My Mother's Photograph: A completely gripping and heartbreaking page-turner

by Laura Sweeney

Turning towards the lighthouse, Sarah wipes a tear from her eye as she reads the inscription on the faded photograph. Will this discovery tear her family apart for good?

After running from her mother’s seaside cottage ten years ago following a devastating loss, Sarah returns to the village of Dovecote to fulfil her father’s dying wish. As she opens the gate of her childhood home, long-buried emotions rise to the surface. Having drifted from the close-knit community, she can’t bear to face those she hurt when she left…

When Sarah dislodges a loose floorboard in her mother’s bedroom, she finds a yellowed envelope filled with photos from the Second World War. Turning one over, her eyes widen at the two women pictured in her mother’s garden. Why were these photos kept hidden? And why does one of the women look so familiar?

Clutching the delicate photograph, Sarah turns to the one person who can help her make sense of what she’s her estranged husband, Rob. Staring into his kind, sapphire-blue eyes as they unravel a decades-old mystery, can Sarah find the courage to reveal why she really left Dovecote all those years ago?

But just as Sarah and Rob begin to rekindle their relationship, a heart-wrenching revelation about Sarah’s mother forces her to make an impossible decision. Will sharing this painful secret with Rob bring them back together? Or is Sarah destined to keep running from Dovecote forever?

A totally gorgeous and emotional read that will reveal long-lost family secrets and show you it’s never too late to forgive and find love again. Perfect for anyone who loves Susanne O’Leary, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe.

This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Readers are loving My Mother’s Photograph :

‘If I could give this book more than 5 stars then I would… A truly beautiful, emotional and uplifting read from start to finish… Tears came to my eyes. This story will literally pull on your heartstrings in so many ways.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Stunning… Amazing… I didn’t want to put it down but then I also didn’t want it to end when it did… Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heartbreaking… Stayed with me long after I turned the last page… Wow… Charming… Beautiful… Love this… Don’t read it in public unless you’re okay with people watching you sob into your cardigan.’ bookscoffeebrews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I love these books… Excellent. You can’t put it down. So many twists… Brilliant.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘It’s so wonderful to be back in Dovecote, meeting old friends and getting to know new ones… Heartbreaking… Beautiful.

Genres: Historical Fiction

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting dual timeline account of wartime life in a small seaside town. As readers hop between the early 1940s and 2017, the story of two generations unravels, spilling long-held secrets.

If a character-centered story stuffed with secrets and same-sex relationships interests you, this will be one you’ll want to read. Personally, I was frustrated with this being the second book in a row (read The Chocolate Tin) with homosexuality hidden from the synopsis. My frustration is reflected in my 3-stars awarded. More transparency and less plot in the synopsis, please!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Angela Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and though it was part of the Dovecote series it was perfectly possible to read as a standalone book.

Did I enjoy it? To be honest I’m not sure - Sarah the main character was flawed. She has had an horrendous experience losing her daughter Faith to a terrible accident while she was on some rocks with her father. Sarah was with her friend Heather at the time.
Sarah was particularly irksome in my view - if could have shaken her I would. She had ‘run away’ after Faith's funeral and seemed unable to accept either that her death was an accident or that others also grieved for the little girl.

I’m not sure if I was influenced by this being the second book I had read in a row where hidden homosexuality played a large part of the narrative. There were obviously secrets long held in Sarah’s family - partly revealed by the accidental uncovering of some photos under a floorboard of the lady that was revealed as Sarah’s grandmother - a revelation to Sarah’s mother Janice. Her father also had secrets of his own - though it was his death that had sent Sarah back to Dovecote
Along the way there was the history behind the house Sarah and her sister Daphne had been raised in and the Seaside cafe run by Janice.

Although easy to read all these relationships made keeping track rather difficult. Every time I write a character’s name I go on to think about X Y and Z who also appeared. Dora plays an important part but so does Martin - but a review doesn’t need a repeat of the book in its entirety.


Not sure if I would seek out more in the series if they are all as convoluted as this one.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet book which was a dual timeline. I found the story was well written but at times it was slow and a little tedious. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author caught my attention right from the prologue and the opening chapter. In the prologue we have a young woman, Rose, leaving her house in Dovecote for the last time and realising she had left some photos behind that she hoped would never be found. In chapter one, we have another young woman, Sarah, reluctantly returning to her home town having promised her dad to scatter his ashes there. She hasn’t seen her mum for ten years and returning to the town after ten years away is obviously bringing back bad memories. Both these chapters intrigued me and made me want to read on to find out what had happened.

I enjoyed the way the narrative moved from past to present. Gradually we find out what made Sarah run from Dovecote and it really was a heart-breaking reason. However, she was at times difficult to warm to with her prickly and defensive shell. She had hurt so many people when she left and cut all ties that it was easy to understand why many were not pleased to see her return. It was lovely though that some people were always there for her, such as her mum and some of her friends.

Rose is easier to warm to. She arrives in Dovecote as a newly-wed full of optimism and hope for the future, but her marriage doesn’t turn out as she’d expected at all. When her husband is posted to Scotland, she’s relieved more than anything. Their daughter is her world and she’s devastated to have to have her evacuated for safety during the war. I admired Rose’s spirit and was so pleased as she blossomed when love entered her life. Even though her husband seemed cold and stand-offish to his new wife, we come to realise why he behaved that way too and perhaps even to forgive him.

I really enjoyed reading about Pebble Cottage and the Seaside Café which linked both parts of the story. They felt like characters in themselves. I particularly enjoyed reading about the wartime experiences of Rose and the community of Dovecote. This is the third book the author has set in Dovecote which seems such a charming town. I should mention that it can easily be read as a standalone although previous readers will no doubt spot characters from the earlier books.

My Mother’s Photograph is an emotional and engaging story about secrets and sexuality, grief and guilt, forgiveness and love.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more than 5 stars then I would. This was a truly beautiful emotional and uplifting read from start to finish.

The story was so very well written with great characters. One of my favourite sort of stories to read is historical WW2 with a dual timeline which this was. Both timelines, one in 1940 through to 1945 and one in the present 2017, flowed nicely and came together seamlessly throughout and at the end.

As for the ending, well near the end of the story, I’m not ashamed to admit that tears came to my eyes. I literally had to wipe my eyes a couple of times so as to be able to read the words on the pages. This story will literally pull on your heartstrings in so many ways. Just beautiful and emotional.

One thing I will say, and I’ll not use their full names as don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but I am so glad that Sarah found her ending with ‘H’ and not ‘R’.

This is book 3 of a series, but they can be read as standalone, I can totally vouch for that as I have read all three books to the series so far. I’m truly hoping there will be many more books to this Dovecote series.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah is on a very hard journey. She left her small town 10 years before, has come back and realizes the devastation she left behind. When her daughter was killed in an accident, Sarah just fell apart. She left her home, her husband, family and friends. Now she is back and hopes to avoid pretty much everyone. Her father's dying wish was for Sarah to tell her mother that he was sorry. But immediately, her car breaks down, and her husband is the person who comes to fix it. Then her mother hurts her ankle and of course her sister blames Sarah. Sarah discovers some pictures and is surprised to find that it is pictures of her grandmother. Only it isn't the grandmother she knew. Who is the real grandmother? Her mother, Janice, believes that she was the daughter of the man and woman who raised her. How can they find the truth? Will Sarah figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life?

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the first two books in the Dovecote Cottage Series, I was excited to read Laura’s third installment, My Mother’s Photograph, and it did not disappoint. The writing was beautiful from beginning to end, making it an emotional and captivating read. The dual timeline masterfully wove together a mystery with family secrets, love, loss, and forgiveness. This novel can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. Highly recommended with a truly beautiful ending.
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#MyMothersPhotograph #NetGalley.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story with fully developed characters and a story that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Reading about Janice's ancestors and her children's lives as adults and how their lives become intertwined kept me interested from beginning to end.
A picture is worth 1000 words definitely holds true in this book.

[Leeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a small seaside village of Dovecote during the 1940’s and 2017.
At the beginning of WW2, Rose marries Martin and moves to Pebble Cottage at Dovecote. Rose runs a café and her husband; Martin works as a telegraph operator.

In 2017, Sarah Portman returns to Dovecote to spread her father’s ashes below the lighthouse at Dovecote. Sarah had left Dovecote many years earlier and hoped never to return.

When her campervan breaks down and she is stranded for a few days, Sarah decides to make amends with her mother, Jannice. During her short stay at Dovecote, Sarah is forced to face her past, her grief and her secrets.

Sarah’s mother lives in Pebble Cottage, and Sarah stays with her mother, while moving some furniture Sarah discovers some old photographs under a loose floorboard. One of the photographs is a baby called Jannice with the same birthdate as Sarah’s mother.

This was about two families and their secrets and grief. Full of twists and turns as the mystery of who is baby Janice unfolds.

I loved the interactions between characters and how their stories were revealed.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for a chance to read and review this E-Book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Donna Coffey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a tad disappointed...

In the "gay" storyline. I didn't expect that at all. (Sorry, I'm old I guess). But it was done in good taste without "too much information" like you see all over tv these days so even in my "old people" opinion lol it didn't really affect the story line that much. I'm just an old codger I guess lol

[Valerie McGurk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of the Dovecote series but is also an easy stand alone read. Sarah returns to Dovecote to carry out her father’s dying wish. While she is there she finds an envelope containing war photographs. Who are they and what does it mean for her family. An emotional page turner.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: My Mother’s Photograph by Laura Sweeney
Published by Bookouture – thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Some books sneak up on you quietly, tapping your shoulder with a gentle “Hey, I’ve got a story to tell,” and then proceed to emotionally body-slam you in chapter four. That’s exactly what Laura Sweeney’s My Mother’s Photograph did to me. I sat down expecting a cozy, heartfelt escape to the British seaside, and instead found myself tangled in a haunting blend of family secrets, lost love, and wartime revelations—plus a few well-placed gut punches disguised as plot twists.

The story opens with Sarah, who returns to her childhood home in the picturesque village of Dovecote after a ten-year absence. She’s there to fulfill her dying father’s final wish, which already sounds like a recipe for emotional excavation. The village is the same, of course—sleepy, salty, gossipy—but Sarah is not. She’s carrying the weight of grief, guilt, and one colossal secret she’s been pretending doesn’t exist.

Enter the old cottage, still frozen in time. Enter the loose floorboard (because of course there’s a loose floorboard—it’s a literary law). And beneath it? A yellowed envelope containing photos from the Second World War. One of them shows two women standing in her mother’s garden. One of them looks familiar—eerily familiar. Cue dramatic music and cue me yelling, “What did you do, Mom?!”

What follows is a slow, emotionally loaded unraveling of the past, made all the more poignant by Sarah reconnecting with her estranged husband, Rob. Let’s talk about Rob. Rob is the kind of character who would absolutely be cast as the quiet-but-loyal carpenter in a Hallmark movie. He’s thoughtful, infuriatingly patient, and of course, still heartbreakingly in love with Sarah, despite her messy exit from both the village and their marriage.

Together, they set out to make sense of the photograph, and in doing so, start unpacking the story of Sarah’s mother—a woman who turns out to have had a far more complex and painful past than anyone in Dovecote could have guessed. The twist, when it comes, is less about shock and more about emotional truth. And it lands. Hard.

One of the lines that stayed with me long after I turned the last page was:
“Some truths don’t get easier with time. They just get heavier to carry.”
That one line alone could summarize the book’s entire emotional core. Secrets, buried in the name of love or shame, don’t disappear. They sit there, under the floorboards of our lives, waiting to be stepped on.

Now, let’s be real: this book could have easily veered into melodrama. There’s a long-lost photograph, a crumbling marriage, WWII flashbacks, tearful reunions, and a lighthouse (yes, there’s a lighthouse—it’s practically a character). But Sweeney avoids the cheese. The emotion feels grounded, not manipulative. The characters feel flawed but real. Even when Sarah frustrates you (and she will), you get her.

The writing itself is warm, elegant, and smart. Sweeney balances quiet moments with just enough drama to keep the pages turning. It’s the kind of book you read with a blanket and a glass of wine, muttering things like, “Oh no, no, no” and “Oh wow, that makes sense now.” There’s wit, too—subtle, but it’s there. And a certain self-awareness that makes the heavier scenes easier to bear.

As for the setting? Dovecote is charming, almost deceptively so. You’ll want to move there until you realize it’s a village where everyone knows everything except the things that matter. It has that signature British coastal vibe: beautiful on the outside, but full of history you’d better be ready to confront.

If you’re a fan of authors like Susanne O’Leary or Debbie Macomber, or if you just like stories where the past refuses to stay put and the future depends on a very messy, very human kind of forgiveness, you’ll love this. There’s romance, but it’s not about falling in love—it’s about choosing love. Again. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just maybe don’t read it in public unless you’re okay with people watching you sob into your cardigan.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 well-earned, heart-squeezing stars)
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[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was told with dual timelines. I enjoyed the story for the most part. I found myself wanting to shake Sarah thru out the entire book. There’s a few surprises in this book too.