grace the secret their family is built on. That, though Simon is Grace’s father, she isn’t Grace’s birth mother. Because Simon was married before, and his first wife, Cassie, hadn’t wanted to keep their baby.

So Simon and she had stepped up. They’d given Grace the life she deserved, full of light and happiness. But in the family’s darkest hour, Meg thinks Grace deserves the choice to meet the mother who gave her up… because she’s the only mother she will have left.

Could you risk destroying the family you’ve worked so hard to create, if it meant your child might get the chance to have a mother again? Even though you can’t know whether her birth mother will ever be able to offer her the love your beloved daughter deserves?

Readers love Lisa ‘A fabulous family drama… it kept me turning the pages from beginning to end’ Kerry Fisher, bestselling author of The Silent Wife

‘WOW. What a book. I could not put it down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘What a fantastic read…there are lots of secrets that come to life that make this a real page-turner…highly recommend!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘I was hooked from page one. Be prepared to laugh and cry throughout this book!’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘It kept me turning the pages. A story full of emotions, secrets and lies.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘I read this in one sitting – only stopping to eat. It is a beautifully written story.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A story of friendship and lies, betrayal, kindness and living life! Beautifully written and a joy to read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Beautiful! I loved this book from beginning to end. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘So heartwarming and full of hope.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘The perfect combination of drama and suspense. I loved the plot, characters, and emotional ending. I devoured it in less than two days.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

280 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Daughter She Gave Away, by Lisa Timoney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Meg has a lot going on, and some secrets to share with her daughter Grace. This was an emotional read, I really liked Meg, but did not care for Cassie at all.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive.
~Sir Walter Scott

Telling the initial lie often comes back to bite the person in the butt, creating a domino effect with terrible repercussions.

This story is very representative of this old adage. Cassie told her second husband, Luke, a huge lie when she met him before they married. Now, fourteen years later, the effects of that lie are about to wreak havoc on several lives. And, instead of coming clean about her lie, Cassie piles other lies on top of it. The web is getting more and more tangled.

This is one of the rare times I like the book (storyline) but I don't like the main characters. Cassie just digs herself in deeper rather than trying to fix things. Luke, her husband, is a psychologist. He just mutters psycho-babble every time there's any conflict in the household, rather than reacting emotionally.

It's a story full of drama and conflict. It was hard to figure out how everything would be resolved. And, even though I just said that I didn't like the main characters, I was able to empathize with them. I'll probably never know for sure, but I think that this might have been the author's goal.

The ending was dramatic and emotional. It was satisfying, it left the door wide open for hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Daughter She Gave Away by Lisa Timoney. This was such a powerful and emotional read. It was fast paced full of emotion and drama. It was centered around forgiving others for past mistakes and allowing for second chances to happen. You must face your past and only then can you move forward. I cried a couple of times throughout the book. This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. This one got a 4 star rating from me. Give it a try because it's well worth it.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

14 years of being Grace's mum Meg gets the devastating news that she has a terminal illness, sadly this means Meg and her husband Simon have to reveal the truth behind Grace's birth. Meg decides,to ease the pain, she will make a series of videos for Grace to watch.
Cassie, a teacher, married with a young son, is horrified to receive an email from her ex husband Simon. She's never told her husband about Grace and finds it hard now to open up to him, feeling that he will judge her for her decisions all those years ago. These secrets though threaten all that she holds dear and also impact on Grace's life
5 hours, thats all the time it took me to read this heartbreaking but wonderful novel by Lisa Timoney. It's such a powerful read, highlighting the need for self forgiveness, not only for Grace but for Meg as well. I couldn't put it down.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tear jerker family drama. A young mother decides to give her baby to her husband and the woman he had an affair with. She doesn’t want any further contact from them and wants the new “mom” to adopt the baby. Years down the road, the woman remarries and has another child with her new husband. She never shares the secret of her first baby. A tragic event happens and things begin to spiral downward. Good story with a happier ending than I thought possible.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Daughter She Gave Away by Lisa Timoney.
I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover and blurb. I got into it straight away. I love good family drama with plenty of suspense. I was hooked from page one. This did not disappoint me. This was cleverly written. I loved the plot. This is a new author for me. I will be keeping an eye on her. What a read. I read in two sittings. I love the short chapters. I definitely recommend this book.

[Natasha Giuliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books stirs lots of emotions. I felt anger with Cass for the way she was treated, devastated for her husband who is literally the nicest guy ever created in fiction possibly. my heart broke several times for Grace and to have to deal with so much at such a wobbly stage of life naturally without all the truths and death unfolding. enjoyed hearing the story from Cassie and Meg it was good to get both perspectives and although Cass was deeply affected, sometimes it's true you can't help who you fall inlove with.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Daughter She Gave Away has a strong emotional core and an intriguing premise centered around past mistakes, forgiveness, and second chances. Jessi Timoney does a good job portraying complex relationships, particularly between mothers and daughters, and the pain of long-buried secrets coming to light. Fans of family dramas and emotional storytelling may find enough here to enjoy the journey. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 2025.

[Katie Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Lisa Timoney and Blodwood Books Ltd. for allowing me to read this heartbreakingly beautiful ARC. I could not put it down, it was amazing.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an emotional rollercoaster this one was! For the reader and all the characters.

Cassie thought she had left her past behind her, settling down with her second husband and having a beautiful little boy, but out of the blue her ex husband contacts her, after 14 years apart. His second wife has died and he needs help, with the daughter Cassie gave birth to all those years before.

What follows is a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of loss, facing your demons from the past and finding a way to move forward.

The author is sensitive in her writing, fully considering how much turmoil young Grace is facing.
The emotions throughout feel very real, taking into account each person that this secret affects.

As you read more you come to care for all the characters, your initial feelings and judgments of them may well change as you get to know them more.

Cassie’s second husband Luke is very supportive and considerate but occasionally I’d have liked to see him step away from his professional side as a counsellor, see his raw emotions rather than practiced responses.

This is a fast paced read and could well be read in one sitting if you can make the time!
Definitely have a box of tissues at the ready though, especially for the last couple of chapters!

I’d love to know how all the characters are getting on a year or so down the line.

[Margie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a real tear jerker for me! The Daughter She Gave Away is a wonderful story about family, secrets and past mistakes and what these characters have to live through and experience to make things right. Or at least as close to right as possible after suffering from so much pain and hurt and the loss of loved ones. It’s a story that covers infidelity, depression and adoption. I really liked all the characters involved. Some readers might not feel that way about Simon and Meg but I personally can understand their pull and desire to be together. I can also understand Cassie’s depression because pain can really damage a person. It was Luke and his constant strength and guidance that I found to be enlightening and such a blessing to Cassie and all the characters actually. Although it was a sad story, it was uplifting in the end how everyone came together and united to do what was right for everyone involved. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. It’s my first time reading this author but I would really be interested in reading more by Lisa Timoney in the future. I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the arc. I’m giving this a much deserved 5 star rating!

[Sara (my_kindle_and_me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Daughter She Gave Away" by Lisa Timoney is an emotional rollercoaster that touched me deeply. I cried more than once. Timoney has a true gift for writing characters that feel incredibly real. Even when I didn’t agree with some of Cassie’s thoughts or decisions, it was impossible not to feel for her and her situation.

Her husband Luke tested my patience at times, yet he may have been exactly the support Cassie needed. Their son, while portrayed as highly sensitive (something I can relate to), had a few reactions that didn’t fully ring true for me, especially considering the kind of relationship he seemed to have with his parents.

The storyline involving Grace broke my heart. It was gut-wrenchingly unfair and incredibly moving. I did feel the resolution between certain characters came a little too easily, especially given the emotional weight of earlier events, but that didn’t take away from my overall experience.

Despite a few minor criticisms, I truly loved this book. It stayed with me long after the final page, and I would absolutely recommend it to a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Lisa Timoney for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Roz Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional read which I thought was written in a really sensitive a lovely way. Meg is dying and she uses her remaining time trying to explain the past to her 14-year-old daughter Grace.  Grace is not her biological daughter and Meg feels that now is the right time to give Grace the chance to know her birth mother as she may need her when Meg is no longer around.

Meg and Grace have such a wonderful relationship and bond. Meg's videos to her daughter are from the heart and full of emotion. The story unfolds from Meg telling Grace about the past and how she came to be her mum. We also get Cassie, Grace's birth mother sharing her memories of the past as she tries to build a relationship with the daughter she gave away.

The story explores grief, love, family relationships, second chances and mental health. It was well written and I felt well really got to know the characters. Meg just felt so pure in her love for Grace.

Thanks to the author, publisher, Netgalley and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, given to me by Boldwood Books via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An emotional and sometimes tragic tale about mothers, daughters, biological and non biological love, loss and grief, “The Daughter She Gave Away”, by Lisa Timoney, has also a powerful representation of mental health issues.
It was often distressing to watch the web of lies and deceit and its devastating effects, Cassie’s struggles with her past, her present, at home and at school.
I liked how the author depicted Cassie’s issues and how she finally dealt with them, even though often the levels of pain were disturbing (but real).
I also liked the fact she’s a teacher and how teachers, school, young people are portrayed. And how the kindness and sense of fairness of one person had such a positive impact.
Marital betrayal, (post partum?) depression, adoption, terminal illness, are some themes cleverly addressed in the story.
Luke was a saint, and sometimes a bit annoying; but I have my doubts whether Cassie would overcome so much without his unwavering guidance, knowledege and support.
It’s a well written and engaging story and I liked that there was closure and some sense of redemption and peace in the end.

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional read.
You’ve been keeping a secret from your daughter for her whole life when Meg gets a terrible diagnosis her only thought is for her family. How will her husband Simon and their beautiful sweet hearted 14-year-old daughter Grace cope when she’s gone? She knows the time has come to finally tell Grace the secret about her birth. Meg is not her real mother Simon was married before to Cassie and Cassie is Grace’s birth mother.

Meanwhile Cassie has been keeping a secret from her husband. He knows she was pregnant before but he believes her baby was still born. He does not know that baby lived to become Grace, or that Cassie gave her up for adoption.

The secret could devastate both families

This story is told through the videos Meg leaves after her death for Grace as she tells the story of how her and Simon met and became Grace‘s parents. It is also told from the perspective of Cassie in the present day and how she deals with the truth being revealed.

[Sudasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel of despair and hope, 'The Daughter She Gave Away' is my first novel by Lisa Timoney. Narrated in the third person by the two main female characters, we follow the stories of Meg and Cassie as they are forced to make decisions that have ripple effects on all those around them. We first meet Meg, who, after she is diagnosed with a fatal illness, decides that it's time to come clean to her daughter, Grace, about secrets long withheld from her. The secret? She is not her biological mother - she and her husband, Simon, were given full custody when his ex-wife, Cassie, was no longer able to take care of her. However, after Meg's death, Simon reaches out to Cassie in hopes that she will become a source of comfort for Grace. For Cassie, who has since moved on and has a new husband and son, this news is devastating, as she has no desire to revisit the dark times of her past. What follows is an emotional ride, as readers are taken on a rollercoaster of feelings ranging from devastation to happiness.

What I enjoyed most about this book is its ability to evoke a range of emotions from me - sadness, heartache, anger, and even joy. Timoney wrote in such a manner that I could not help but feel for these characters as if they were real.

That being said, it was quite hard for me to actually like most of the characters. Meg, Simon and especially Cassie were all unlikable on various levels. While I have never personally struggled with post-partum depression or any such illness, I cannot imagine abandoning my child just because I was cheated on!

All in all, I give this novel a rating of 3.5 stars - while the feelings I experienced while reading it were quite visceral, there were many instances where I was unable to connect to the characters besides the children, However, I do recommend this to anyone looking for a read to unclog them emotionally.

*A great many thanks to Boldwood Books, Lisa Timoney, and NetGalley for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Daughter She Gave Away.
This book was a very emotional read. It deals with depression and keeping secrets, among other things. It was a hard read at some points, but I also did not want to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind crying while they read.

[Emma Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her latest women’s fiction, Lisa Timoney presents the reader with two flawed and complex women - forced to confront the consequences of decisions made years before - and a vulnerable teenage girl whose world has been torn apart.

As the mother of a 14 year old, I found Grace’s circumstances heartbreaking. Timoney’s writing is - as always - perfectly phrased and full of compassion and the novel takes the reader on an emotional exploration of motherhood, making you question what you might have done in their place.

Another great read from Lisa Timoney and one that would make for a great bookclub discussion!

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I spent so many years hating her. And all that time she was just a normal woman who once did a bad thing.’

My first @netgalley ARC read ✨

I think even from the title you know this is gonna be a sad story - and that’s exactly what it was. Painful and deeply sad with also a full circle moment.
Two women who almost punish themselves for one single moment in time.
One thing I 100% learnt from this story I would not be able to have a husband who is a counsellor.
‘Counsellor Luke could be equally perceptive and annoying’
“That’s what you’d say to a client - I’m not a client”

Nice quick chapters , TWO POV going back and forth showing two sides to a story.
Definitely recommend this book

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed out on snagging an ARC for this book, so I was practically counting down the days until its release. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait! This emotional rollercoaster will have your heart aching and your mind racing with the question: What would you do in Cassie's shoes?

The story follows two mothers, Meg and Cassie, face with a heartbreaking dilemma when Meg receives a serious diagnosis. Concerned about her husband, Simon, and their 14-year-old daughter, Grace, coping with her imminent absence, Meg feels compelled to reveal a long-held secret: she is not Grace's biological mother. Grace's birth mother, Cassie, had given her up, and now, in light of Meg’s condition, Meg believes Grace deserves the chance to meet her. This raises the question of whether risking the family they've built together is worthwhile for Grace to possibly connect with her biological mother, who may not be able to provide the love Meg has.

Cassie is a young mom with a complicated past and secrets that she fears could tear her family apart. But don’t worry—she’s not just a bundle of angst; she’s relatable and fully developed, making her struggles feel like you’re watching a friend’s life unfold right before your eyes. Sure, there are a few less-than-likable characters in the mix, but let’s be real: people change, circumstances shift, and if you don’t give someone a chance, you might miss out on a beautiful transformation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cassie's emotional journey. The choices she faces are anything but easy, and as the story unfolds, we gradually learn about her motivations and the long-term consequences of her decisions. It’s a tough road, and while some new mothers do struggle—let’s face it, it’s a real issue—Cassie’s story is a poignant reminder of the importance of seeking help.

And can we take a moment to appreciate Cassie's husband? He’s the voice of reason, the smart cookie who provides the perfect support for someone navigating Cassie's tumultuous circumstances. Seriously, he’s the kind of partner we all wish we had!

If you enjoy heartwarming tales that start off with a gut-wrenching punch but gradually evolve into something hopeful, then this book is for you. It’s a gripping, fast-paced read that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you turning pages late into the night. I’m so glad I carved out some time in my ARC backlog madness to dive into this gem. I wholeheartedly recommend this tear-jerker of a read!

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just start out by saying this book was gut wrenching. Right from the start we are stabbed in the heart and filled with emotion and it never lets up. In my mind that is what makes this book so powerful to be able to attach to a main character after only a few pages isn't an easy task however that is the kind of character that Lisa wrote and I loved it. This was a very complex family drama story that left me stunned. I loved the characters and the whole plot itself. If you do check out this book get ready for gut punches and tissues as both are inevitable. When our main character (Meg) is diagnosed with cancer she decides that it is time for her to come clean to her daughter, Grace, and confess a big secret that she has been hiding her whole life. As it seems Meg isn't Graces biological mother. It turns out that Grace's father was married before and she is a result of that marriage so Meg decides that Grace should get the chance to meet her real mother. There was lots of different points of view in this story, Grace, Meg, and the bio mom Cassie, and while as complex as this story could have gotten it was very easy to follow. There was so much going on but I loved seeing everyone's situation and how they reacted and why they chose to do what they did even thought their actions weren't always precieved correctly. What I also loved the most was how we got so many different perspectives and each one had very different, all be it justifiable reactions towards the situation that they were in. An interesting thing with this book is that our "villains" of this story are actually good people and did what they thought was best there was no one with ill intentions even if their actions weren't quite honourable.This was a very strong plot and even stronger characters but I loved how our author really made us feel for all of the characters. A very emotional family drama novel that I believe will touch every type of reader. Great read, however I do suggest having a box of tissues nearby if you are going to read this because you will need them for sure. I loved the power and strength that was shown behind the characters. Great read and I can't wait for everyone to be talking about this book.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daughter She Gave Away by Lisa Timoney is a heartbreaking tale of love and loss that centres around a thought provoking moral quandary and the lasting consequences of decisions made in the moment.
The book opens with Meg, a woman making a video for her daughter Grace as she faces her last few weeks following a terminal diagnosis. Grace is beloved by her parents, Meg and Simon, but she does not know that they have been keeping a secret from her for years, she does not know that Meg is not her biological mother. That would be Cassie, Simon's first wife.
Cassie's life is thrown into turmoil when she opens an email from Simon letting her know that Meg has died and Grace knows the truth. He has reached out hoping that Cassie will agree to meet with Grace despite her having terminated all parental rights because she did not want her daughter. This would be difficult enough but in the intervening years Cassie has remarried and had a son, and neither of them know that Grace exists, instead Cassie told her husband Luke that Grace was stillborn. Trapped in a web of her own lies she risks destroying her marriage if she comes clean but can she turn away from a young woman in distress?
This is a very emotional read, and I appreciated that the characters of Meg and Cassie both felt quite real and grounded, both had flaws and issues that meant they were believable and relatable, even if they were sometimes not very likeable. The focus is very much on Cassie and her story for much of the book and seeing how her character grows over the course of the story kept me reading. I thought the portrayal of her life as a teacher was spot on and it shone a real light on how difficult that job can be at times. Seeing her career and marriage implode as she struggled to come to terms with her past choices made for really compelling reading and meant that I devoured this book. I have no hesitation in recommending it to readers who enjoy a good family drama.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Daughter She Gave Away
✍🏻Lisa Timoney
Blurb:
A completely heartbreaking story about the impossible dilemmas two mothers find themselves facing. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Amanda Prowse, and Emma Robinson. You’ve been keeping a secret from your daughter her whole life…

When Meg gets a terrible diagnosis, her only thought is for her family. How will her husband Simon and their beautiful, sweet-hearted, 14-year-old daughter Grace cope when she’s gone?

She also knows that she has to finally tell Grace the secret their family is built on. That, though Simon is Grace’s father, she isn’t Grace’s birth mother. Because Simon was married before, and his first wife, Cassie, hadn’t wanted to keep their baby.

So Simon and she had stepped up. They’d given Grace the life she deserved, full of light and happiness. But in the family’s darkest hour, Meg thinks Grace deserves the choice to meet the mother who gave her up… because she’s the only mother she will have left.

My Thoughts
A tear jerker family drama. A young mother decides to give her baby to her husband and the woman he had an affair with. She doesn’t want any further contact from them and wants the new “mom” to adopt the baby. Years down the road, the woman remarries and has another child with her new husband. She never shares the secret of her first baby. A tragic event happens and things begin to spiral downward. Good story with a happier ending than I thought possible.
I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover and blurb. I love good family drama with plenty of suspense. I was hooked from page one. This did not disappoint me. This was cleverly written. I loved the plot. This is a new author for me. I will be keeping an eye on her. What a read. I read in two sittings. I love the short chapters. I definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Author Lisa Timoney for the complimentary ARC.
#NetGalley
#BoldwoodBooks
#LisaTimoney
#TheDaughterSheGaveAway

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gut punch of emotions this was!! This is quite a heartbreaking and complex story about two flawed women with a past and a child who links them. Told in dual POV, Meg is dying and in her last vow to the girl she has raised as her own for 14 years, records a series of videos to tell Grace the truth about her biological mum and the circumstances surrounding that. Cassie, on the other hand, is now living the life she has always dreamed of and refuses to acknowledge the past (and child) she has left behind... until she receives an email from her ex-husband asking for help. She is the most complex between the characters and whilst I could understand the struggles she was dealing with and feel some empathy towards her situation, but the more her side of things progressed I started to find her quite irritating. At times, she was really heartless and just awful. Her husband Luke was no better with his constant counsellor attitude, and it sometimes felt like a self-help guide when he was around. Despite the betrayal and the little we see, I found Meg's chapters quite emotional, and I really liked her. She was raw, honest, and seemed to adore Grace as if she were biologically hers. I felt really sorry for Grace and couldn't help my heart break for her, especially giving the timing they chose to burden her with all these revelations. It think would have been interesting to the plot to get a small glimpse of her POV but I understood the point the story was trying to make about it being important to deal with the consequences of your past and being able to face your demons, in order to completely be free to forgive. On a whole, it was a strong, hard-hitting book, and I can imagine, sensitively, that this could actually be someone's reality in the world, rather than purely a work of fiction. I'd recommend getting your tissues at the ready for this one.

[Isabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥹 Emotional | 💪 Powerful | ☺️ Honest | 🇬🇧 UK (Bromley)

A deeply emotional story about love, sacrifice, and the cost of secrets.

The Daughter She Gave Away is a book that surprised me with its emotional depth and raw honesty. It’s not just about the love between a mother and a child—it’s about what defines that love, and what happens when the truth threatens everything that’s been built on silence.

When Meg learns she’s dying, her first thought is of Grace, the 14-year-old daughter she adores. The pain of knowing she won’t be there to watch her grow up is unbearable—but worse is the secret she knows she can’t take to the grave. Grace isn’t her biological child. Cassie, Simon’s first wife, is the woman who gave birth to her… and walked away.

The narrative alternates between Meg’s emotional farewell and Cassie’s unraveling present. Cassie, now a teacher, wife, and mother of a young son, is blindsided by an email from Simon. When he reaches out after Meg’s death, asking her to meet Grace, everything Cassie’s kept hidden starts to unravel. Not only does she have to face the daughter she gave away, but she must also confront the lies she’s told her family.

Told in alternating perspectives between Meg and Cassie, the dual POV structure works beautifully, giving insight into both sides of this heartbreaking situation. The short, punchy chapters made it hard to stop reading—I devoured it in two evening sittings.

Cassie’s journey is especially compelling. She’s not always easy to like, but she’s real—flawed, scared, trying to do what’s right even when she doesn’t know what that looks like anymore. Watching her marriage, career, and sense of self buckle under the weight of long-buried guilt was painful, but also powerful. I really appreciated the depiction of her work as a teacher and how that part of her life tied into the story.

Timoney doesn’t shy away from hard themes—adoption, postnatal mental health, betrayal, terminal illness—but handles them with grace and a deep sense of empathy. The emotional weight is heavy at times, but it’s balanced by beautifully rendered moments of redemption, forgiveness, and growth. . Luke, Cassie’s husband, was sometimes frustratingly perfect, but his role as a grounding force was essential.

This is a book about impossible choices, the families we make, and the ones we leave behind. There were moments I teared up, moments I wanted to shake the characters, and moments that reminded me how resilient the human heart can be.

If you’re a fan of emotional, character-driven family dramas with complex women at their center, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Big thanks to Boldwood and NetGalley for the pre approved advance copy—I’m honestly not sure I would’ve chosen this on my own, but I’m so glad I got the chance to read it. Beautiful, poignant, and filled with empathy.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very emotional book, and yet for reasons I’m not quite sure of, it never had me reaching for the tissues. I’ve shed tears over many a book, yet despite its very emotive content, not this time. Nevertheless even though I thought it perhaps a bit overly tragic for my taste I did enjoy it very much.

The key thing, I was never bored reading it. I always wanted to know what would happen next, it moves along at quite a pace. I really liked Cassie’s story and character. She’s a high school teacher and as well as her ever increasing problems at home, mainly trying to keep secrets from a husband who values honesty highly, and who she loves very much, she has her fair share of problems at school too.

As it says in the blurb, Cassie gave up her daughter when she was still a baby. I don’t think I’d be giving too much away, as I seem to recall the reader gets to know pretty early into the book that Cassie’s second husband doesn’t know about her daughter Grace. He knows some of Cassie’s past but Cassie has lied by omission, always meaning to tell her husband the whole story, but never quite getting round to it. So there are moral dilemmas to overcome and this forms a lot of the basis of the story.

I enjoyed it very much, the writing, the characterisations, the pace of the story and the different threads running through. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and would definitely like to read more. I also found out that she writes different genres under different names. I hear she has a new psychological thriller due for publication soon and I wouldn’t mind reading that when I get chance. The Eyewitness by Naomi Williams, out in April.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m trying to read all of the books by this author. Her topics are so relevant. She crafts beautiful, but heart wrenching stories with real world problems. She tugs at the readers heart, and while some of the events in each story are tragic, she also writes with enough suspense that you want to keep going and can’t stop. Some of her books I have read in a few hours because I didn’t want to put the book down, but this one took me a couple days because I needed to read and process. The plot line is very close to home. I understand not being able to take care of a child. I understand the pain of giving up. I understand the conversations that need to happen when that child wants to connect with you or when the relationship with her mom is not the best. I understand all of those things, so Grace‘s story really got to my heart. I understand how awful it would be to be cheated on and so I would also resent Meg. I understand all the pain that Grace would feel, and Alfie. Finding out my own children had a sibling was pretty devastating for them until they understood all the facts. Many of this author stories have been focused on women and their children, their relationships with their children, giving up a child or how to figure out the relationship with a mother. she writes so well and personally that it makes me wonder how much of this is part of her story and part of her past, and if so, I give kudos for being so real with her readers. Who knows. She definitely got to my heart. I could not wait for this book to become available the other day.

[Kecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get the tissues ready for this one! Meg is dying from cancer with not much time left, so makes a series of videos to tell her 14 year old daughter, Grace, the truth: that she and Grace’s dad, Simon, fell in love while he was still married to a woman named Cassie — and that she is not Grace’s biological mother.

The family drama follows more of Grace’s bio mom, Cassie’s life, from the moment when Simon reaches out with the news of Meg’s passing and asks for help with Grace and her emotional state.

Cassie was a mixed bag of emotions for me. She never fully healed from the affair, and those unchecked emotions spill over into her current life as well as onto Grace when she shows up to meet Cassie. She was so unlikable at times, playing the victim and making so many emotionally-driven choices/mistakes before FINALLY taking responsibility and realizing that her actions were affecting more than just her.

I wasn’t always crazy about Luke either since he was so overbearing with his counselor jargon. But I know he was just trying to help Cassie, and then later continue helping her while dealing with his own feelings of being lied to.

Overall, I like the way the story wrapped up, and that Grace found the love and support she had been looking for after everything she had been through. It was definitely a hard read at times, but the ending made it worth it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Meg gets a terrible diagnosis, her only thought is for her family. How will her husband Simon and their beautiful sweet-hearted fourteen-year-old daughter Grace cope when she's gone? She also knows that she finally has to tell Grace the secret their family is built on. That, though Simon is Grace's father, she isn't Grace's birth mother. Because Simon was married before, and his first wife Cassie, hadn't wanted to keep their baby.But now Meg thinks Grace deserves the choice to meet the mother who gave her up.

Meg has been Grace's mother for fourteen years. Now she has a terminal illness, and Meg and her husband Simon decide it's time for Grace to learn the truth. Cassie, Grace's birth mum, is married with a young son. She receives an email from her ex-husband Simon, but Cassie has never told her husband about Simon or Grace.

This is an emotional read. I found myself wanting to give them all a big hug for what they were all going through. This is a gripping, fast-paced and sensitively written story.

Published 13th May 1025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LisaTimoney for my ARC of #TheDaughterSheGaveAway in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Meg gets a terminal diagnosis, she knows it is time to tell her and Simon's 14-year-old daughter the truth. Simon is her biological father. But Meg, who Grace believed to be her biological mother her whole life, is not. When Meg dies, Grace begins to spiral into depression and Simon reaches out to Grace's biological mother Cassie for support. Cassie had decided to walk away from Grace and Simon for, what she believed, would be a benefit to all when Grace was only a baby. But Simon reaching out, unearths past issues for Cassie and new ones for Grace who is trying to move forward in her new life.

I have read two books by Lisa Timoney writing as Kate Storey and have loved them both. When I saw this one, I automatically signed up to read the eARC and was lucky enough to be approved. And boy, was I not disappointed!

This story was so emotionally moving and beautifully written. The story flowed so smoothly despite flipping between multiple time periods as well as Meg and Cassie's perspectives. There are so many topics covered in this book including, but not limited to - depression/mental health, secret keeping and the chance to move forward from our past decisions. I would highly recommend picking this book up! But be prepared for all the feels.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Lisa Timoney for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.