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The Child We Lost
What would you do if your lost child came back? ❤️ An emotional family drama, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis. ❤️ She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say 'All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!' But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this... The day we lost Josh, a part of me broke. He was only three-and-a-half years old. His twin, Ruby, suddenly an only child.
We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh – alive – I assume she’s struggling more than we realised. It’s her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go.
But then I see him too.
A boy with Josh’s same pale blue eyes, the silvery-white hair that falls across his forehead in exactly the same way. It’s more than a similarity. This boy could be Josh’s twin.
How can that be possible?
I know I have to listen to my rational brain, that this must be my grief messing with my mind. But I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going on. Who is this boy? And does someone know more than they’re letting on?
A gripping, emotional page-turner about loss, love and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Praise for Sheila 'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo Bartlett
‘Loved this book!!!!!… Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!!… I definitely recommend it!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood… I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion…. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy…. Grabbed my heart… Phenomenally emotive.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way… Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact… Truly captivating.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh – alive – I assume she’s struggling more than we realised. It’s her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go.
But then I see him too.
A boy with Josh’s same pale blue eyes, the silvery-white hair that falls across his forehead in exactly the same way. It’s more than a similarity. This boy could be Josh’s twin.
How can that be possible?
I know I have to listen to my rational brain, that this must be my grief messing with my mind. But I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going on. Who is this boy? And does someone know more than they’re letting on?
A gripping, emotional page-turner about loss, love and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Praise for Sheila 'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo Bartlett
‘Loved this book!!!!!… Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!!… I definitely recommend it!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood… I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion…. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy…. Grabbed my heart… Phenomenally emotive.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way… Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact… Truly captivating.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2026
About the author
Sheila Norton
63 books172 followersWinner of the RoNAs 'Christmas and Winter Seasonal Award' novel, 2022, with 'Winter at Cliff's End Cottage'.
I live in Chelmsford, UK, with my husband Alan. We have three married daughters and six grandchildren. I've been writing ever since I was a little girl, and finally achieved my lifelong ambition to have a novel published, with the acceptance in 2002 of 'The Trouble With Ally'. Prior to this, I'd been having short stories published in women's magazines for about ten years.
My most recent books are stories set in the English county of Devon, and most include pets in the story! They are feel-good contemporary fiction.
I worked for most of my life as a medical secretary. I now write full-time. I like to relax by reading, walking,swimming, and seeing my family and friends.
I am passionate about my writing and love to hear from my readers. I am also happy to give talks to writers' groups and others, and book signings, in my local area.
I live in Chelmsford, UK, with my husband Alan. We have three married daughters and six grandchildren. I've been writing ever since I was a little girl, and finally achieved my lifelong ambition to have a novel published, with the acceptance in 2002 of 'The Trouble With Ally'. Prior to this, I'd been having short stories published in women's magazines for about ten years.
My most recent books are stories set in the English county of Devon, and most include pets in the story! They are feel-good contemporary fiction.
I worked for most of my life as a medical secretary. I now write full-time. I like to relax by reading, walking,swimming, and seeing my family and friends.
I am passionate about my writing and love to hear from my readers. I am also happy to give talks to writers' groups and others, and book signings, in my local area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 14, 2026
Not sure why this has such good reviews and is heralded as perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, nothing like a Jodi Picoult book!
March 2, 2026
Norton is a new-to-me author and The Child We Lost was a great introduction to her writing style.
It's a heartwarming family drama with a touch of thrill. Themes included love, loss and grief (child loss).
Books that involve children always seem to hit that little bit harder with me. It put my emotions well and truly through the wringer.
It had a cast of great characters both credible and easy to emotionally invest in, and an immersive plot that certainly left me with food for thought.
What would you do if your lost child came back?
It's a heartwarming family drama with a touch of thrill. Themes included love, loss and grief (child loss).
Books that involve children always seem to hit that little bit harder with me. It put my emotions well and truly through the wringer.
It had a cast of great characters both credible and easy to emotionally invest in, and an immersive plot that certainly left me with food for thought.
What would you do if your lost child came back?
February 27, 2026
family drama
The Child We Lost tackles the very emotional topic around the loss of a loved one, specifically a child. If this is a difficult issue for you I suggest that you look at the trigger warnings before reading.
I read this book quickly. The premise is interesting and the author’s writing does have a way of immediately engaging the reader. The story does uncover the depths of grief and the way it can tear lives and families apart.
There were times when the story felt a bit repetitive. The conclusion is predictable but interesting. Despite the heavy subject matter this is ultimately a very sweet story.
This is the fourth or fifth book i’ve read by this author and I do find them to be consistently enjoyable family drama stories.
The Child We Lost tackles the very emotional topic around the loss of a loved one, specifically a child. If this is a difficult issue for you I suggest that you look at the trigger warnings before reading.
I read this book quickly. The premise is interesting and the author’s writing does have a way of immediately engaging the reader. The story does uncover the depths of grief and the way it can tear lives and families apart.
There were times when the story felt a bit repetitive. The conclusion is predictable but interesting. Despite the heavy subject matter this is ultimately a very sweet story.
This is the fourth or fifth book i’ve read by this author and I do find them to be consistently enjoyable family drama stories.
May 21, 2026
Continuing my search for a half-decent contemporary drama. This was not it.
Just have to get this off my chest: Why-oh-why are these books packed with characters with four-letter names? Ruby Josh Jean John Jess Teri Adam Marc Edie Kath Lisa Isla... Where is the editor telling authors to stop doing this?
The plot (spoilers ahead): An identical boy to the son Vicky lost in an accident 2 years ago turns out to be related, due to a secret baby in the family’s past.
What we have here is page upon page of internal monologue and repetitive conversations as Vicky mentally tosses around possibilities for why the boy looks like her son. At 30% she’s suspicious her son Josh's death was faked. At 46% she wonders if she actually birthed identical twin boys, with one being switched out for her daughter Ruby. By 60% she asks if her husband had an affair. At 73% she offends her twin sister by asking if she had a secret baby. Nothing else has happened to this point, other than grandma Helen’s “unrelated” side-plot and the death of a guinea pig.
So that’s four implausible options, and not once does Vicky consider the most plausible one EVEN AFTER meeting the boy’s mother who, like herself, her twin, both her children, and the lookalike boy, has unique white-blonde hair and blue eyes just like… her mother Helen.
It’s not like teen moms giving up their babies in the 1970s is plausible, right?
Instead, Vicky ties her brain in knots with yet more implausible scenarios to explain why a DNA test shows the boy’s mom is her older half-sister. Never crosses her mind that they have the same MOTHER. No, Vicky speculates they have the same unknown FATHER and adds the random complication that her mother’s husband, the main who raised her, is somehow still the father of her twin Teri. Are you confused yet? Vicky fails to consider that her older half-sister is also her twin’s half-sister, and that the parent they all have in common is their mother. The woman with the same white-blonde hair and blue eyes that they all share.
Due to a flashback, the reader already knows this, which makes it even more egregious that the author is writing Vicky as a moron. Twins born from the same uterus with different fathers is the option Vicky favors over a teen mother giving up her baby in the 70s (which again, doesn’t even pop into Vicky’s head).
Vicky finally realizes the truth when she remembers her mom’s greying hair used to be white-blonde. We’ve been CONSTANTLY reminded of this unique family trait, but the fact is absent from Vicky’s head for weeks just so she won’t realize the twist until the Final Dramatic Family Dinner. It is no fun at all to watch Vicky fail to even consider the answer that we’ve already been told (or figured out 1/3 of the way through the book, see below).
Meanwhile Vicky’s mom Helen (the other POV character) is having her own side-plot about tutoring kids. Because this is 100% irrelevant to the main plot, you know the twist is going to make it 100% relevant. Thus when she meets her student’s grandpa who seems familiar, you will probably guess right there that they used to date. And when a fictional couple used to date but lost touch, you know there was a secret baby. Thus at 36% you know the answer to the main plot.
Perhaps the most irritating thing is the coincidences. I’ve come to expect outrageous coincidences in these stories but they become ridiculous when there is no plot-relevant reason.
(1) Of all the reasons the author could have chosen for why Vicky’s husband Marc’s attention wavered, leading to their son Josh’s fatal accident, the reason we’re given is that Marc was startled to see a lookalike boy (THE lookalike boy) in the street, causing him to drop his son’s hand. (The reason Marc gives for not admitting this until 2 years later is nonsensical and harms his wife, who immediately forgives him.) It’s an unnecessary coincidence with no consequences, mentioned once and dropped. Now, if JOSH had seen his doppelganger and run after him out of curiosity, that would at least have been tragically poetic, making the coincidence forgivable.
(2) The lookalike boy is coincidentally identical to the dead child. Science tells me half-cousins have 6% DNA in common. (Compare: 50% for siblings.) Cousins, let alone half-cousins, cannot be identical. It’s not a thing. This coincidence isn’t necessary for the plot to happen. The 5-year-old could have been similar enough to resemble the "3-year-old two years later" without the insistence that he was identical… right down to an unusual birthmark.
(3) Within days of the lookalike boy being spotted in the opening chapter, Helen coincidentally starts tutoring the grandson of the boyfriend from her youth. When the plots collide they will turn out to be the lookalike boy’s grandparents (conveniently widowed so they can take up where they left off). Not that the coincidental timing matters because neither of them wants to meet their daughter once the truth comes out, even though their grandson will now be in their lives. That’s heartless, however you slice it.
(4) In fact, Helen is “dreading” meeting the daughter she gave up for adoption and makes no attempt to do so for weeks. Coincidentally, the woman dies the night before the scheduled reunion. Phew! Then Helen has the nerve to take the final few paragraphs of the book to wax lyrical about the importance of family.
In writing this I’ve realized that my problem with the story is there’s absolutely no character growth. The author sets up some “wounds” but there’s no payoff because there are no consequences requiring growth. Helen gave up her baby but it doesn’t matter, she never thinks about her again, doesn’t want to meet her, and fate intervenes so she doesn’t have to. She doesn’t face a reckoning, she doesn’t even get the chance to grow through a healing reunion. Marc lost his marriage but it doesn’t matter, they get back together just because. Vicky lost her son but it doesn’t matter, she gets a replacement nephew who looks the same, with parents who are absolutely fine with her being involved in his life. Ruby lost her brother but gets a replacement cousin who looks the same, and they’re immediately BFFs. She even gets a replacement guinea pig.
Just have to get this off my chest: Why-oh-why are these books packed with characters with four-letter names? Ruby Josh Jean John Jess Teri Adam Marc Edie Kath Lisa Isla... Where is the editor telling authors to stop doing this?
The plot (spoilers ahead): An identical boy to the son Vicky lost in an accident 2 years ago turns out to be related, due to a secret baby in the family’s past.
What we have here is page upon page of internal monologue and repetitive conversations as Vicky mentally tosses around possibilities for why the boy looks like her son. At 30% she’s suspicious her son Josh's death was faked. At 46% she wonders if she actually birthed identical twin boys, with one being switched out for her daughter Ruby. By 60% she asks if her husband had an affair. At 73% she offends her twin sister by asking if she had a secret baby. Nothing else has happened to this point, other than grandma Helen’s “unrelated” side-plot and the death of a guinea pig.
So that’s four implausible options, and not once does Vicky consider the most plausible one EVEN AFTER meeting the boy’s mother who, like herself, her twin, both her children, and the lookalike boy, has unique white-blonde hair and blue eyes just like… her mother Helen.
It’s not like teen moms giving up their babies in the 1970s is plausible, right?
Instead, Vicky ties her brain in knots with yet more implausible scenarios to explain why a DNA test shows the boy’s mom is her older half-sister. Never crosses her mind that they have the same MOTHER. No, Vicky speculates they have the same unknown FATHER and adds the random complication that her mother’s husband, the main who raised her, is somehow still the father of her twin Teri. Are you confused yet? Vicky fails to consider that her older half-sister is also her twin’s half-sister, and that the parent they all have in common is their mother. The woman with the same white-blonde hair and blue eyes that they all share.
Due to a flashback, the reader already knows this, which makes it even more egregious that the author is writing Vicky as a moron. Twins born from the same uterus with different fathers is the option Vicky favors over a teen mother giving up her baby in the 70s (which again, doesn’t even pop into Vicky’s head).
Vicky finally realizes the truth when she remembers her mom’s greying hair used to be white-blonde. We’ve been CONSTANTLY reminded of this unique family trait, but the fact is absent from Vicky’s head for weeks just so she won’t realize the twist until the Final Dramatic Family Dinner. It is no fun at all to watch Vicky fail to even consider the answer that we’ve already been told (or figured out 1/3 of the way through the book, see below).
Meanwhile Vicky’s mom Helen (the other POV character) is having her own side-plot about tutoring kids. Because this is 100% irrelevant to the main plot, you know the twist is going to make it 100% relevant. Thus when she meets her student’s grandpa who seems familiar, you will probably guess right there that they used to date. And when a fictional couple used to date but lost touch, you know there was a secret baby. Thus at 36% you know the answer to the main plot.
Perhaps the most irritating thing is the coincidences. I’ve come to expect outrageous coincidences in these stories but they become ridiculous when there is no plot-relevant reason.
(1) Of all the reasons the author could have chosen for why Vicky’s husband Marc’s attention wavered, leading to their son Josh’s fatal accident, the reason we’re given is that Marc was startled to see a lookalike boy (THE lookalike boy) in the street, causing him to drop his son’s hand. (The reason Marc gives for not admitting this until 2 years later is nonsensical and harms his wife, who immediately forgives him.) It’s an unnecessary coincidence with no consequences, mentioned once and dropped. Now, if JOSH had seen his doppelganger and run after him out of curiosity, that would at least have been tragically poetic, making the coincidence forgivable.
(2) The lookalike boy is coincidentally identical to the dead child. Science tells me half-cousins have 6% DNA in common. (Compare: 50% for siblings.) Cousins, let alone half-cousins, cannot be identical. It’s not a thing. This coincidence isn’t necessary for the plot to happen. The 5-year-old could have been similar enough to resemble the "3-year-old two years later" without the insistence that he was identical… right down to an unusual birthmark.
(3) Within days of the lookalike boy being spotted in the opening chapter, Helen coincidentally starts tutoring the grandson of the boyfriend from her youth. When the plots collide they will turn out to be the lookalike boy’s grandparents (conveniently widowed so they can take up where they left off). Not that the coincidental timing matters because neither of them wants to meet their daughter once the truth comes out, even though their grandson will now be in their lives. That’s heartless, however you slice it.
(4) In fact, Helen is “dreading” meeting the daughter she gave up for adoption and makes no attempt to do so for weeks. Coincidentally, the woman dies the night before the scheduled reunion. Phew! Then Helen has the nerve to take the final few paragraphs of the book to wax lyrical about the importance of family.
In writing this I’ve realized that my problem with the story is there’s absolutely no character growth. The author sets up some “wounds” but there’s no payoff because there are no consequences requiring growth. Helen gave up her baby but it doesn’t matter, she never thinks about her again, doesn’t want to meet her, and fate intervenes so she doesn’t have to. She doesn’t face a reckoning, she doesn’t even get the chance to grow through a healing reunion. Marc lost his marriage but it doesn’t matter, they get back together just because. Vicky lost her son but it doesn’t matter, she gets a replacement nephew who looks the same, with parents who are absolutely fine with her being involved in his life. Ruby lost her brother but gets a replacement cousin who looks the same, and they’re immediately BFFs. She even gets a replacement guinea pig.
May 30, 2026
Vicki and Mark, recently separated following then tragic death of one of their twins. Mark struggles with the guilt about what happened and Vicki, struggles with the loss.
When 5 year old Ruby, says she’s seen her twin Josh and asks when he’s coming home, it shakes them both.
There’s also Helen, Vicki’ s mum, who regularly looks after Ruby.
This book follows both Helen and Vicki, as they struggle with the aftermath of Josh’s tragic dear and Ruby’s sudden assertion that he’s back. They think it’s delayed grief until Vicki sees the boy for herself. Not only does he look alike but he’s identical right down to the birthmark on his neck. Vicki is desperate to get to the truth as to who this boy is and just how it’s possible he looks so like Josh. She almost destroys her relationship with all those who love her as she searches for answers,
Told in alternative chapters from Helen and Vicki the story unfolds and the truth comes out.
This was an enjoyable read, however I had worked out exactly who this boy was and what his relationship was to several characters very very early on. It was just a tad predictable. I also felt there were several unnecessary characters (Evie and her Mother for example) and chapters and it just seemed to drag the story out and didn’t actually alter or bring anything to the storyline.
Thanks to Boldwood and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title, as a keen Sheila Norton reader I was excited to read it
When 5 year old Ruby, says she’s seen her twin Josh and asks when he’s coming home, it shakes them both.
There’s also Helen, Vicki’ s mum, who regularly looks after Ruby.
This book follows both Helen and Vicki, as they struggle with the aftermath of Josh’s tragic dear and Ruby’s sudden assertion that he’s back. They think it’s delayed grief until Vicki sees the boy for herself. Not only does he look alike but he’s identical right down to the birthmark on his neck. Vicki is desperate to get to the truth as to who this boy is and just how it’s possible he looks so like Josh. She almost destroys her relationship with all those who love her as she searches for answers,
Told in alternative chapters from Helen and Vicki the story unfolds and the truth comes out.
This was an enjoyable read, however I had worked out exactly who this boy was and what his relationship was to several characters very very early on. It was just a tad predictable. I also felt there were several unnecessary characters (Evie and her Mother for example) and chapters and it just seemed to drag the story out and didn’t actually alter or bring anything to the storyline.
Thanks to Boldwood and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title, as a keen Sheila Norton reader I was excited to read it
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I mainly read thrillers and crime stories, but every now and then I like to change things up. Although thrillers can certainly evoke emotions, I sometimes reach for a book without violence, one that is filled purely with a wide range of feelings.
That’s when this author comes to mind. Although I only discovered her work recently, I was immediately sold, and I now always look forward to a new book by her with great pleasure and anticipation.
Were my expectations met? I can answer that with a resounding yes. In my opinion, the author has once again put a little gem on paper.
The emotions leap off the pages, and it was impossible not to be moved by Ruby.
Adults are often afraid to share or explain certain things to young children. This story clearly shows that young people can handle a great deal, provided they are prepared in the right way for what lies ahead.
This book captivated me from beginning to end.
A smile, wiping away a tear, and repeat.
A wonderful book.
5 stars from a big fan.
That’s when this author comes to mind. Although I only discovered her work recently, I was immediately sold, and I now always look forward to a new book by her with great pleasure and anticipation.
Were my expectations met? I can answer that with a resounding yes. In my opinion, the author has once again put a little gem on paper.
The emotions leap off the pages, and it was impossible not to be moved by Ruby.
Adults are often afraid to share or explain certain things to young children. This story clearly shows that young people can handle a great deal, provided they are prepared in the right way for what lies ahead.
This book captivated me from beginning to end.
A smile, wiping away a tear, and repeat.
A wonderful book.
5 stars from a big fan.
June 5, 2026
I had a good time reading this book it was an emotional read and Sheila always knows how to write a good family saga that keeps you from not putting it down this one we follow a five year old Ruby who’s twin brother Josh passed away and her mother Vicky is trying to recover from what happened but one day when Ruby saw a boy after school that looked like Josh but her grandma Helen is also going through some troubles as a teacher one girl blamed her for doing something that Helen didn’t even do so she got sacked from the job I don’t want to say too much but it was a good read but in a way I liked if I lost you more than this one tbh
February 27, 2026
Lots of family drama.
I felt bad for Helen and what she had to endure at the hands of a spoiled petulant child and her parent.
I wondered if Vicki was becoming unglued in her desperation to unravel a look a like.
How it all played out was believable and answers were found.
A solid ending with some pleasing results left me satisfied.
Thanks Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I felt bad for Helen and what she had to endure at the hands of a spoiled petulant child and her parent.
I wondered if Vicki was becoming unglued in her desperation to unravel a look a like.
How it all played out was believable and answers were found.
A solid ending with some pleasing results left me satisfied.
Thanks Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
May 11, 2026
I debated about the rating and would give a 4.5, if I could.
However, this is a lovely book, well-written, with strong characters and a rather unique story line.
It is about a couple who lost one of their 3-year-old twins, a boy named Josh. Ruby, the female twin, sees a boy walk by her school that looks just like her brother. Both child and mother become obsessed with this look-alike child…
However, this is a lovely book, well-written, with strong characters and a rather unique story line.
It is about a couple who lost one of their 3-year-old twins, a boy named Josh. Ruby, the female twin, sees a boy walk by her school that looks just like her brother. Both child and mother become obsessed with this look-alike child…
February 22, 2026
Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis
Good book enjoyed it
What would you do if your lost child came back...
She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say 'All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!' But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this...
Good book enjoyed it
What would you do if your lost child came back...
She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say 'All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!' But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The beginning of this book started strong and pulled me in quite easily. I was emotionally invested early on and ended up finishing it within three to four days.
However, at some point the pacing became very difficult for me. What started as a slow burn began to feel like the story was dragging, with many moments repeating themselves and the narrative running in circles. It went on like this for a long time, and it wasn’t until around 77% that I felt the story was finally moving forward.
It isn’t a bad book, but I do think it could have been much shorter. In places, the reactions of the characters didn’t feel very relatable to me, which made it harder to stay fully engaged.
Overall, this will likely work better for readers who enjoy very slow stories and don’t mind a lot of repetition along the way.
However, at some point the pacing became very difficult for me. What started as a slow burn began to feel like the story was dragging, with many moments repeating themselves and the narrative running in circles. It went on like this for a long time, and it wasn’t until around 77% that I felt the story was finally moving forward.
It isn’t a bad book, but I do think it could have been much shorter. In places, the reactions of the characters didn’t feel very relatable to me, which made it harder to stay fully engaged.
Overall, this will likely work better for readers who enjoy very slow stories and don’t mind a lot of repetition along the way.
Read
March 12, 2026I have never read a book by this author before and I have to say it was a quick emotional read. It got me from the beginning and didn’t stop till the end.
Ruby believes that she can see her twin brother, Josh who died in a horrible accident. Her parents think that this will just pass and it’s a phase for her. They soon learn the truth about her brothers passing.
If you need an emotional book definitely check this out!
Pub date is Feb 2026. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this!
Ruby believes that she can see her twin brother, Josh who died in a horrible accident. Her parents think that this will just pass and it’s a phase for her. They soon learn the truth about her brothers passing.
If you need an emotional book definitely check this out!
Pub date is Feb 2026. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📚The Child We Lost
✍🏻Sheila Norton
Blurb:
What would you do if your lost child came back? ❤️ An emotional family drama, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis. ❤️ She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say 'All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!' But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this... The day we lost Josh, a part of me broke. He was only three-and-a-half years old. His twin, Ruby, suddenly an only child.
We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh – alive – I assume she’s struggling more than we realised. It’s her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go.
But then I see him too.
A boy with Josh’s same pale blue eyes, the silvery-white hair that falls across his forehead in exactly the same way. It’s more than a similarity. This boy could be Josh’s twin.
How can that be possible?
I know I have to listen to my rational brain, that this must be my grief messing with my mind. But I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going on. Who is this boy? And does someone know more than they’re letting on?
A gripping, emotional page-turner about loss, love and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Praise for Sheila 'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo Bartlett
‘Loved this book!!!!!… Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!!… I definitely recommend it!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood… I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion…. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy…. Grabbed my heart… Phenomenally emotive.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way… Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact… Truly captivating.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
My Thoughts:
The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a family drama focussed on grief and how it can quickly become an obsession that can tear a family apart. When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, but his twin sister Ruby is too young to fully understand, so when she tells first her grandmother and then her mother that she sees Josh walking past her school every Friday they think she is imagining things or confused.Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. Her mother now thinks she can see him too..When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, This novel is a reflective and emotionally driven read rather than a fast-paced thriller, but the underlying mystery and moral dilemmas keep readers engaged.
Thanks NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Author Sheila Norton for the complimentary copy of "The Child We Lost" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#BoldwoodBooks
#SheilaNorton
#TheChildWeLost
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Sheila Norton
Blurb:
What would you do if your lost child came back? ❤️ An emotional family drama, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis. ❤️ She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say 'All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!' But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this... The day we lost Josh, a part of me broke. He was only three-and-a-half years old. His twin, Ruby, suddenly an only child.
We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh – alive – I assume she’s struggling more than we realised. It’s her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go.
But then I see him too.
A boy with Josh’s same pale blue eyes, the silvery-white hair that falls across his forehead in exactly the same way. It’s more than a similarity. This boy could be Josh’s twin.
How can that be possible?
I know I have to listen to my rational brain, that this must be my grief messing with my mind. But I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going on. Who is this boy? And does someone know more than they’re letting on?
A gripping, emotional page-turner about loss, love and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Praise for Sheila 'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo Bartlett
‘Loved this book!!!!!… Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!!… I definitely recommend it!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood… I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion…. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy…. Grabbed my heart… Phenomenally emotive.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way… Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
‘A remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact… Truly captivating.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
My Thoughts:
The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a family drama focussed on grief and how it can quickly become an obsession that can tear a family apart. When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, but his twin sister Ruby is too young to fully understand, so when she tells first her grandmother and then her mother that she sees Josh walking past her school every Friday they think she is imagining things or confused.Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. Her mother now thinks she can see him too..When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, This novel is a reflective and emotionally driven read rather than a fast-paced thriller, but the underlying mystery and moral dilemmas keep readers engaged.
Thanks NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Author Sheila Norton for the complimentary copy of "The Child We Lost" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#BoldwoodBooks
#SheilaNorton
#TheChildWeLost
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a beautiful contemporary novel about love and loss, and learning to live again.
The novel is seen through the eyes of a mother, and a grandmother. The chapters alternate between the two and are in the first person. This enables the reader to intimately know the characters.
Having lost her twin (before the novel opened), five-year-old Ruby believes he is alive again as she spots a boy looking just like Josh, walking past her school every Friday. She is convinced he is alive again. We witness the trauma this creates for her extended family as they try to help her deal with her loss.
Understanding of death comes following the death of a pet. Ruby is then surprisingly accepting of death once it is explained to her.
Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. What she uncovers comes as a shock to all.
We see the importance of having a faith. “I sometimes wish I had her faith. It must make things so much more bearable to know that there’s a God looking after us.” Loss without faith, is very bleak indeed. Having spoken to a vicar about loss, Ruby’s mother is told: “I’ll pray for you.”…”Even though I don’t believe?”… “That doesn’t matter because I do.” Prayer is comforting for all, just knowing that someone cares.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. We see how the generations within a family interact. We learn that family is not always blood-related, but it is those who love us.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Child We Lost. It was beautifully written. I will leave you with the definition of family as seen in the story:
“A family can be any size, any shape, and as complicated or as simple as it ends up being.”
I received a free copy for a blog tour from Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is seen through the eyes of a mother, and a grandmother. The chapters alternate between the two and are in the first person. This enables the reader to intimately know the characters.
Having lost her twin (before the novel opened), five-year-old Ruby believes he is alive again as she spots a boy looking just like Josh, walking past her school every Friday. She is convinced he is alive again. We witness the trauma this creates for her extended family as they try to help her deal with her loss.
Understanding of death comes following the death of a pet. Ruby is then surprisingly accepting of death once it is explained to her.
Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. What she uncovers comes as a shock to all.
We see the importance of having a faith. “I sometimes wish I had her faith. It must make things so much more bearable to know that there’s a God looking after us.” Loss without faith, is very bleak indeed. Having spoken to a vicar about loss, Ruby’s mother is told: “I’ll pray for you.”…”Even though I don’t believe?”… “That doesn’t matter because I do.” Prayer is comforting for all, just knowing that someone cares.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. We see how the generations within a family interact. We learn that family is not always blood-related, but it is those who love us.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Child We Lost. It was beautifully written. I will leave you with the definition of family as seen in the story:
“A family can be any size, any shape, and as complicated or as simple as it ends up being.”
I received a free copy for a blog tour from Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Child We Lost is one of those rare emotional dramas that quietly slips under your skin and stays there. From the opening pages, the ache of losing little Josh is palpable — not just for his mother, but for Ruby, the twin left behind. The author handles that grief with such tenderness that you feel every beat of this family’s heartbreak.
When Ruby insists she’s seen Josh alive, it’s easy to assume it’s a child’s way of coping. But then the mother sees him too — a boy with the same pale blue eyes, the same silvery hair, the same presence that feels impossibly familiar. That moment shifts the entire story, and the emotional tension becomes almost unbearable in the best way.
What follows is a beautifully layered exploration of love, memory, and the desperate human need to believe in miracles. The author balances raw emotion with a simmering sense of mystery, keeping you questioning what’s real, what’s grief, and what secrets might be buried beneath the surface. The pacing is gentle but gripping, and the writing has that Jodi Picoult–style emotional clarity that makes you feel every internal conflict.
The mother’s voice is especially powerful — torn between rationality and longing, terrified of false hope yet unable to ignore what she’s seen. Her journey is heartbreaking, compelling, and deeply human.
Fans of Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis will absolutely devour this. It’s poignant, suspenseful, and full of heart — the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.
A moving, unforgettable read.
My thanks to Shelia Norton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
When Ruby insists she’s seen Josh alive, it’s easy to assume it’s a child’s way of coping. But then the mother sees him too — a boy with the same pale blue eyes, the same silvery hair, the same presence that feels impossibly familiar. That moment shifts the entire story, and the emotional tension becomes almost unbearable in the best way.
What follows is a beautifully layered exploration of love, memory, and the desperate human need to believe in miracles. The author balances raw emotion with a simmering sense of mystery, keeping you questioning what’s real, what’s grief, and what secrets might be buried beneath the surface. The pacing is gentle but gripping, and the writing has that Jodi Picoult–style emotional clarity that makes you feel every internal conflict.
The mother’s voice is especially powerful — torn between rationality and longing, terrified of false hope yet unable to ignore what she’s seen. Her journey is heartbreaking, compelling, and deeply human.
Fans of Kate Hewitt and Susan Lewis will absolutely devour this. It’s poignant, suspenseful, and full of heart — the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.
A moving, unforgettable read.
My thanks to Shelia Norton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
February 27, 2026
First, I want to thank Sheila Norton, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review!
My heart totally broke into a million different little pieces reading The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton. You will need to stock up on tissues as the tears are going to fall and in my case ugly cried at times as some of the topics hit close to home! As emotional as it was it was addicting and I was able to binge read it in one sitting. Yes, I was that invested in these characters and the storyline.
The Child We Lost hit home deeply on many levels. My heart broke for Ruby who lost her twin brother Josh in a terrible bus accident. Sadly, I had a very young cousin who also was in a tragic school bus accident like Josh’s. So, I totally felt for what this family was going through. Not to mention that I am still grieving the loss of my Dad. I can understand the family still healing from their loss of Josh.
One part of the story that tugged on my heart is that Ruby thought she saw her brother Josh at school!! She swore up and down that it was him or maybe his ghost but it was him! Just having lost my Dad there have been times when I am out and I think that I see him. So, in a way I could relate to Ruby in wishing and praying that it was our loved one that was passed.
Of all the twists in all the books I have ever read I never read a twist like this before! It will tug on your heart and pull it on to many directions revealing many hidden truths.
Sheila’s book is beautifully written book based strongly around family.
My heart totally broke into a million different little pieces reading The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton. You will need to stock up on tissues as the tears are going to fall and in my case ugly cried at times as some of the topics hit close to home! As emotional as it was it was addicting and I was able to binge read it in one sitting. Yes, I was that invested in these characters and the storyline.
The Child We Lost hit home deeply on many levels. My heart broke for Ruby who lost her twin brother Josh in a terrible bus accident. Sadly, I had a very young cousin who also was in a tragic school bus accident like Josh’s. So, I totally felt for what this family was going through. Not to mention that I am still grieving the loss of my Dad. I can understand the family still healing from their loss of Josh.
One part of the story that tugged on my heart is that Ruby thought she saw her brother Josh at school!! She swore up and down that it was him or maybe his ghost but it was him! Just having lost my Dad there have been times when I am out and I think that I see him. So, in a way I could relate to Ruby in wishing and praying that it was our loved one that was passed.
Of all the twists in all the books I have ever read I never read a twist like this before! It will tug on your heart and pull it on to many directions revealing many hidden truths.
Sheila’s book is beautifully written book based strongly around family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say "All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!" But I can't. I know I can't lie to her about this.... The day we lost Josh, a part of me broke. He was only three and a half years old. His twin Ruby, suddenly an only child. We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh -alive- I assume she's struggling more than we realised. It's her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go. But then I see him too.
Ruby believes she can see her twin brother Josh who had died in a tragic accident. Her mother thought it was just a stage of grief that Ruby was going through. Her mother now thinks she can see him too.
This is an emotional read about a family trying to piece itself back together after the tragic loss of their son. Josh had been Ruby's twin brother. The story, although it's very emotional, has been beautifully written. This thought-provoking read will stay with you long after you have finished it. I never saw that last twist coming.
Published 28th February 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #SheilaNorton for my ARC of #TheChildWeLost in exchange for an honest review.
Ruby believes she can see her twin brother Josh who had died in a tragic accident. Her mother thought it was just a stage of grief that Ruby was going through. Her mother now thinks she can see him too.
This is an emotional read about a family trying to piece itself back together after the tragic loss of their son. Josh had been Ruby's twin brother. The story, although it's very emotional, has been beautifully written. This thought-provoking read will stay with you long after you have finished it. I never saw that last twist coming.
Published 28th February 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #SheilaNorton for my ARC of #TheChildWeLost in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2026
The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a family drama focussed on grief and how it can quickly become an obsession that can tear a family apart.
When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, but his twin sister Ruby is too young to fully understand, so when she tells first her grandmother and then her mother that she sees Josh walking past her school every Friday they think she is imagining things or confused. It is only when her mum sees the little boy for herself that she is floored by how like her son he is, down to an unusual birthmark. This sends her on a spiral as she tries to find out who the little boy is, driven by grief and desperation to create a series of unlikely theories that each involve various family members and threaten her relationships with those closest to her. When she finally learns the truth will it be enough to ease her grief?
This is a well told story of a family enduring the unimaginable, and I appreciated that the author showed how grief impacted several generations of the family. The actual mystery at the heart of the book was not particularly difficult to figure out, especially since the author drops plenty of clues along the way, but that doesn't mean that I did not enjoy the story as it unfolded.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
When Josh is killed in a tragic accident his whole family is left reeling, but his twin sister Ruby is too young to fully understand, so when she tells first her grandmother and then her mother that she sees Josh walking past her school every Friday they think she is imagining things or confused. It is only when her mum sees the little boy for herself that she is floored by how like her son he is, down to an unusual birthmark. This sends her on a spiral as she tries to find out who the little boy is, driven by grief and desperation to create a series of unlikely theories that each involve various family members and threaten her relationships with those closest to her. When she finally learns the truth will it be enough to ease her grief?
This is a well told story of a family enduring the unimaginable, and I appreciated that the author showed how grief impacted several generations of the family. The actual mystery at the heart of the book was not particularly difficult to figure out, especially since the author drops plenty of clues along the way, but that doesn't mean that I did not enjoy the story as it unfolded.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐
A story that is as beautiful as it is tragic.
A book that awakens multiple emotions, considering that losing a child is a pain that cuts across everyone, even those who never had children. Here we follow a family trying to piece itself back together after losing a very dear member of the family, Josh, Ruby’s twin brother, both just children with their whole lives ahead of them. A horrific accident, deeply traumatic for the father, who witnessed everything without being able to do anything, and for the mother, who saw her world collapse. And Ruby who lost her twin and don´t fully understand why. Helen, the children’s maternal grandmother, is crucial in helping her daughter recover, but as in all family dramas, we witness several branches of past events that shape the future of these characters.
I really enjoyed this read. It is a slow burn but intense, and it shows once again how human beings have an enormous capacity to overcome and to transform something so tragic into something that can still be lived.
The author writes in a clear and beautiful way, without unnecessary complications, and has created strong, engaging, and memorable characters.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I really liked it!
@bibliotecamil_insta
A story that is as beautiful as it is tragic.
A book that awakens multiple emotions, considering that losing a child is a pain that cuts across everyone, even those who never had children. Here we follow a family trying to piece itself back together after losing a very dear member of the family, Josh, Ruby’s twin brother, both just children with their whole lives ahead of them. A horrific accident, deeply traumatic for the father, who witnessed everything without being able to do anything, and for the mother, who saw her world collapse. And Ruby who lost her twin and don´t fully understand why. Helen, the children’s maternal grandmother, is crucial in helping her daughter recover, but as in all family dramas, we witness several branches of past events that shape the future of these characters.
I really enjoyed this read. It is a slow burn but intense, and it shows once again how human beings have an enormous capacity to overcome and to transform something so tragic into something that can still be lived.
The author writes in a clear and beautiful way, without unnecessary complications, and has created strong, engaging, and memorable characters.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I really liked it!
@bibliotecamil_insta
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an emotional rollercoaster with an element of thriller as well; what a fantastic combination!
When five-year-old Ruby sees her twin brother, Josh, outside her school, she is so excited. But Josh died in a road accident when the twins were three years old. The story is told through Ruby and Josh's mother and grandmother, both of whom are battling with their own grief, longing for the boy to be Josh and their knowledge that it is impossible. Of course, a child of Ruby's age doesn't fully understand death and Ruby's very black-and-white view of the boy that looks like her brother and therefore must be her brother., was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking.
When Vicky, Ruby and Josh's mother, sees the boy, she is stunned at the likeness and I felt so much sympathy for the emotional rollercoaster this set her on. What happens when Vicky discovers the truth of the boy's identity gave me all the feels and the ending was superb.
I did struggle a little with the pace in the early part of the book as it was quite slow and there were some repetitive parts, but I am so glad I persevered as once the pace picked up, it was an amazing read.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sheila Norton and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.
When five-year-old Ruby sees her twin brother, Josh, outside her school, she is so excited. But Josh died in a road accident when the twins were three years old. The story is told through Ruby and Josh's mother and grandmother, both of whom are battling with their own grief, longing for the boy to be Josh and their knowledge that it is impossible. Of course, a child of Ruby's age doesn't fully understand death and Ruby's very black-and-white view of the boy that looks like her brother and therefore must be her brother., was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking.
When Vicky, Ruby and Josh's mother, sees the boy, she is stunned at the likeness and I felt so much sympathy for the emotional rollercoaster this set her on. What happens when Vicky discovers the truth of the boy's identity gave me all the feels and the ending was superb.
I did struggle a little with the pace in the early part of the book as it was quite slow and there were some repetitive parts, but I am so glad I persevered as once the pace picked up, it was an amazing read.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sheila Norton and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Child We Lost" is an emotional and haunting family drama that delves into themes of grief, love, and the harrowing question: what if your lost child came back?
The story poignantly depicts the loss of Josh, who passes away at just three-and-a-half years old, particularly through the eyes of his twin sister, Ruby. When Ruby insists she has seen Josh alive, the narrative skillfully blurs the line between grief-fueled hope and a more unsettling reality. The author captures the quiet devastation of a family trying to move forward while still being tethered to their past.
This novel is a reflective and emotionally driven read rather than a fast-paced thriller, but the underlying mystery and moral dilemmas keep readers engaged. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt, and Susan Lewis will find it relatable.
It's a poignant and thought-provoking novel that resonates long after the last page is turned.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a completely emotional rollercoaster all the way through, but one I thoroughly enjoyed being on.
Ruby is a six year old girl who lost her twin brother Josh in a tragic accident less than two years ago. Now she thinks that she can see him walking past her school every Friday. Her parents and grandma are convinced that it’s just a part of the grieving process that will pass. They try to distract her with other things, but she continues to believe that Josh is still alive.
I loved how the story was told from both the points of view of Vicky, a grieving mother trying to navigate the loss of one child while also being there for her surviving daughter, and Helen, Vicky’s mother who is supporting her.
The characters were all well developed and I really felt for them and how all their lives had changed so dramatically on one fateful day. The topic of grief is handled delicately by the author, which makes you feel even more heartbroken for the family and what they’ve been through.
A beautiful and thought provoking story that captivated me from the beginning.
Ruby is a six year old girl who lost her twin brother Josh in a tragic accident less than two years ago. Now she thinks that she can see him walking past her school every Friday. Her parents and grandma are convinced that it’s just a part of the grieving process that will pass. They try to distract her with other things, but she continues to believe that Josh is still alive.
I loved how the story was told from both the points of view of Vicky, a grieving mother trying to navigate the loss of one child while also being there for her surviving daughter, and Helen, Vicky’s mother who is supporting her.
The characters were all well developed and I really felt for them and how all their lives had changed so dramatically on one fateful day. The topic of grief is handled delicately by the author, which makes you feel even more heartbroken for the family and what they’ve been through.
A beautiful and thought provoking story that captivated me from the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Child We Lost follows a grieving mother who begins seeing a boy who looks exactly like the son she lost in a tragic accident. From the very beginning, the emotional weight of this story is palpable.
Told through two perspectives, the mother and her own mother, the narrative slowly layers grief, suspicion, and tension. Watching Vicky search for answers while the people around her repeatedly accuse her of “losing the plot” was both heartbreaking and frustrating. As a reader, I rooted for her every step of the way.
Ruby, the young daughter, added another layer of emotional depth. Her confusion and quiet grief were some of the most tender moments in the story.
This is not a light read. It is heavy with loss, family tension, and desperate searching. But it is deeply compelling and suspenseful right up to the end.
Readers who enjoy emotionally intense family drama with a thread of suspense will find this one difficult to put down.
Told through two perspectives, the mother and her own mother, the narrative slowly layers grief, suspicion, and tension. Watching Vicky search for answers while the people around her repeatedly accuse her of “losing the plot” was both heartbreaking and frustrating. As a reader, I rooted for her every step of the way.
Ruby, the young daughter, added another layer of emotional depth. Her confusion and quiet grief were some of the most tender moments in the story.
This is not a light read. It is heavy with loss, family tension, and desperate searching. But it is deeply compelling and suspenseful right up to the end.
Readers who enjoy emotionally intense family drama with a thread of suspense will find this one difficult to put down.
Read
January 14, 2026What would you do if your lost child came back?
A heartwarming story and love never ends when they gone.
Nanny Helen picks up granddaughter five years old Ruby from school and only on a Friday she saying she see's her twin brother Josh at playtime.
But Josh died in a horrible accident at just three and a half years old and the parents Victoria and Marc just think its a phase that will soon pass. How do you explain to a five year old that her brother can never come back.
As time goes on this story starts to tell the heart breaks of the little boy that Ruby keeps seeing and wanting to get to know him, and who he really is.
This is a unique book that just sucks you in, I loved the whole chapters that entails a family finding out one big secret.
Wonderful book.
A heartwarming story and love never ends when they gone.
Nanny Helen picks up granddaughter five years old Ruby from school and only on a Friday she saying she see's her twin brother Josh at playtime.
But Josh died in a horrible accident at just three and a half years old and the parents Victoria and Marc just think its a phase that will soon pass. How do you explain to a five year old that her brother can never come back.
As time goes on this story starts to tell the heart breaks of the little boy that Ruby keeps seeing and wanting to get to know him, and who he really is.
This is a unique book that just sucks you in, I loved the whole chapters that entails a family finding out one big secret.
Wonderful book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ms. Norton has written a deeply moving and emotional family drama that grabs hold of you and just doesn't let go. This book had my undivided attention from the very beginning all the way through to the last page. The storyline managed to be intense without there being lots of action or thriller type elements.
What would you do if the existing child of your twins claims to see her dead brother? That is the premise of this book. Everything evolves from that situation. Knowing the impossibility of her child still being alive battles with Vicky's hope that there is some way that it could be true. It ends up damaging every relationship she has with family members.
Simply a great family drama!
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the digital copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
What would you do if the existing child of your twins claims to see her dead brother? That is the premise of this book. Everything evolves from that situation. Knowing the impossibility of her child still being alive battles with Vicky's hope that there is some way that it could be true. It ends up damaging every relationship she has with family members.
Simply a great family drama!
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the digital copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A family's emotional journey of losing a child, not just a child but a twin at the young age of just 3 1/2. How do you grieve for one while nurturing another? Sheila Norton's writing will leave you turning the pages till the end. Not being able to put it down you'll be drawn in to find answers.
When Ruby turns 5 and starts school she sees her brother Josh. When she tells her mother, she thinks Ruby is just having a hard time accepting the loss and is using her imagination to compensate. How will she convince her mother that she's not lying?
Please pre-order your copy today for a February 25th release date. Have tissues ready and your day "booked".
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood publishing for the advanced copy.
A family's emotional journey of losing a child, not just a child but a twin at the young age of just 3 1/2. How do you grieve for one while nurturing another? Sheila Norton's writing will leave you turning the pages till the end. Not being able to put it down you'll be drawn in to find answers.
When Ruby turns 5 and starts school she sees her brother Josh. When she tells her mother, she thinks Ruby is just having a hard time accepting the loss and is using her imagination to compensate. How will she convince her mother that she's not lying?
Please pre-order your copy today for a February 25th release date. Have tissues ready and your day "booked".
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood publishing for the advanced copy.
February 28, 2026
A total tear jerker storyline.
When your daughter Ruby, thinks she has seen her twin brother Josh through the school gates the questions and heartache grow. Josh was killed in an accident so there is no chance that she has seen him - so who is this boy and what is the connection between them as he is the spitting image of Josh?
Questions start with Vicky ( Ruby and Josh’s mum) is Josh really deceased or has everyone been lying to her, has her ex husband had an affair or something else?
There has to be a logical answer surely to this mystery, how much more heartache can Vicky and the family cope with?
The answers are both sad but a beautiful reminder that when offered an olive branch - you should take it.
When your daughter Ruby, thinks she has seen her twin brother Josh through the school gates the questions and heartache grow. Josh was killed in an accident so there is no chance that she has seen him - so who is this boy and what is the connection between them as he is the spitting image of Josh?
Questions start with Vicky ( Ruby and Josh’s mum) is Josh really deceased or has everyone been lying to her, has her ex husband had an affair or something else?
There has to be a logical answer surely to this mystery, how much more heartache can Vicky and the family cope with?
The answers are both sad but a beautiful reminder that when offered an olive branch - you should take it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The premise of this book hooked me from the start. Five year old Ruby is convinced she has seen her dead twin brother Josh walking past her school. Her mother, Vicky decides to investigate and is startled by the resemblance to Josh. After a few false guesses, a lot of worry and hurt, the real story emerges. This was a compassionate novel that explored grief, family and kindness. The characters were credible and the twist at the end I didn’t see coming. I felt the author captured the voice of Ruby well, with the disarming honesty of children. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for introducing me to this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a wonderful, family story that carries grief, love and plenty of friendship.
Ruby is only five, and she sees her twin brother every week from the outside of the school playground.
But... how can this be?
Her brother is deceased and the family wonders if Ruby will ever understand that this cannot be her twin.
Or... Is it?
This book has so many twists and I really enjoyed it all!
Do yourself a favor if you love women's fiction, with a twist of mystery, take the journey with this family. You will love it.
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Boldwood for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.
Com
Ruby is only five, and she sees her twin brother every week from the outside of the school playground.
But... how can this be?
Her brother is deceased and the family wonders if Ruby will ever understand that this cannot be her twin.
Or... Is it?
This book has so many twists and I really enjoyed it all!
Do yourself a favor if you love women's fiction, with a twist of mystery, take the journey with this family. You will love it.
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Boldwood for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.
Com
February 21, 2026
When you lose a child, you would do almost anything to believe they are still alive. So, when little Ruby claims she’s seen her twin brother alive and well, it’s impossible not to feel torn. You know it shouldn't be possible, yet that tiny part of your heart desperately wishes it were true.
I usually find books centered on child loss difficult to read, but I felt so connected to Vicky. I was right there with her, clinging to that small, fragile hope that her son might still be out there. This was a difficult but deeply engrossing read; I couldn't guess where the story was heading, which kept me hooked until the very end.
I usually find books centered on child loss difficult to read, but I felt so connected to Vicky. I was right there with her, clinging to that small, fragile hope that her son might still be out there. This was a difficult but deeply engrossing read; I couldn't guess where the story was heading, which kept me hooked until the very end.
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