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Before I Was Yours
Sam and Rosie Keep have always wanted children, but adoption has become their only option; they'll do anything to have a child to love.
Seven-year-old Jonah is far away from home, and the man who's meant to be taking care of him has disappeared.
When Sam and Rosie meet Jonah they know they've found the child they've dreamed of. But when the unthinkable happens and life changes for all three members of the Keep family, suddenly Sam and Rosie must answer an impossible question: how far are they willing to go for a child who isn't really theirs?
Seven-year-old Jonah is far away from home, and the man who's meant to be taking care of him has disappeared.
When Sam and Rosie meet Jonah they know they've found the child they've dreamed of. But when the unthinkable happens and life changes for all three members of the Keep family, suddenly Sam and Rosie must answer an impossible question: how far are they willing to go for a child who isn't really theirs?
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2017
40 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Macgregor
11 books165 followersI was brought up in Germany, France and England by a mother who never stopped telling stories. From the moment I was old enough to hold a pen, I set about writing my own, often late into the night – or behind my Maths textbook at school. My maiden name is Virginia Woods: I was named after two great women, Virginia Wade and Virginia Woolf, in the hope I would be a writer and a tennis star. My early years were those of a scribbling, rain-loving child who prayed for lightning to strike my tennis coach.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 16, 2017
3 stars. This was an interesting storyline with some very likeable characters.
The novel intrigued me as I got a glimpse into the lives of potential adoptive parents. My heart breaks for what some of these couples have to go through in the hopes of bringing home a child to love and cherish. I thought the author did a fantastic job with this piece of the story.
While this was a unique and captivating storyline, I felt that much of the story detail was rather far-fetched. For me, I need to be able to believe the plot details to truly immerse myself in the characters’ lives and fully enjoy the novel. I found the novel to be entertaining and I grew to really love some of the characters, yet for me all of this was somewhat overshadowed by the lack of believability for most of the story.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Sphere and Virigina Macgregor for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
The novel intrigued me as I got a glimpse into the lives of potential adoptive parents. My heart breaks for what some of these couples have to go through in the hopes of bringing home a child to love and cherish. I thought the author did a fantastic job with this piece of the story.
While this was a unique and captivating storyline, I felt that much of the story detail was rather far-fetched. For me, I need to be able to believe the plot details to truly immerse myself in the characters’ lives and fully enjoy the novel. I found the novel to be entertaining and I grew to really love some of the characters, yet for me all of this was somewhat overshadowed by the lack of believability for most of the story.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Sphere and Virigina Macgregor for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 25, 2017
Before I Was Yours is a book which deals with a number of very serious issues, including IVF, adoption, cancer and HIV. Sounds heavy listed like that but the author has a light touch and tells her character's stories in a sensitive way.
It was easy to start to care for the characters. Jonah was so lost and confused I wanted to give him a hug. Rosie and Sam took turns to be the most irritating but eventually managed to have a conversation and end up on the same page. There was a whole list of side characters too who all played their parts including a very intelligent three legged cat.
Occasionally the story wandered slightly into something less than real - just a little unbelievable - but overall this is a very readable family drama. Four stars from me.
It was easy to start to care for the characters. Jonah was so lost and confused I wanted to give him a hug. Rosie and Sam took turns to be the most irritating but eventually managed to have a conversation and end up on the same page. There was a whole list of side characters too who all played their parts including a very intelligent three legged cat.
Occasionally the story wandered slightly into something less than real - just a little unbelievable - but overall this is a very readable family drama. Four stars from me.
September 27, 2017
four and a half stars
Sam and Rosie Keep, who had known each other since childhood, always dreamed of marriage and a family together. But life has not worked out as they hoped and planned. Even IVF treatment has failed to give them the family they so desire. It seems their only option is adoption. Even that is proving harder than they expected. Things do not work out the way they hope. On the other side of the world, a seven year old Kenyan boy, Jonah, is sent off by his mother with an Englishman to England. But then the man disappears. What will happen to Jonah now? Could he end up being the child for Sam and Rosie? However it is more than just adopting a child from a different country and culture. Jonah has other problems that soon surface. How far will Sam and Rosie go to do their best for Jonah? They may need more than a little help from others who care about them.
The story is told from several points of view and jumps around in time frame to peel back the layers of Jonah’s life and that of Sam and Rosie. The addition of Alice who became s Jonah’s friend, Sam’s mother, Trudi the social worker and detective Peter Taylor add extra layers to the story. This is a story that tugs at the heartstrings and one I suspect not too many people will get through without at least some tears at varying times. Once I started it, I was emotionally involved with the characters and did not want to put the book down. It’s one of those stories that gets you in.
A beautiful story and if, at some stages, some bits seems a little too much, it really doesn’t matter. As a reader I was prepared to go along for the ride. This is a book that made me think, made me count my blessings and gave a better understanding of what life is like for the childless, and also those living in poor, disease riddled countries. An absorbing book, well worth reading. I will be interested to read more from this author.
Sam and Rosie Keep, who had known each other since childhood, always dreamed of marriage and a family together. But life has not worked out as they hoped and planned. Even IVF treatment has failed to give them the family they so desire. It seems their only option is adoption. Even that is proving harder than they expected. Things do not work out the way they hope. On the other side of the world, a seven year old Kenyan boy, Jonah, is sent off by his mother with an Englishman to England. But then the man disappears. What will happen to Jonah now? Could he end up being the child for Sam and Rosie? However it is more than just adopting a child from a different country and culture. Jonah has other problems that soon surface. How far will Sam and Rosie go to do their best for Jonah? They may need more than a little help from others who care about them.
The story is told from several points of view and jumps around in time frame to peel back the layers of Jonah’s life and that of Sam and Rosie. The addition of Alice who became s Jonah’s friend, Sam’s mother, Trudi the social worker and detective Peter Taylor add extra layers to the story. This is a story that tugs at the heartstrings and one I suspect not too many people will get through without at least some tears at varying times. Once I started it, I was emotionally involved with the characters and did not want to put the book down. It’s one of those stories that gets you in.
A beautiful story and if, at some stages, some bits seems a little too much, it really doesn’t matter. As a reader I was prepared to go along for the ride. This is a book that made me think, made me count my blessings and gave a better understanding of what life is like for the childless, and also those living in poor, disease riddled countries. An absorbing book, well worth reading. I will be interested to read more from this author.
June 20, 2017
Today my brain stops and my heart speaks ....
Mama... I hear you in the wind and in the rain... I hear you in the sun and the stars... I hear you in the sky and the sea... I hear you in my heart with me...
The most heart wrenching emotion, pure love.. Love between a mother and a child.. timeless, precious, love as old as the earth itself and perhaps older. Love which resides in every cell of the mother, both the birth and the adopted.. Being a mother is not only by the birth, but that's a small part, but its in the heart, pure and loving.
The story is simple but complex, said in different points of view, moving between past and present, adding to its depth but the prose is sheer poetry. Every character is flawed but brimming with unconditional love just different ways to express it. The topic is very relevant in today's world.. Adoption... Every child deserves love and protection and none should grow up before their time.
Jonah is brought to London by his Mister Sir and abandoned at the airport. Trudi is brought in as his social worker, who along with DI Peter Taylor, works hard to understand his story and to find a suitable home for Jonah. Enter Rosie and Sam, who can't have children yet open their hearts to adoption. Jonah falls sick.. And then comes a race against time to save him, find his mama and discover the reason why a seven year old travels all the way from Lamu, Kenya to London, UK.
Will Jonah open up and accept Sam and Rosie, what is he hiding, who is Mister Sir whom Jonah trusts so much, where is his mama, will he get to meet her, why did she give him up, where is his papa.. What is wrong with his health, will he be ok, will there be peace and happiness in all these searching hearts..
I had so many questions when I started this book. I was prepared to be just coursing along casually till bit by bit, I got immersed in Jonah, Rosie and Sam. I lived their emotions, I saw their story and I cried for them. Each one is so strong, be it mama Grace, real father Odikinyi, Sam, Rosie, grandma Flick, best friend Alice, social worker Trudi and DI Peter Taylor, even the pet cat Hop. Each had had their share of hardships in life but there is a beautiful common thread which joins them : strength, and a heart which keeps on loving.
So many times in our work we are told to be professional but I realize this book teaches that it's always better to be humane than to be human. And we judge people so wrongly, we do not always know their circumstances to understand their actions as it happened for me regarding Jonah's mama. I judged and I was so wrong. Sometimes courage comes in the action of sacrifice.
There are few circumstances in the beginning of the book which are a bit fantastical, but they do not detract from the emotions and the story which just continues to capture our hearts.
Few lines from the book
A child can have two mothers, and one doesn't cancel the other out. Because a child can never have too much love...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Sphere and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
Mama... I hear you in the wind and in the rain... I hear you in the sun and the stars... I hear you in the sky and the sea... I hear you in my heart with me...
The most heart wrenching emotion, pure love.. Love between a mother and a child.. timeless, precious, love as old as the earth itself and perhaps older. Love which resides in every cell of the mother, both the birth and the adopted.. Being a mother is not only by the birth, but that's a small part, but its in the heart, pure and loving.
The story is simple but complex, said in different points of view, moving between past and present, adding to its depth but the prose is sheer poetry. Every character is flawed but brimming with unconditional love just different ways to express it. The topic is very relevant in today's world.. Adoption... Every child deserves love and protection and none should grow up before their time.
Jonah is brought to London by his Mister Sir and abandoned at the airport. Trudi is brought in as his social worker, who along with DI Peter Taylor, works hard to understand his story and to find a suitable home for Jonah. Enter Rosie and Sam, who can't have children yet open their hearts to adoption. Jonah falls sick.. And then comes a race against time to save him, find his mama and discover the reason why a seven year old travels all the way from Lamu, Kenya to London, UK.
Will Jonah open up and accept Sam and Rosie, what is he hiding, who is Mister Sir whom Jonah trusts so much, where is his mama, will he get to meet her, why did she give him up, where is his papa.. What is wrong with his health, will he be ok, will there be peace and happiness in all these searching hearts..
I had so many questions when I started this book. I was prepared to be just coursing along casually till bit by bit, I got immersed in Jonah, Rosie and Sam. I lived their emotions, I saw their story and I cried for them. Each one is so strong, be it mama Grace, real father Odikinyi, Sam, Rosie, grandma Flick, best friend Alice, social worker Trudi and DI Peter Taylor, even the pet cat Hop. Each had had their share of hardships in life but there is a beautiful common thread which joins them : strength, and a heart which keeps on loving.
So many times in our work we are told to be professional but I realize this book teaches that it's always better to be humane than to be human. And we judge people so wrongly, we do not always know their circumstances to understand their actions as it happened for me regarding Jonah's mama. I judged and I was so wrong. Sometimes courage comes in the action of sacrifice.
There are few circumstances in the beginning of the book which are a bit fantastical, but they do not detract from the emotions and the story which just continues to capture our hearts.
Few lines from the book
A child can have two mothers, and one doesn't cancel the other out. Because a child can never have too much love...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Sphere and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
August 15, 2017
I read this novel whilst on vacation just recently. Talk about pulling at the heartstrings! I happened to be on a coach tour, which wasn't the best place to read such an emotional book.
I have a few friends that have adopted and each had a sad story to tell. One was about the same age as Jonah and things were very difficult for the first few years. Even to the point of nearly giving up. Fast forward, he is the son that would make any parent proud.
An excellent read and one of those hard to put down books. It is the first time that i have read any novels by this author and is a name that i shall be watching out for in the future. I am not going to write what happens in the story, as i do not wish to spoil for others, but i do highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
I have a few friends that have adopted and each had a sad story to tell. One was about the same age as Jonah and things were very difficult for the first few years. Even to the point of nearly giving up. Fast forward, he is the son that would make any parent proud.
An excellent read and one of those hard to put down books. It is the first time that i have read any novels by this author and is a name that i shall be watching out for in the future. I am not going to write what happens in the story, as i do not wish to spoil for others, but i do highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
May 12, 2017
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Jonah aged 7 is sent to England by his mother to learn English and have a better life. Abandoned by the man meant to care for him he is put in the foster system. Sam and Rosie unable to have children are looking to adopt. The story is narrated in alternate chapters by the various characters. The book also goes back and forth in the timeline to give the background stories. It is a very moving book which deals sympathetically with the subject matter. I particularly liked the way the little boy's thoughts are portrayed so sympathetically, the concentration on the emotions of the characters and the way the situation affects Sam and Rosie's relationship.
Recommended read for something a bit different.
4.5 stars
Jonah aged 7 is sent to England by his mother to learn English and have a better life. Abandoned by the man meant to care for him he is put in the foster system. Sam and Rosie unable to have children are looking to adopt. The story is narrated in alternate chapters by the various characters. The book also goes back and forth in the timeline to give the background stories. It is a very moving book which deals sympathetically with the subject matter. I particularly liked the way the little boy's thoughts are portrayed so sympathetically, the concentration on the emotions of the characters and the way the situation affects Sam and Rosie's relationship.
Recommended read for something a bit different.
4.5 stars
April 8, 2017
ARGHHHHHHHH
I started crying about half way through reading this book and didn't freaking stop.
I think, if one word could describe this book, the word would be bittersweet.
I refuse to give anything away about this book and it's ending, but it is heart wrenching.
I started crying about half way through reading this book and didn't freaking stop.
I think, if one word could describe this book, the word would be bittersweet.
I refuse to give anything away about this book and it's ending, but it is heart wrenching.
May 21, 2017
I was given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
The cover and description of the book is what drew me in to want to read it - I had never read a fiction book around adoption before; most books are always the typical chick lit girl-meets-boy romance so I want something different, and I certainly got it with this book!
I found myself staying up late to read another chapter, thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it - the story and characters really stuck in my mind and became real. I loved it! There's so many twists and turns you just didn't know what to expect, rather than other stories where you just know where it's heading. I loved it and I'm looking forward to more from this author!
The cover and description of the book is what drew me in to want to read it - I had never read a fiction book around adoption before; most books are always the typical chick lit girl-meets-boy romance so I want something different, and I certainly got it with this book!
I found myself staying up late to read another chapter, thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it - the story and characters really stuck in my mind and became real. I loved it! There's so many twists and turns you just didn't know what to expect, rather than other stories where you just know where it's heading. I loved it and I'm looking forward to more from this author!
August 25, 2017
A book that you keep thinking about when you are not reading it. The only thing that really irked me was the sophistication of the conversations between 7 year olds Jonah and Alice. Jonah's English Gentlemanisms I could completely imagine but the conversations between them seemed more like teenagers. But maybe I just haven't run into any sophisticated 7 year olds yet. Apart from this it is a wonderfully warm book about people facing a multitude of challenges as best they can.
February 7, 2017
Sam and Rosie have gone down the adoption route in an attempt to have the dream family life they've always wanted.
At an adoption day Sam chats to a little boy who was sent to England by his mum . He was abandoned at the airport and isn't keen to help the officials find his family or settle into a new happy family life.
There are various issues and you feel the heartbreak of the families wanting to find that child to complete their families- but also the anxiety from the children who have often been through an extremely stressful childhood, still reluctant to believe that their new families love them unconditionally.
I wasn't sure what sort of storyline I was expecting with this book- but I am so glad that I requested a copy to review. It was one of those books that stays with you for a while and makes you think about things that have never crossed your path before. I would be keen to read more by this author.
At an adoption day Sam chats to a little boy who was sent to England by his mum . He was abandoned at the airport and isn't keen to help the officials find his family or settle into a new happy family life.
There are various issues and you feel the heartbreak of the families wanting to find that child to complete their families- but also the anxiety from the children who have often been through an extremely stressful childhood, still reluctant to believe that their new families love them unconditionally.
I wasn't sure what sort of storyline I was expecting with this book- but I am so glad that I requested a copy to review. It was one of those books that stays with you for a while and makes you think about things that have never crossed your path before. I would be keen to read more by this author.
August 29, 2017
This is by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. The story of Sam and Rosie Keep and the children they've always longed for, and how far they will go in order to have and keep hold of the child they love.
This is a story that is packed full of heart-wrenching emotion, alternating between the points of view of Sam and Rosie, and seven-year old Jonah. The way the perspective alternates is really effective in putting across the strength of the emotion in this situation, for all involved. You can't have but feel completely invested in the plight of the family, and you feel yourself rooting for the happy ending. In some books you can tell exactly which way the story is going to pan out, but this one kept me guessing right until the end. A truly gripping read and written so very well. Highly recommended!
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
This is a story that is packed full of heart-wrenching emotion, alternating between the points of view of Sam and Rosie, and seven-year old Jonah. The way the perspective alternates is really effective in putting across the strength of the emotion in this situation, for all involved. You can't have but feel completely invested in the plight of the family, and you feel yourself rooting for the happy ending. In some books you can tell exactly which way the story is going to pan out, but this one kept me guessing right until the end. A truly gripping read and written so very well. Highly recommended!
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
February 20, 2017
A bit far-fetched but I liked it.
May 24, 2017
What a wonderful book! Domestic drama is by far my favourite genre of novel and when they involve young children, so much the better. This book added an extra bonus for me in that the subject matter was around adoption, specifically, British Local Authority adoption. A couple very close to my heart became a family of 4 last year when they adopted their two little boys and so it's a subject with meaning for me.
The book opens with a brief glimpse into two lives; that of Jonah, a little boy leaving behind his Kenyan homeland and his beloved Mama. And that of Rosie a midwife who dreams of having a baby of her own. On the face of it, Jonahs story seems to be a straightforward example of people trafficking gone wrong, as 'Mister Sir' his travelling companion leaves him at the airport and disappears when the promised "Aunt Igwe" fails to materialise to collect Jonah. But very soon Jonah's insistence that Mister Sir is a good man becomes a compelling argument and you really can't help but wonder how and why Mama and Mr Sir were connected and why Mama had chosen to send Jonah to the UK, even though there would be no relative to meet him there.
Enter social worker Trudi, who burns with the injustice of what happened to Jonah and who is determined to write those wrongs by finding him a family in the U.K., regardless of Jonah's reluctance. While I often disagreed with Trudi's opinions on what was best for Jonah, or on Mister Sir and his role in the drama, I respected her and liked her very much. It is an easy thing for an author to engender respect in a character that the reader will have the same opinions as and agree with, but it takes skill to make a reader accept a characters differences and position and still root for them.
Sadly I can't say for the policeman, DI Peter Taylor. His harder exterior did contrast well with Trudi's emotional response to the call out to the airport but thereafter I didn't really want to him or see why Trudi did.
At first Rosie was a similarly unappealing character. For a midwife she seemed dour and self absorbed, though having experienced fertility problems I do get that it can make people very different from the person they would have become if they hadn't walked down that road. I did get the feeling that the author herself preferred Sam.
Sam is your typical storybook Prince Charming. Handsome, kind and creates beautiful driftwood sculptures in the garage. He wants to adopt, for his sake as well as Rosie's, but there is a strong desire to make her happy that overrides his own feelings. Sam approaches the adoption process in a far more sensible and practical way than Rosie.
The blurb leads us to believe that this is a 'boy meets parents, birth family come back to claim him' story but the novel is so much deeper than that and that isn't actually the worst case scenario that you think it will be when you begin the book. Running through the book is a small, subtle but powerful message of the beauty of literature and its power to move you, to empower you and to bring you together with people. It has certainly made me want to re-read the Tempest soon!
The novel explores family and what it means to be family, whether blood or love ties are stronger or should be considered more important, on what the rights of the child really mean, on self sacrifice and love and friendship and acceptance of a life that doesn't go to plan. I cried on more than one occasion and with more than one emotion and for me, Virginia Macgregor gets it just right and ends it perfectly. This is one of those books where I'm still thinking "I wonder what Jonah is doing now?" I normally hate it when books are turned into movies but as long as Macgregor had control of the script, this would be a fantastic film.
The book opens with a brief glimpse into two lives; that of Jonah, a little boy leaving behind his Kenyan homeland and his beloved Mama. And that of Rosie a midwife who dreams of having a baby of her own. On the face of it, Jonahs story seems to be a straightforward example of people trafficking gone wrong, as 'Mister Sir' his travelling companion leaves him at the airport and disappears when the promised "Aunt Igwe" fails to materialise to collect Jonah. But very soon Jonah's insistence that Mister Sir is a good man becomes a compelling argument and you really can't help but wonder how and why Mama and Mr Sir were connected and why Mama had chosen to send Jonah to the UK, even though there would be no relative to meet him there.
Enter social worker Trudi, who burns with the injustice of what happened to Jonah and who is determined to write those wrongs by finding him a family in the U.K., regardless of Jonah's reluctance. While I often disagreed with Trudi's opinions on what was best for Jonah, or on Mister Sir and his role in the drama, I respected her and liked her very much. It is an easy thing for an author to engender respect in a character that the reader will have the same opinions as and agree with, but it takes skill to make a reader accept a characters differences and position and still root for them.
Sadly I can't say for the policeman, DI Peter Taylor. His harder exterior did contrast well with Trudi's emotional response to the call out to the airport but thereafter I didn't really want to him or see why Trudi did.
At first Rosie was a similarly unappealing character. For a midwife she seemed dour and self absorbed, though having experienced fertility problems I do get that it can make people very different from the person they would have become if they hadn't walked down that road. I did get the feeling that the author herself preferred Sam.
Sam is your typical storybook Prince Charming. Handsome, kind and creates beautiful driftwood sculptures in the garage. He wants to adopt, for his sake as well as Rosie's, but there is a strong desire to make her happy that overrides his own feelings. Sam approaches the adoption process in a far more sensible and practical way than Rosie.
The blurb leads us to believe that this is a 'boy meets parents, birth family come back to claim him' story but the novel is so much deeper than that and that isn't actually the worst case scenario that you think it will be when you begin the book. Running through the book is a small, subtle but powerful message of the beauty of literature and its power to move you, to empower you and to bring you together with people. It has certainly made me want to re-read the Tempest soon!
The novel explores family and what it means to be family, whether blood or love ties are stronger or should be considered more important, on what the rights of the child really mean, on self sacrifice and love and friendship and acceptance of a life that doesn't go to plan. I cried on more than one occasion and with more than one emotion and for me, Virginia Macgregor gets it just right and ends it perfectly. This is one of those books where I'm still thinking "I wonder what Jonah is doing now?" I normally hate it when books are turned into movies but as long as Macgregor had control of the script, this would be a fantastic film.
September 13, 2017
Before I Was Yours is a wonderful book covering the subjects of adoption and motherhood and told through the main 4 characters: Jonah – a 7 year old boy from Kenya who finds himself abandoned in London; Rosie – a married midwife whose dream to have children of her own has been crushed and is desperate to adopt, Sam – Rosie’s husband who will do anything to make Rosie happy even putting her needs before his and Trudi – the social worker responsible for Jonah and determined to find him a loving family.
Little Jonah literally melted my heart – he is the sweetest, most-polite young “True English Gentleman” and his loyalty, belief and love towards his birth mother is so moving and heartbreaking. This emotional story explains all the complications and complexities of adopting a young child and is sympathetically and believably told through all the main characters.
A beautiful, powerful and emotional story of 1 little boy and his 2 mothers. Prepare to be fully swept up in the world of Jonah and feel your heartstrings get pulled in every direction hoping for a “happy ending” for everyone involved.
Little Jonah literally melted my heart – he is the sweetest, most-polite young “True English Gentleman” and his loyalty, belief and love towards his birth mother is so moving and heartbreaking. This emotional story explains all the complications and complexities of adopting a young child and is sympathetically and believably told through all the main characters.
A beautiful, powerful and emotional story of 1 little boy and his 2 mothers. Prepare to be fully swept up in the world of Jonah and feel your heartstrings get pulled in every direction hoping for a “happy ending” for everyone involved.
May 18, 2017
Macgregor really knows how to pull at the heartstrings. At first I was a little irritated with Rosie because she had this all or nothing insanity about her that seemed to border on a selfish obsession but then I realized as someone who has never been in her position it was really unfair to judge what someone like her would do so I tried to read from a more sympathetic stance. That goes to a lot of Macgregor's writing though that she so deeply examines the emotional spectrum of what someone who desperately wants a child feels and what they're willing to do (within legal and moral reasons) to obtain one.
I liked how she tried to capture the culture and settings in Africa as I felt like I was walking on the beach with them at one point. You could just tell she wanted to give honor and respect to how this story started and one of the worst plagues that affects so many over there.
As a parent I felt myself get deeply pulled into the story as I began to put myself in her shoes and cheer Rosie on as she found that Mama Bear strength to want to protect her 'cub' at all costs. She became this amazing hero as she tapped this incredibly deep reservoir of love and selflessness for an innocent child.
When Macgregor threw a couple of more twists at the end I felt myself holding my breath hoping that she would PLEASE give these poor people a happy ending after everything they had to endure.
I liked how she tried to capture the culture and settings in Africa as I felt like I was walking on the beach with them at one point. You could just tell she wanted to give honor and respect to how this story started and one of the worst plagues that affects so many over there.
As a parent I felt myself get deeply pulled into the story as I began to put myself in her shoes and cheer Rosie on as she found that Mama Bear strength to want to protect her 'cub' at all costs. She became this amazing hero as she tapped this incredibly deep reservoir of love and selflessness for an innocent child.
When Macgregor threw a couple of more twists at the end I felt myself holding my breath hoping that she would PLEASE give these poor people a happy ending after everything they had to endure.
June 13, 2019
This book was outstanding. It was a page turner with different directions. It kept my full attention and my fingers turning the pages. I have not read this author before but I will do in the future. A very interesting book.
May 11, 2018
So we have 7yr old Jonah who has been brought over from Kenya to England by "mister sir " who is going to look after Jonah and teach him to read and be a gentleman.
But things don't go to plan and poor Jonah is left all alone in a busy airport.
Jonah is put into the adoption system and soon afterwards goes to live with Sam and Rosie Keep. Who have always wanted children, but couldn't.
Life doesn't go smoothly and it soon throws them a curve ball that puts their marriage and family life to the ultimate test. Sam and Rosie do the one thing they never thought they would...but will they pay the price for it?
Will Jonah stay with Sam and Rosie?
Will they all finally get all the missing answers?
The story was so touching and will cover so many emotions. It will break your heart at times. What its like in the life of an adopted child and how they have to adjust to new families. And also what it's like for adoptive parents.
It certainly makes you realise how lucky you are and count your blessings.
A well reccommended read
But things don't go to plan and poor Jonah is left all alone in a busy airport.
Jonah is put into the adoption system and soon afterwards goes to live with Sam and Rosie Keep. Who have always wanted children, but couldn't.
Life doesn't go smoothly and it soon throws them a curve ball that puts their marriage and family life to the ultimate test. Sam and Rosie do the one thing they never thought they would...but will they pay the price for it?
Will Jonah stay with Sam and Rosie?
Will they all finally get all the missing answers?
The story was so touching and will cover so many emotions. It will break your heart at times. What its like in the life of an adopted child and how they have to adjust to new families. And also what it's like for adoptive parents.
It certainly makes you realise how lucky you are and count your blessings.
A well reccommended read
November 16, 2017
Before I Was Yours was a very interesting book about a fascinating subject - adoption. I don't know much about the whole adoption process so I was intrigued to read this book.
Sam and Rosie have been together since like forever but they are struggling to conceive via IVF so they start looking at adoption. Jonah is a boy from Kenya who is on his way to England with a man his mother has trusted him with. Jonah believes he's going to live with this man and his family so when the man disappears shortly after landing in London, Jonah is worried.
I loved Jonah's side of the storyline, it really showed how a little Kenyan boy would struggle adjusting to life in England. At first I really liked Sam and Rosie but then they both started to annoy me, especially Rosie.
It was a good read but some things I didn't find believable or I struggled to connect with. Overall it was great though and I'm glad I read this book. It was heartwarming and endearing, and I really felt sorry for Jonah, Sam and Rosie.
Sam and Rosie have been together since like forever but they are struggling to conceive via IVF so they start looking at adoption. Jonah is a boy from Kenya who is on his way to England with a man his mother has trusted him with. Jonah believes he's going to live with this man and his family so when the man disappears shortly after landing in London, Jonah is worried.
I loved Jonah's side of the storyline, it really showed how a little Kenyan boy would struggle adjusting to life in England. At first I really liked Sam and Rosie but then they both started to annoy me, especially Rosie.
It was a good read but some things I didn't find believable or I struggled to connect with. Overall it was great though and I'm glad I read this book. It was heartwarming and endearing, and I really felt sorry for Jonah, Sam and Rosie.
February 7, 2017
Another well-written, emotional read from Ms Macgregor.The character's are totally believable and the narrative switches flawlessly between timelines. A highly recommended read.
August 7, 2017
Actually 4.5 stars but I have rounded up.
Having read and enjoyed What Milo Saw and The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells, also by this author, I knew what I was getting myself into when I started this one. Also a little nervous as she had already set the bar quite high. Not long through this book, I saw any concerns I might have had fly away as I immersed myself totally into the lives of the characters and the story that ensued.
We follow as Mister Sir accompanies 7 year old Jonah from his home in Africa to live with an Aunt in England. We watch as he realises that there is no Aunt and follow him as he abandons Jonah in the airport arrivals lounge.
We then meet Sam and Rosie. desperate for a child but unable to have one of their own despite trying several rounds of IVF. They have now gone down the route of adoption and, as we meet them, they are having the initial interviews and preparations that are necessary before they can start to meet children at the open days that are arranged.
Long story short and Jonah is placed with Sam and Rosie and the rest of the book deals with what happened next. A what happened next that made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry and pretty much all the other emotions available as things didn't really go according to plan (understatement!) and hard, very hard, decisions needed to be made.
Oh my goodness. When I finished this book I was emotionally spent. Very satisfied, but completely knackered as the author really did drag me through the wringer.
I found the character of Jonah to be believable and easy to connect to. Sam likewise, but I did take a while to warm to Rosie. Maybe it was because she was so desperate to have a child that this just overshadowed everything else about her. As the book went on, her true personality started to show a bit more and, despite some of her dodgy behaviour, I did eventually grow to like her.
My favourite pairing was Jonah and Alice, his friend. I found their relationship to be enchanting and so believable. Sadly, I didn't really get on with DI Taylor and found his character and some of the things he did to be unconvincing especially towards the end. I also really felt for Rosie and Sam. What they were going through both individually and as a couple. How life kept kicking them in the teeth. How certain things both divided them and made them stronger as a unit. How things changed so much for them in only a short space of time. How they just got on with things best they could as much as they could.
Ok so there was a lot towards the end that I found to be completely unbelievable logistics-wise and there was just no way that the characters could have achieved what they did but... and for me it's a big but, I was so wrapped up in the emotion of the story and what was happening, and I know I shouldn't cos this kind of thing usually really grates on me, but I can just about accept it as poetic license and, as such, I forgive the author their sins.
So, when we eventually peeled off all the layers of Jonah's heritage, when we found out why his mother did what she did and the whole truth came out, boy was it emotional. Ignoring the way it happened and just embracing what happened, I'm just glad that the tissue box was handy and that I was in the privacy of my own home when I finished the book.
All in all, reservations apart, another cracking book from an author who is now firmly cemented on my watch list. Roll on next time!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Having read and enjoyed What Milo Saw and The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells, also by this author, I knew what I was getting myself into when I started this one. Also a little nervous as she had already set the bar quite high. Not long through this book, I saw any concerns I might have had fly away as I immersed myself totally into the lives of the characters and the story that ensued.
We follow as Mister Sir accompanies 7 year old Jonah from his home in Africa to live with an Aunt in England. We watch as he realises that there is no Aunt and follow him as he abandons Jonah in the airport arrivals lounge.
We then meet Sam and Rosie. desperate for a child but unable to have one of their own despite trying several rounds of IVF. They have now gone down the route of adoption and, as we meet them, they are having the initial interviews and preparations that are necessary before they can start to meet children at the open days that are arranged.
Long story short and Jonah is placed with Sam and Rosie and the rest of the book deals with what happened next. A what happened next that made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry and pretty much all the other emotions available as things didn't really go according to plan (understatement!) and hard, very hard, decisions needed to be made.
Oh my goodness. When I finished this book I was emotionally spent. Very satisfied, but completely knackered as the author really did drag me through the wringer.
I found the character of Jonah to be believable and easy to connect to. Sam likewise, but I did take a while to warm to Rosie. Maybe it was because she was so desperate to have a child that this just overshadowed everything else about her. As the book went on, her true personality started to show a bit more and, despite some of her dodgy behaviour, I did eventually grow to like her.
My favourite pairing was Jonah and Alice, his friend. I found their relationship to be enchanting and so believable. Sadly, I didn't really get on with DI Taylor and found his character and some of the things he did to be unconvincing especially towards the end. I also really felt for Rosie and Sam. What they were going through both individually and as a couple. How life kept kicking them in the teeth. How certain things both divided them and made them stronger as a unit. How things changed so much for them in only a short space of time. How they just got on with things best they could as much as they could.
Ok so there was a lot towards the end that I found to be completely unbelievable logistics-wise and there was just no way that the characters could have achieved what they did but... and for me it's a big but, I was so wrapped up in the emotion of the story and what was happening, and I know I shouldn't cos this kind of thing usually really grates on me, but I can just about accept it as poetic license and, as such, I forgive the author their sins.
So, when we eventually peeled off all the layers of Jonah's heritage, when we found out why his mother did what she did and the whole truth came out, boy was it emotional. Ignoring the way it happened and just embracing what happened, I'm just glad that the tissue box was handy and that I was in the privacy of my own home when I finished the book.
All in all, reservations apart, another cracking book from an author who is now firmly cemented on my watch list. Roll on next time!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
December 15, 2017
"He hears voices behind the door.
Footsteps.
Outside the window, the beeping of a lorry, reversing.
The ticking of the clock on the far wall.
Rosie's breathing, carrying the weight of what they'd just heard."
After being unable to have their own child, despite multiple rounds of IVF, Rosie and Sam decide to go down the adoption route. Their paths intertwine with a seven-year-old boy, Jonah, from Kenya, who has been abandoned at an English airport. 'Before I Was Yours' is their heartbreaking, yet uplifting story of the lengths someone would go to for family.
I must admit that it took me a very long time to get into this book. I read the first half of the book over a period of 7 months, before devouring the latter half of the book over the past few days. It is a well-written, well-researched book, but it just didn't grab me straight away. However, as I spent more time with the characters, I really got invested in their stories and wanted everything to work out ok for them. Some other reviewers have mentioned the predictability of the plot, but I genuinely was surprised by the route that the story took. I didn't find it predictable at all.
The story is told from the viewpoints of the different characters, including Jonah. One issue I did have with the book is that I didn't find his voice believeable as one of a seven-year-old. I know that his tendency towards formal speech is part of the story, but I did find the way that he articulates himself strange for someone so young, even if everything he goes through makes him more mature than the average seven-year-old.
Overall though, I ended up enjoying this book and I'm glad that I stuck with it.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Footsteps.
Outside the window, the beeping of a lorry, reversing.
The ticking of the clock on the far wall.
Rosie's breathing, carrying the weight of what they'd just heard."
After being unable to have their own child, despite multiple rounds of IVF, Rosie and Sam decide to go down the adoption route. Their paths intertwine with a seven-year-old boy, Jonah, from Kenya, who has been abandoned at an English airport. 'Before I Was Yours' is their heartbreaking, yet uplifting story of the lengths someone would go to for family.
I must admit that it took me a very long time to get into this book. I read the first half of the book over a period of 7 months, before devouring the latter half of the book over the past few days. It is a well-written, well-researched book, but it just didn't grab me straight away. However, as I spent more time with the characters, I really got invested in their stories and wanted everything to work out ok for them. Some other reviewers have mentioned the predictability of the plot, but I genuinely was surprised by the route that the story took. I didn't find it predictable at all.
The story is told from the viewpoints of the different characters, including Jonah. One issue I did have with the book is that I didn't find his voice believeable as one of a seven-year-old. I know that his tendency towards formal speech is part of the story, but I did find the way that he articulates himself strange for someone so young, even if everything he goes through makes him more mature than the average seven-year-old.
Overall though, I ended up enjoying this book and I'm glad that I stuck with it.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
July 18, 2020
Strange one for me. On one hand, I couldn’t put it down but on the other, the writing didn’t quite work for me. The unputdownable-ness wasn’t so much because it was such a page-turner but rather there didn’t seem to be any convenient places for stopping after a point! I don’t really like stopping at random points in a book, I find it much harder to pick them back up this way. There are chapters, which are essentially time or place jumps, but these got less and less frequent as the book wore on. There was narrator switching in between, but these seemed to flow into one another a bit more than the time/place switching did and didn’t quite provide a proper natural break in reading.
The plot device of time/place/narrator switching worked well though, and I thought the author did well to differentiate the voices of the different characters so that the story didn’t get confusing at any point despite the constant switching. It was also supported by a good and well-researched plot, focusing on the process of adoption – an area that I’m not at all familiar thus making this quite an interesting read from that aspect.
I’m not quite sure which part didn’t quite work for me: Thinking back objectively I thought the storyline as it panned out should have tugged at heartstrings a bit more than it did, but there was something about the storytelling that didn’t bring about this effect as much as I thought it should have. Too emotionless, for want of a better term: I thought there were some key parts of the story, like could have been drawn out a bit more, instead of just appearing in a this-is-what-it-is sort of tone.
Still, like mentioned earlier it was an interesting read and I did think that the plot was solid and well thought out. 3.5 stars, 3 on Goodreads.
The plot device of time/place/narrator switching worked well though, and I thought the author did well to differentiate the voices of the different characters so that the story didn’t get confusing at any point despite the constant switching. It was also supported by a good and well-researched plot, focusing on the process of adoption – an area that I’m not at all familiar thus making this quite an interesting read from that aspect.
I’m not quite sure which part didn’t quite work for me: Thinking back objectively I thought the storyline as it panned out should have tugged at heartstrings a bit more than it did, but there was something about the storytelling that didn’t bring about this effect as much as I thought it should have. Too emotionless, for want of a better term: I thought there were some key parts of the story, like could have been drawn out a bit more, instead of just appearing in a this-is-what-it-is sort of tone.
Still, like mentioned earlier it was an interesting read and I did think that the plot was solid and well thought out. 3.5 stars, 3 on Goodreads.
June 14, 2024
Based on the blurb on the back of Before I Was Yours by Virginia Macgregor, I was expecting a fast-paced thriller where I was more interested in finding out what happened than immersing myself in the story.
What I got was a slow, tender, character piece that focused much more on internal struggles than on external factors.
It's about seven-year-old Jonah, who travels from Kenya with a white man he only knows as Mister Sir, and is then abandoned at Heathrow, to be subsequently taken into care. It's also about Sam and Rosie, who've been trying unsuccessfully to have a child for ten years and are now desperate to adopt. And it's about social worker Trudi, trying to make an impact in the lives of the people she's assigned to help.
All the character viewpoints (and we get all four) are incredibly well written and completely distinct. I particularly loved (and was heartbroken by) Jonah's perspective, as he struggled to make sense of his situation and was pulled in several directions at once, trying to find a place in the world while at the same time protecting his mother from potential threats.
I was a bit concerned about where it was going to end up, but the ultimate conclusion made me cry in a good way and I found the whole book very affecting and involving. A great read.
What I got was a slow, tender, character piece that focused much more on internal struggles than on external factors.
It's about seven-year-old Jonah, who travels from Kenya with a white man he only knows as Mister Sir, and is then abandoned at Heathrow, to be subsequently taken into care. It's also about Sam and Rosie, who've been trying unsuccessfully to have a child for ten years and are now desperate to adopt. And it's about social worker Trudi, trying to make an impact in the lives of the people she's assigned to help.
All the character viewpoints (and we get all four) are incredibly well written and completely distinct. I particularly loved (and was heartbroken by) Jonah's perspective, as he struggled to make sense of his situation and was pulled in several directions at once, trying to find a place in the world while at the same time protecting his mother from potential threats.
I was a bit concerned about where it was going to end up, but the ultimate conclusion made me cry in a good way and I found the whole book very affecting and involving. A great read.
December 16, 2018
Sam and Rosie Keep have known each other since childhood and had always dreamed of getting married and having children. When Rosie is unable to carry a pregnancy to full-term, they decide to turn to adoption. On the other side of the world, 7-year old Jonah is saying goodbye to his mother as her “friend” takes him from his home in Kenya to England in order to become “an English gentleman”. Things don’t turn out as Jonah expects: he’s abandoned in Heathrow airport and it’s left up to a social worker to find a home for him. The Keeps and Jonah eventually come together but their hopes for a happily-ever-after family are dashed when unforeseen problems surface. Sam and Rosie must decide how far they will go to keep a boy whom they’ve known for only a few months, and everyone involved must decide what is best for Jonah… including Jonah himself.
Some of the story was a bit unrealistic (Jonah’s conversations with his friend Alice seem way too sophisticated for that of 7-year olds), but overall this as an enjoyable read. It tackles some big (and heavy) issues but doesn’t pull you down to the point that you don’t want to go on. Quite the opposite: it makes you wonder what you would do in their situation, and you leave the book with a real sense of warmth and optimism.
Some of the story was a bit unrealistic (Jonah’s conversations with his friend Alice seem way too sophisticated for that of 7-year olds), but overall this as an enjoyable read. It tackles some big (and heavy) issues but doesn’t pull you down to the point that you don’t want to go on. Quite the opposite: it makes you wonder what you would do in their situation, and you leave the book with a real sense of warmth and optimism.
March 24, 2024
4.5 stars.
I LOVED this book. I thought it was realistic and beautiful and explored some heavy topics in a very sensitive way, from food allergies to cancer, from adoption to infertility. The characters were all realistic and even though I couldn’t always like them and some of the choices they made, they were real and that’s what I really liked about them. And the last 100 pages made me so emotional 😭 I won’t go into it, because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone reading this, but the last part of the book definitely needs to be read with tissues on hand.
Literally the only reason I’m not giving this book the full 5 stars is because of a very small thing. I felt the conversations between Jonah and his new friend, Alice, were not realistic conversations for seven year olds. I can totally imagine Jonah using some more adult phrases but the conversations were way too grown up to be realistic. It’s not a huge thing, because Alice is only a secondary character, but to me it was really not realistic.
But overall I loved this book and will definitely read more from this author in the future!!!
I LOVED this book. I thought it was realistic and beautiful and explored some heavy topics in a very sensitive way, from food allergies to cancer, from adoption to infertility. The characters were all realistic and even though I couldn’t always like them and some of the choices they made, they were real and that’s what I really liked about them. And the last 100 pages made me so emotional 😭 I won’t go into it, because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone reading this, but the last part of the book definitely needs to be read with tissues on hand.
Literally the only reason I’m not giving this book the full 5 stars is because of a very small thing. I felt the conversations between Jonah and his new friend, Alice, were not realistic conversations for seven year olds. I can totally imagine Jonah using some more adult phrases but the conversations were way too grown up to be realistic. It’s not a huge thing, because Alice is only a secondary character, but to me it was really not realistic.
But overall I loved this book and will definitely read more from this author in the future!!!
October 4, 2017
I like this story a lot. The story of a couple, Sam and Rosie, who have given up. They can't have children so they are going to adopt. That wasn't working so well for them either. They were positioned to have two different children which fell through both times.
Now, they have a chance with Jonah. An seven year old boy from Kenya who has a special, very different background from the rest of the children at the foster home. He was found at the airport alone and he won't tell anyone anything about where is from.
I loved Jonah in this book. I felt so sorry for him. Rosie was constantly getting on my nerves, but that was just her character. A woman who wanted a child so bad that she would overcome all obstacles including her husband.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and sped right through. I had to know what happened to Jonah, Rosie & Sam. Poignant and emotional.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Now, they have a chance with Jonah. An seven year old boy from Kenya who has a special, very different background from the rest of the children at the foster home. He was found at the airport alone and he won't tell anyone anything about where is from.
I loved Jonah in this book. I felt so sorry for him. Rosie was constantly getting on my nerves, but that was just her character. A woman who wanted a child so bad that she would overcome all obstacles including her husband.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and sped right through. I had to know what happened to Jonah, Rosie & Sam. Poignant and emotional.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 8, 2017
Virginia Macgregor has a deceptively simple style that draws you in. She has an uncanny way of getting into the head of young children and writing believable and heartfelt stories that make you want to give the characters a big hug. I absolutely adored the portrayal of Jonah and felt Sam and Rosie's pain in struggling to have children.
Although the story centres around Jonah, Sam and Rosie, Macgregor introduces a wide variety of characters who play their part and have their own distinct voices. From Jonah's beloved Mama to social worker Trudi and policeman Peter, I loved them all.
Another 5* gem from Virginia Macgregor with some heartfelt moments and insights into the difficult world of adopting a child with an unknown background...
Although the story centres around Jonah, Sam and Rosie, Macgregor introduces a wide variety of characters who play their part and have their own distinct voices. From Jonah's beloved Mama to social worker Trudi and policeman Peter, I loved them all.
Another 5* gem from Virginia Macgregor with some heartfelt moments and insights into the difficult world of adopting a child with an unknown background...
December 24, 2017
A thought-provoking story, raising the interesting subject of adoption and how difficult it is for a child to settle in with new parents. Our hearts went out to the adoptive parents, the child Jonah and a number of other characters in the book. We all thought this book was going to be a light holiday read but the title and book cover belied the depth of the book and left one of our member’s in tears by the end. We loved the social worker Trudi and her aunt; they were great characters. We were less keen on the character of Alice ( a seven-year old child who befriends Jonah) and felt the conversations between herself and Jonah were not realistic; the author failed to get inside the mind of seven-year old children. The story had a lot of symbolism and is great for discussion at book clubs.
June 19, 2018
First book I have read from this author , where have I been to have missed such an amazing writer ??
Jonah comes to England from a small African Island to learn to read and be a gentleman to make his mama back home happy . Lost and alone he ends up going through the adoption system and as readers we are left with a vast range of emotions for him and his prospective parents . But things are never that easy and obstacles are thrown often at them .
Beautifully written , I was glued to the book and devastated when it ended and oh what an ending , powerful,words that left me with tears in my eyes. A book I will recommend to others often .
Jonah comes to England from a small African Island to learn to read and be a gentleman to make his mama back home happy . Lost and alone he ends up going through the adoption system and as readers we are left with a vast range of emotions for him and his prospective parents . But things are never that easy and obstacles are thrown often at them .
Beautifully written , I was glued to the book and devastated when it ended and oh what an ending , powerful,words that left me with tears in my eyes. A book I will recommend to others often .
September 30, 2017
This is a lovely though sometimes very sad story. Rosie and Sam long to have a child and have now accepted that they need to adopt. At an adoption day they are introduced to Jonah, age 7 from Kenya. They decide to adopt Jonah and both fall in love with the adorable yet serious little boy. Jonah was brought into London by a man he calls "Mister Sir" who was a friend of his mums. Jonah doesn't talk about his life in Kenya or his mum. When a shocking discovery is made about Jonah, the little family will need all their strength to survive. Will they get the happy ending they deserve? Read on!
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