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The Secret Child
Just for a moment, I was young and invincible again, back before I made the decision that changed the rest of my life…
Susie did something that she knows she will always regret: giving her baby son up for adoption, to keep her infidelity secret from her family.
Louise, Susie’s daughter, feels the effects of that decision echoing down through the years – her mother has always been difficult, too strict with her but not strict enough with her sister Grace, who is wild and out-of-control. And Danny, Susie’s husband, adores her, but has always sensed something wrong at the heart of their marriage.
When tragedy strikes the family, and a chance discovery threatens to bring the truth to light, the sisters’ relationship is put to the test as they are faced with an impossible choice…
Susie did something that she knows she will always regret: giving her baby son up for adoption, to keep her infidelity secret from her family.
Louise, Susie’s daughter, feels the effects of that decision echoing down through the years – her mother has always been difficult, too strict with her but not strict enough with her sister Grace, who is wild and out-of-control. And Danny, Susie’s husband, adores her, but has always sensed something wrong at the heart of their marriage.
When tragedy strikes the family, and a chance discovery threatens to bring the truth to light, the sisters’ relationship is put to the test as they are faced with an impossible choice…
346 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
December 18, 2017
That was how I felt while reading this book. I did cry at some point, which is a little embarrassing when you're not alone! Gripping and well-written, this book takes you on an emotional journey that spans over many years... as babies grow into adults, and new parents become grandparents. It's beautiful, but heartbreaking at times and occasionally difficult to read.
In 1968, Susie gives up her baby for adoption. She already has one child, and wishes to keep this one. Her husband would be thrilled with another baby... if it were his. Susie gets pregnant and gives birth while husband Danny is away in the Navy. Even if she wanted to lie, she could not. There is no way the timing would add up. Encouraged by her mother who reminds her that she cannot afford to take on her and the children when her husband inevitably kicks her out, she spends her pregnancy out of town before going to the Mother and Baby Home in London to give birth. She cares for her perfect little son for weeks before he is taken away and given to a new family. She counts those weeks she had him as one of the most memorable times in her life, even many years later.
She's managed to get away with giving birth while her husband is gone, and no one knows a thing. Her mother is the only one around who knows her secret. But Susie can't let him go. She felt she had no other good option, but she longs to be with her son again. All of her life experiences including her marriage, her first daughter, and the second daughter that comes along eventually, are tainted by this huge secret. It has changed her very being, and it affects everyone around her... but they don't know the cause.
It's easy to feel for each and every one of the characters, and the author does a fantastic job getting the reader attached to the story. She packs an amazing amount of love, sorrow, and regret into about 350 pages. Though many parts of it made me sad, now I'm sad that it's over! 4.5 out of 5, rounded up!
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
January 25, 2018
THE SECRET CHILD by Kerry Fisher is a gripping novel of family secrets, guilt and regret, that will leave you in tears. I normally read psychological thrillers, mystery, suspense thrillers, so this was a nice break. I loved her book, The Silent Wife, so was anxious to read her new book, The Secret Child. And I was not disappointed. This is another winner! What an emotional family drama, from the 1960's …I am at a loss for words.
It was the decision that changed the rest of her life…
Susie did something that she knows she will always regret: giving her baby son up for adoption, to keep her infidelity secret from her family. The baby wasn’t her husband Danny’s child. Her mother convinced her that her marriage would be over if Danny returned home from his fifteen-month tour of duty, and found her with another man’s child.
She had no choice…in those days…and had to give her son, Edward up for adoption.
“In less than twenty-four hours, I’d be giving you away forever. I had the rest of my life to work through the madness of trying to conceal another man’s baby from my husband.”
Louise, Susie’s daughter, feels the effects of that decision echoing down through the years – her mother has always been difficult, too strict with her but not strict enough with her sister Grace, who is wild and out-of-control. And Danny, Susie’s husband, adores her, but has always sensed something wrong at the heart of their marriage.
Over the years, Susie tried to get pregnant again, and finally in 1977, they had their second daughter, Grace …but it still didn’t fill the whole missing in her heart.
The story is told from two perspectives (Susie and Grace) and how her choice impacted on the family to come. This novel was heartbreaking at times to read, and even not being blessed with children, I still could feel the vivid pain.
Many thanks to my favourite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy. I definitely won’t be forgetting this book too soon. Highly recommended!
It was the decision that changed the rest of her life…
Susie did something that she knows she will always regret: giving her baby son up for adoption, to keep her infidelity secret from her family. The baby wasn’t her husband Danny’s child. Her mother convinced her that her marriage would be over if Danny returned home from his fifteen-month tour of duty, and found her with another man’s child.
She had no choice…in those days…and had to give her son, Edward up for adoption.
“In less than twenty-four hours, I’d be giving you away forever. I had the rest of my life to work through the madness of trying to conceal another man’s baby from my husband.”
Louise, Susie’s daughter, feels the effects of that decision echoing down through the years – her mother has always been difficult, too strict with her but not strict enough with her sister Grace, who is wild and out-of-control. And Danny, Susie’s husband, adores her, but has always sensed something wrong at the heart of their marriage.
Over the years, Susie tried to get pregnant again, and finally in 1977, they had their second daughter, Grace …but it still didn’t fill the whole missing in her heart.
The story is told from two perspectives (Susie and Grace) and how her choice impacted on the family to come. This novel was heartbreaking at times to read, and even not being blessed with children, I still could feel the vivid pain.
Many thanks to my favourite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy. I definitely won’t be forgetting this book too soon. Highly recommended!
November 14, 2017
A beautiful yet sorrowful story of Susie, a young mother and wife who made the life altering decision to give her second child up for adoption in the 60's, conceived by another man whilst her husband was away for fifteen months, performing his duties in the Navy. Convinced she has no other option than to give her son up for adoption, her demons plague her for decades after, her grief, shame and loneliness of carrying such a secret tainting everything that comes after, especially her relationship with her loving husband and two daughters, Louise and Grace, who often bear the brunt of Susie's inner turmoil, without ever being privy to understanding why she is the way she is.
A moving and emotionally charged novel, I would often find myself with a great big lump in my throat and tears glistening in my eyes. With wonderfully fleshed out characters, one cannot help but feel for each one of them as they are intricately tied together in the complex relationships of this family spanning across generations.
This tale highlights the powerful hold a child has on its mother, whether she only spent six weeks with them or several decades. It also had me pondering over the fact that even though siblings were brought up under the same roof, their bond may not be ideal, yet, on the flipside - * SPOILER HERE! - siblings could share an instant bond even though they didn't grow up together.*
Primarily told from Susie's point of view, the story switches over to Grace's point of view in Part Two, when Grace learns of her mother's skeleton in the attic, adding another layer to this already multi-layered story. As the truth reveals itself, like a bowling ball hitting pins in all sorts of directions, we witness each family member's somewhat unpredictable reactions. Grace's entire perspective of her mother changes, with her finally getting to understand why her mother was the way she was.
In the author's words, this beautiful tale leaves us with "a message of hope – that there are more good people in the world than bad, that decency, forgiveness and love will triumph."
I loved getting to know each member of the Duarte family, having shared in the heartache of their trials but also in the love they clearly have for one another.
Many thanks to Kerry Fisher, Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of this lovely family drama.
A moving and emotionally charged novel, I would often find myself with a great big lump in my throat and tears glistening in my eyes. With wonderfully fleshed out characters, one cannot help but feel for each one of them as they are intricately tied together in the complex relationships of this family spanning across generations.
This tale highlights the powerful hold a child has on its mother, whether she only spent six weeks with them or several decades. It also had me pondering over the fact that even though siblings were brought up under the same roof, their bond may not be ideal, yet, on the flipside - * SPOILER HERE! - siblings could share an instant bond even though they didn't grow up together.*
Primarily told from Susie's point of view, the story switches over to Grace's point of view in Part Two, when Grace learns of her mother's skeleton in the attic, adding another layer to this already multi-layered story. As the truth reveals itself, like a bowling ball hitting pins in all sorts of directions, we witness each family member's somewhat unpredictable reactions. Grace's entire perspective of her mother changes, with her finally getting to understand why her mother was the way she was.
In the author's words, this beautiful tale leaves us with "a message of hope – that there are more good people in the world than bad, that decency, forgiveness and love will triumph."
I loved getting to know each member of the Duarte family, having shared in the heartache of their trials but also in the love they clearly have for one another.
Many thanks to Kerry Fisher, Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of this lovely family drama.
November 27, 2017
What an emotional read this book is. Susie is married to Danny who is often away for 15 months, overseas, with the Navy. They have a daughter and they are deeply in love of each other. But then Susie falls pregnant while Danny is at sea. Susie's mothe rose sends her to a home to a for mothers and babies where she will have to give up her child after it has been born. Susie has to live with the guilt of giving up her baby and living a lie for the rest of her life. This book draws you in in the first few pages and you go through every emotion with Susie. The pace is just right. A moving story which fans old and new will enjoy. This book would make a nice stocking filler this Christmas.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author Kerry Fisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author Kerry Fisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2017
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
In 1963 Susie was forced to give up her newborn baby son for adoption. She wasn’t some silly teenager pregnant with her first child, Susie was a happily married mother to one daughter, Louise.
Susie had decided to go through the heart wrenching decision as the baby wasn’t her husband Danny’s child. Her mother convinced her that her marriage would be over if Danny returned home from his tour of duty, after being away for fifteen months, and found her with another man’s child.
As the years passed by Susie was desperate for another child, but month after month, year after year, she failed to become pregnant. Then in 1977 a miracle happened, and her second daughter Grace was born, but even a second daughter couldn’t take away her guilt and regret.
For 45 years Susie lived with her heartbreaking decision the best she could, but in doing so she had become distant from her husband, and an overbearing, pushy mother to her daughters.
The Secret Child is one hell of a roller-coaster emotionally wise. The book opens in 2013 with Susie talking about what happened to her in 1968, from her time staying with her aunt after she was sent away so people wouldn’t know she was pregnant, to the birth of her child. Don’t be so quick to judge though until you have read her full story.
The book then goes back in time to July 1968 whilst Susie still had her son, just a day away from giving him up for adoption. Each chapter is a different period in time, as the book moves from one month to the next and sometimes jumping years. You get to feel how much pain Susie felt and how it impacted on her life and those close to her, especially her daughters who she was desperate to save from repeating her mistakes.
It was heartbreaking at times to read, but I needed to know Susie’s story. I felt like I was sitting with an elderly relative whilst they were telling me about their life, a life that they never fully lived.
The book is split into two parts, the second from her youngest daughter Grace’s point of view and how as a young woman she resents her mother’s strictness. I love how Ms. Fisher told us Susie’s story and how much her decision in 1968 affected her for the rest of her life, then in the second part how we get to see how the way she brought up her children, whilst living with that guilt affected their lives too.
This is a poignant story that I’m positive truly represents how a lot of women who back in the day were forced to give up their babies for adoption feel every day. I can’t imagine being without my three boys, so it’s hard to comprehend how it must feel to live every day knowing that you have a child somewhere out in the world, wondering what their first word was, what school they went to, what qualifications they got.
Ms. Fisher has a beautiful way with words that resonated deep inside me. I can see Susie’s story staying with me for a long time to come.
In 1963 Susie was forced to give up her newborn baby son for adoption. She wasn’t some silly teenager pregnant with her first child, Susie was a happily married mother to one daughter, Louise.
Susie had decided to go through the heart wrenching decision as the baby wasn’t her husband Danny’s child. Her mother convinced her that her marriage would be over if Danny returned home from his tour of duty, after being away for fifteen months, and found her with another man’s child.
As the years passed by Susie was desperate for another child, but month after month, year after year, she failed to become pregnant. Then in 1977 a miracle happened, and her second daughter Grace was born, but even a second daughter couldn’t take away her guilt and regret.
For 45 years Susie lived with her heartbreaking decision the best she could, but in doing so she had become distant from her husband, and an overbearing, pushy mother to her daughters.
The Secret Child is one hell of a roller-coaster emotionally wise. The book opens in 2013 with Susie talking about what happened to her in 1968, from her time staying with her aunt after she was sent away so people wouldn’t know she was pregnant, to the birth of her child. Don’t be so quick to judge though until you have read her full story.
The book then goes back in time to July 1968 whilst Susie still had her son, just a day away from giving him up for adoption. Each chapter is a different period in time, as the book moves from one month to the next and sometimes jumping years. You get to feel how much pain Susie felt and how it impacted on her life and those close to her, especially her daughters who she was desperate to save from repeating her mistakes.
It was heartbreaking at times to read, but I needed to know Susie’s story. I felt like I was sitting with an elderly relative whilst they were telling me about their life, a life that they never fully lived.
The book is split into two parts, the second from her youngest daughter Grace’s point of view and how as a young woman she resents her mother’s strictness. I love how Ms. Fisher told us Susie’s story and how much her decision in 1968 affected her for the rest of her life, then in the second part how we get to see how the way she brought up her children, whilst living with that guilt affected their lives too.
This is a poignant story that I’m positive truly represents how a lot of women who back in the day were forced to give up their babies for adoption feel every day. I can’t imagine being without my three boys, so it’s hard to comprehend how it must feel to live every day knowing that you have a child somewhere out in the world, wondering what their first word was, what school they went to, what qualifications they got.
Ms. Fisher has a beautiful way with words that resonated deep inside me. I can see Susie’s story staying with me for a long time to come.
November 26, 2017
4.5 Stars!
The Secret Child is compelling and completely addicting! Kerry Fisher has managed to once again write a perfectly layered, emotional, deep, and beautiful story! I devoured this book in just a few hours. Suzie is incredibly flawed, but I was emotional invested in her story and found myself rooting for her until the very last page. Fantastic book and highly recommend!
*Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
The Secret Child is compelling and completely addicting! Kerry Fisher has managed to once again write a perfectly layered, emotional, deep, and beautiful story! I devoured this book in just a few hours. Suzie is incredibly flawed, but I was emotional invested in her story and found myself rooting for her until the very last page. Fantastic book and highly recommend!
*Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
October 30, 2017
Redeeming portion of Fisher's Secret Child is experienced toward the end of the novel. Prejudice and taboo public opinion of pregnancy in the 60's leads Susie to be forced to give up her son for adoption. Demons plague Susie her entire life due to this one event. Fisher explores the challenges that affect Susie's husband and daughters. Sad Psychological results of peer pressure and ramifications of the time period. "A copy of this book was provided by Bookouture via NetGalley with no requirement for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
August 30, 2021
Kerry Fisher breaks my heart into pieces each time.
Tissues at the ready I listened to this.
I’m just glad that when the tears came (often) I was in the privacy of my own room in the house. My family call me ‘soppy Sue’ when I read these tearjerkers.
Making decisions that will affect your future in a big way is what happened here and domino effects of that.
No one can predict the future, you can guess but it’s not set in stone.
Knock-on effects come with any decisions bad or good, right or wrong.
This was an emotive rollercoaster that made me high, then sick to my stomach for certain characters. It left me wanting to hug or send flowers.
I don’t know why I left it so long to read this book, maybe I had to feel emotionally stronger to cope.
Highly recommended to anyone who wants a good ugly sob.
Tissues at the ready I listened to this.
I’m just glad that when the tears came (often) I was in the privacy of my own room in the house. My family call me ‘soppy Sue’ when I read these tearjerkers.
Making decisions that will affect your future in a big way is what happened here and domino effects of that.
No one can predict the future, you can guess but it’s not set in stone.
Knock-on effects come with any decisions bad or good, right or wrong.
This was an emotive rollercoaster that made me high, then sick to my stomach for certain characters. It left me wanting to hug or send flowers.
I don’t know why I left it so long to read this book, maybe I had to feel emotionally stronger to cope.
Highly recommended to anyone who wants a good ugly sob.
December 5, 2017
A mother's love is all encompassing, it is always present, and it comes from her soul...
I looked down at their fingers entwined, struck by the sheer power of maternal love. Within that clasp was so much love and longing, such strength of feeling that time had done nothing to diminish.
A quote from the book that speaks of a mother's love. The author, Kerry Fisher, goes into the depth of this love for the entire story. Her words leap off the page, touch the heart, and cause tears to flow down.
The main character, Susie, is married to Danny, with a daughter Louise. A singing passion and an unfortunate forcible act, a child is conceived, when Danny is away at sea. To maintain her family and their happiness, she gives up the child for adoption, and that guilt eats her up throughout her life.... Till a fatal episode forces the entire family to face the shock of the secret...
Kerry Fisher has done a fantastic job to describe the guilt of a mother who has given her child away. The longing which a mother feels to hold all her children, especially the one who is away from her. Every occasion forces the mother to remember her child, there is never a moment of complete joy for that mother. Such is the main character, Susie described by the author. Her pain seeps through the pages into the reader's heart.
The story is told in dual voices first half by the mother, Susie and the latter by the second daughter, Grace. It is amazing to see how the daughter who rebelled the most, ultimately understood her mother more deeply than the others. The book follows their lives through the years Susie, Danny, and their two daughters. Their choices, their decisions, their anger, their differences, their joy, their happiness. But the background of Susie's pain coats every page...
I read this book as an observer as someone outside the family. Even though there is pathos, I didn't find myself swayed by those emotions always. At times, I felt that Susie should have confessed to her family, especially when the kids grew up or when the adopted child tried to contact her... But that does not, a story make.
The book goes from Susie's youth to her old age and makes it an entertaining read.
I end the review with another quote by Kerry Fisher —
The most generous words, one human being says to another, (the adopted mother to the birth mother)
Thank you so much for for my son. Your son...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I looked down at their fingers entwined, struck by the sheer power of maternal love. Within that clasp was so much love and longing, such strength of feeling that time had done nothing to diminish.
A quote from the book that speaks of a mother's love. The author, Kerry Fisher, goes into the depth of this love for the entire story. Her words leap off the page, touch the heart, and cause tears to flow down.
The main character, Susie, is married to Danny, with a daughter Louise. A singing passion and an unfortunate forcible act, a child is conceived, when Danny is away at sea. To maintain her family and their happiness, she gives up the child for adoption, and that guilt eats her up throughout her life.... Till a fatal episode forces the entire family to face the shock of the secret...
Kerry Fisher has done a fantastic job to describe the guilt of a mother who has given her child away. The longing which a mother feels to hold all her children, especially the one who is away from her. Every occasion forces the mother to remember her child, there is never a moment of complete joy for that mother. Such is the main character, Susie described by the author. Her pain seeps through the pages into the reader's heart.
The story is told in dual voices first half by the mother, Susie and the latter by the second daughter, Grace. It is amazing to see how the daughter who rebelled the most, ultimately understood her mother more deeply than the others. The book follows their lives through the years Susie, Danny, and their two daughters. Their choices, their decisions, their anger, their differences, their joy, their happiness. But the background of Susie's pain coats every page...
I read this book as an observer as someone outside the family. Even though there is pathos, I didn't find myself swayed by those emotions always. At times, I felt that Susie should have confessed to her family, especially when the kids grew up or when the adopted child tried to contact her... But that does not, a story make.
The book goes from Susie's youth to her old age and makes it an entertaining read.
I end the review with another quote by Kerry Fisher —
The most generous words, one human being says to another, (the adopted mother to the birth mother)
Thank you so much for for my son. Your son...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 19, 2018
The Secret Child is a very emotional and heartbreaking story that will stay with me for a long time. It is told in two parts, 1 from the point of view of Susie and the second from her younger daughter Grace. This is very interesting way of telling the story as it helps you to see the characters from different angles which make is easier to understand them and how they act.
It is hard to believe that such attitudes towards unmarried mothers and children born out of wedlock existed only 50 years ago and that mothers were faced with such awful decisions in the face of societies prejudices. In this Kerry Fisher writes about a difficult subject very sensitively creating some very poignant moments which had me rushing to hug my kids even when they were asleep. I often found myself on the verge of tears reading about her feelings on having to adopt her son and hoping for a happy ending where she would be able to keep him. The author has obviously done her research as the feelings that Susie feels after losing her baby are very similar to mine after I lost my baby, albeit in different circumstances. I must admit that I found some of these passages quite hard to read and often had to put the book down for a little while when it got a little too emotional for me.
The book cleverly intersperses the present and the past which helps the reader to glean more knowledge about what happened and to understand more about why the characters acted the way they did. This helped add to the emotional impact of the book especially as the reader becomes more aware of the whole story and how events transpired.
This is the first book by Kerry Fisher that I have read and I will definitely go back and check out some of her other books in future.
Huge thanks to Kim Nash at Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
It is hard to believe that such attitudes towards unmarried mothers and children born out of wedlock existed only 50 years ago and that mothers were faced with such awful decisions in the face of societies prejudices. In this Kerry Fisher writes about a difficult subject very sensitively creating some very poignant moments which had me rushing to hug my kids even when they were asleep. I often found myself on the verge of tears reading about her feelings on having to adopt her son and hoping for a happy ending where she would be able to keep him. The author has obviously done her research as the feelings that Susie feels after losing her baby are very similar to mine after I lost my baby, albeit in different circumstances. I must admit that I found some of these passages quite hard to read and often had to put the book down for a little while when it got a little too emotional for me.
The book cleverly intersperses the present and the past which helps the reader to glean more knowledge about what happened and to understand more about why the characters acted the way they did. This helped add to the emotional impact of the book especially as the reader becomes more aware of the whole story and how events transpired.
This is the first book by Kerry Fisher that I have read and I will definitely go back and check out some of her other books in future.
Huge thanks to Kim Nash at Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
December 4, 2017
Back in the 60's, Susie gave up her son for adoption. A decision she will regret for the rest of her life. But with a husband away on a 15 month stint in the navy, the child is clearly not his and Susie wants to protect her family. The novel follows the Duarte family throughout the years and the effect of hiding this gigantic secret has on Susie and her family.
Susie can't stop thinking about the son she gave away, which has consequences for everyone. Her husband always feels he can't do anything right or make Susie happy but doesn't know why. Her eldest daughter Louise has an incredibly strict upbringing and isn't allowed to make certain decisions based on Susie's own experiences. Youngest daughter Grace, on the other hand, is raised very differently and turns into a wild child. While Susie only ever wanted to protect her family, it seems she's only making things worse.
I'm always fascinated by stories involving adoptions. What would make a mother give up her child? How harsh is the experience of the Mother and Baby homes? We've all heard the stories throughout the years. Those nuns have a lot to answer for. But just imagine, having six weeks with your child. Six weeks to bond, love and cherish, to soak up every little bit about this child that afterwards will not be a part of your life any longer. It's cruel and it's easy to imagine the gaping hole you'd be left to deal with and I feel the author did a brilliant job in getting across that no, you don't just slot back into your life and carry on.
What I like about The Secret Child is that the author doesn't just explore the feelings Susie has to deal with but also her family. Why does Susie treat her daughters so differently? And as the years go on, why does she treat one grandchild differently from another, for example? As the second part of the story is told through Grace, the pieces start to come together and the family dynamics change, which made me wonder which side of the fence I'd end up.
This novel pulls at the heartstrings like you wouldn't believe and left me with a massive lump in my throat. It's the kind of story that has me reaching for the tissues, just in case, and has me doing that weird waving-hand-in-front-of-face thing to keep the tears at bay. Kerry Fisher obviously knows how to draw relatable and realistic characters that worm their way into your heart and I desperately wanted things to work out for all of them. This is a beautifully written story, sad and heartbreaking, moving and thought-provoking, ultimately incredibly emotional. I loved every minute of it!
Susie can't stop thinking about the son she gave away, which has consequences for everyone. Her husband always feels he can't do anything right or make Susie happy but doesn't know why. Her eldest daughter Louise has an incredibly strict upbringing and isn't allowed to make certain decisions based on Susie's own experiences. Youngest daughter Grace, on the other hand, is raised very differently and turns into a wild child. While Susie only ever wanted to protect her family, it seems she's only making things worse.
I'm always fascinated by stories involving adoptions. What would make a mother give up her child? How harsh is the experience of the Mother and Baby homes? We've all heard the stories throughout the years. Those nuns have a lot to answer for. But just imagine, having six weeks with your child. Six weeks to bond, love and cherish, to soak up every little bit about this child that afterwards will not be a part of your life any longer. It's cruel and it's easy to imagine the gaping hole you'd be left to deal with and I feel the author did a brilliant job in getting across that no, you don't just slot back into your life and carry on.
What I like about The Secret Child is that the author doesn't just explore the feelings Susie has to deal with but also her family. Why does Susie treat her daughters so differently? And as the years go on, why does she treat one grandchild differently from another, for example? As the second part of the story is told through Grace, the pieces start to come together and the family dynamics change, which made me wonder which side of the fence I'd end up.
This novel pulls at the heartstrings like you wouldn't believe and left me with a massive lump in my throat. It's the kind of story that has me reaching for the tissues, just in case, and has me doing that weird waving-hand-in-front-of-face thing to keep the tears at bay. Kerry Fisher obviously knows how to draw relatable and realistic characters that worm their way into your heart and I desperately wanted things to work out for all of them. This is a beautifully written story, sad and heartbreaking, moving and thought-provoking, ultimately incredibly emotional. I loved every minute of it!
January 13, 2018
When I requested this book I really wasn't sure whether it might not be my kind of book. How could I have got it so wrong??? I wanted to know how the story ended but it was so good that I wanted to keep reading.
The tale is set in the south of England in the late 1960s and the story covers half a century of life within the Duarte family. Dad Danny is a sailor in the navy and mum Susie is a stay at home mum to toddler Louise. Susie loves to sing and one night a week goes to the dance hall where she takes to the stage with a local band. Life reaches a crossroads after a talent scout arrives in town making offers of recording deals and Susie realises that she can never be part of that scene with a family in tow but finds herself with bigger decisions to make. The dilemma she faces is one of the biggest ones any woman can face and we follow her life afterwards as she copes with the consequences and secrets. The emotional effects of her decision are written brilliantly and I felt like I was taking every step of her journey with her. The second part of the story is told from Susie's daughter Grace's perspective which demonstrates the effects Susie's decision had on her family without them knowing the reasons why she treated life and people the way she did. As a reader we have that insight and I felt this added depth to the storyline. The conclusion to the story I found satisfying and made me love Danny and Grace even more. The only character I didn't warm to was Louise but I feel that this was deliberate on the author's part as it reflects the whole dynamic of the relationship between her and her mother.
Kerry Fisher has presented us with a very believable story which will pull on your heartstrings from every direction possible. A sure fire bestseller.
The tale is set in the south of England in the late 1960s and the story covers half a century of life within the Duarte family. Dad Danny is a sailor in the navy and mum Susie is a stay at home mum to toddler Louise. Susie loves to sing and one night a week goes to the dance hall where she takes to the stage with a local band. Life reaches a crossroads after a talent scout arrives in town making offers of recording deals and Susie realises that she can never be part of that scene with a family in tow but finds herself with bigger decisions to make. The dilemma she faces is one of the biggest ones any woman can face and we follow her life afterwards as she copes with the consequences and secrets. The emotional effects of her decision are written brilliantly and I felt like I was taking every step of her journey with her. The second part of the story is told from Susie's daughter Grace's perspective which demonstrates the effects Susie's decision had on her family without them knowing the reasons why she treated life and people the way she did. As a reader we have that insight and I felt this added depth to the storyline. The conclusion to the story I found satisfying and made me love Danny and Grace even more. The only character I didn't warm to was Louise but I feel that this was deliberate on the author's part as it reflects the whole dynamic of the relationship between her and her mother.
Kerry Fisher has presented us with a very believable story which will pull on your heartstrings from every direction possible. A sure fire bestseller.
December 3, 2017
I’ve read two previous books by this author and this is definitely my favourite to date. I absolutely loved it. From start to finish I was gripped. Apart from having to make (a quick) dinner I read this in one sitting.
While reading this I felt the author took out my heart and squeezed it until I cried. I’ll now be adding this to the rare collection of books that made me cried.
The author wrote this in such a great way I felt as if I was there with the characters. I felt their pain, I went through the different emotions with them.
A truly brilliant read. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
While reading this I felt the author took out my heart and squeezed it until I cried. I’ll now be adding this to the rare collection of books that made me cried.
The author wrote this in such a great way I felt as if I was there with the characters. I felt their pain, I went through the different emotions with them.
A truly brilliant read. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 21, 2018
The Secret Child is an incredibly emotional and heart rending story about a mother’s loss of a child. Susie’s decision to give up her young child for adoption was not an easy one to make; she was not a young teenager but a married woman but if her husband found out it could end her marriage. It was something that she always deeply regretted and the decision haunted her, having a huge impact on her life and relationships with her family. The Secret Child explores the fallout of that decision for over 40 years, first from Susie’s perspective and how she is with her family and includes the voices of other family members too.
The book is split into two parts and although this came as a surprise, this dual viewpoint worked well for me. Having the story told from the point of another character gave a whole new perspective which I found very insightful and actually changed my opinion of the person.
I’m not a maternal person at all and initially I didn’t really feel Susie’s pain but as the story went on and it became clear how it affected her life, I felt some empathy with her however it was the other family members that I felt the most sorry for as they knew that something wasn’t right but didn’t understand why. The characters are well drawn with clear and distinct personalities.
This is another book by Kerry Fisher that I have very much enjoyed. She writes so well and has a great talent for drawing the reader into her family dramas.
The book is split into two parts and although this came as a surprise, this dual viewpoint worked well for me. Having the story told from the point of another character gave a whole new perspective which I found very insightful and actually changed my opinion of the person.
I’m not a maternal person at all and initially I didn’t really feel Susie’s pain but as the story went on and it became clear how it affected her life, I felt some empathy with her however it was the other family members that I felt the most sorry for as they knew that something wasn’t right but didn’t understand why. The characters are well drawn with clear and distinct personalities.
This is another book by Kerry Fisher that I have very much enjoyed. She writes so well and has a great talent for drawing the reader into her family dramas.
August 6, 2019
The titke is itself is a perfect description of what the book is about.
General feelings:
I don't know how to describe this book . I'm just speechless. Kerry Fisher catered to so many social issues in her beautiful story about a family which is faced my the terrible secret of the mother, Susie.
This book made me cry so hard; it just has this quality of je-ne-sais-quoi, and it was just remarkable!
About the story:
The storyline, the emotions, the characters were sooo life-like, familiar and relatable.
It shows the depth of parental love and how parents sacrifice everything for their kids so selflessly and these feeling knock you so hard who can't help but cry or laugh or just FEEL! I hugged my mom countless times while reading this book.
Also I loved the dire ungly truths of our world that Kerry highlighted about the problems, the cruelty, so many women endure. About the fact that women are violated and harassed and are then forced to hide these terrible truths like they are some dirty secrets born of the women's own fault. I hope all such women get the love and support they need and the justice they should get.
The characters:
My favourite character was Grace because she was so relatable in so many ways. How Susie fussed over her, made me relate to Louise, the elder sibling, who often felt neglected and pressurised to be the 'perfect one',while Gracie did whatever and the feelings conveyed here were heart wrenching.
It's remarkable how Kerry Fisher blended the past with the present and showed it as the possible Future too, all the truths about every action of each and every person around them come careening down in the end.
And Danny, the best incarnation of humanity and kindness and the biggest heart I've seen in any character of any book I've read! I just loved him for his amazing disposition, his forgiveness, his generosity, his love for Suzie: true love; real one.
And Susie, the main character who had kept her secret for soo long it shattered her on the inside. Her story teaches us how the world could be better if people weren't so judgemnetal and closed-minded; if families understood eachother and were more approachable to its members.
This was my first ever book by Fisher and I've fallen in love with it!
I recommend it to everyone above 13 yrs of age.
General feelings:
I don't know how to describe this book . I'm just speechless. Kerry Fisher catered to so many social issues in her beautiful story about a family which is faced my the terrible secret of the mother, Susie.
This book made me cry so hard; it just has this quality of je-ne-sais-quoi, and it was just remarkable!
About the story:
The storyline, the emotions, the characters were sooo life-like, familiar and relatable.
It shows the depth of parental love and how parents sacrifice everything for their kids so selflessly and these feeling knock you so hard who can't help but cry or laugh or just FEEL! I hugged my mom countless times while reading this book.
Also I loved the dire ungly truths of our world that Kerry highlighted about the problems, the cruelty, so many women endure. About the fact that women are violated and harassed and are then forced to hide these terrible truths like they are some dirty secrets born of the women's own fault. I hope all such women get the love and support they need and the justice they should get.
The characters:
My favourite character was Grace because she was so relatable in so many ways. How Susie fussed over her, made me relate to Louise, the elder sibling, who often felt neglected and pressurised to be the 'perfect one',while Gracie did whatever and the feelings conveyed here were heart wrenching.
It's remarkable how Kerry Fisher blended the past with the present and showed it as the possible Future too, all the truths about every action of each and every person around them come careening down in the end.
And Danny, the best incarnation of humanity and kindness and the biggest heart I've seen in any character of any book I've read! I just loved him for his amazing disposition, his forgiveness, his generosity, his love for Suzie: true love; real one.
And Susie, the main character who had kept her secret for soo long it shattered her on the inside. Her story teaches us how the world could be better if people weren't so judgemnetal and closed-minded; if families understood eachother and were more approachable to its members.
This was my first ever book by Fisher and I've fallen in love with it!
I recommend it to everyone above 13 yrs of age.
October 25, 2024
Jestem zaskoczona. Po pierwsze spodziewałam się thrillera (nie wiem skąd), a to absolutnie nie jest thriller. Po drugie nie spodziewałam się, że tak się wciągnę i że ta książka zaserwuje mi taki natłok silnych emocji! Zazwyczaj przy książkach o rodzinnych tajemnicach jest albo dobrze albo źle, albo gdzieś po środku, ale tutaj sposób w jaki to zostało napisane i przedstawione, jak bardzo wielowątkowe i wielowarstwowe jest, by ostatecznie się spleść w jedną całość? No cudo. Autorka przepuszcza nas przez maszynkę do mielenia, żeby na końcu utulić plasterkiem i pokazać trochę słońca, pokazując też jak bardzo ludzie potrafią się zmieniać i jak wielka jest moc miłości (i jak różne są jej oblicza). Zdecydowanie nie jest to nasze ostatnie spotkanie.
January 18, 2021
*thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
I absolutely loved how this was written. Instead of the story spanning over only a year or two, this is spread out over decades! It was so interesting to watch the story unfold and how the characters grew. The lives of this family are complex and emotions while reading were quite high. The story was also written in a way where there were two narrators. I wont give away who they are but im rather glad that this had happened. You could feel the hurt, the sadness, the fear and all the other emotions involved. Giving up a baby for adoption and the fact that the main character had held onto this secret was so powerfully written and heartbreaking. I'm trying to imagine doing that myself, the whole, put yourself in others shoes type thing, and just how overwhelming it all feels. I liked all the characters and they all definitely brought something to the story. It also helped me see what happens to a friendship when paths break and are not mended. I felt so sad over how much time had passed between two of the characters because of a fight they had. (Again, I will not spoil who it was between.) I found this story grabbed my attention and held onto it throughout the whole book. Definitely one I recommend.
4 stars.
I absolutely loved how this was written. Instead of the story spanning over only a year or two, this is spread out over decades! It was so interesting to watch the story unfold and how the characters grew. The lives of this family are complex and emotions while reading were quite high. The story was also written in a way where there were two narrators. I wont give away who they are but im rather glad that this had happened. You could feel the hurt, the sadness, the fear and all the other emotions involved. Giving up a baby for adoption and the fact that the main character had held onto this secret was so powerfully written and heartbreaking. I'm trying to imagine doing that myself, the whole, put yourself in others shoes type thing, and just how overwhelming it all feels. I liked all the characters and they all definitely brought something to the story. It also helped me see what happens to a friendship when paths break and are not mended. I felt so sad over how much time had passed between two of the characters because of a fight they had. (Again, I will not spoil who it was between.) I found this story grabbed my attention and held onto it throughout the whole book. Definitely one I recommend.
October 15, 2017
I adore Kerry Fisher's writing. Her stories are hard hitting and emotional and stay with me for a long time. I save her books as treats, knowing they will always entertain and take me right into the characters' lives and their dilemmas so for a few days I am lost, completely and utterly at the mercy of this author and the spell she weaves with her wonderful stories. And this book... WOW! From the very first, emotional chapter, I was hooked. And the story just kept getting better and better, more and more addictive until I gave up all pretence of trying to do other things and gave myself over to the persistent demands of the characters to be heard. A beautiful, poignant tale covering a very sensitive topic and doing justice to all the characters involved. Loved them all. Lived their lives and their dilemmas, cried with them. What more can you ask for in a book? I'm still thinking of them and will do so for a long time. Brilliant author! Fabulous book! Very highly recommended.
October 21, 2017
I have loved all the books I have read by Kerry Fisher which have been five star reads. I was torn with this one but felt that it lacked something in the first half of the book, hence 4 stars.
The author has a knack of describing families and relationships so that we can all see perhaps a little of our own lives in the book whilst creating a good story line with something more sensational.
I loved hearing the story from two perspectives (Susie and Grace) and how giving up her child for adoption impacted on her relationships for years to come.
If you like this author I can recommend this book. If you have not read one of Kerry Fisher’s books, I recommend starting with After the Lie or The Silent Wife.
The author has a knack of describing families and relationships so that we can all see perhaps a little of our own lives in the book whilst creating a good story line with something more sensational.
I loved hearing the story from two perspectives (Susie and Grace) and how giving up her child for adoption impacted on her relationships for years to come.
If you like this author I can recommend this book. If you have not read one of Kerry Fisher’s books, I recommend starting with After the Lie or The Silent Wife.
September 29, 2021
Women's Psychological Fiction / Contemporary
Publication date : November 29, 2017
After reading and enjoying Kerry Fisher's The Woman I Was Before, I wanted to read something more by this author. So when I found THE SECRET CHILD I was eager to read it. And I wasn't dissapointed!
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This is a story about young woman, Susie, who was forced to give her baby boy up for an adoption in order to save her marriage. It is set back in the late 1960's moving us forward through the events and life for the next 40+ years. We see that Susie never stopped loving and longing for her baby. She felt the guilt and paid the terrible price. First part of the book is told from Susie's POV and the second half is told from her youngest daughter, Grace, point of view, as she learns about her mother's past secrets.
I first had my hesitations - I don't want to read about a married woman having another man's baby, - but once I got answers to what/how happened, I could understand her dilemma. Even though the topic was painful and sad, there's something beautiful and hopeful. I couldn't read fast enough to find out how everything play out. If Susie finally gets to meet her son. If she can make the peace with her family.
If you are looking for a story that is full of love, family, friendship, secrets, regrets, hope, acceptance and forgiveness, then I think you will like this story. Kerry Fisher has created a plot that rings true while capturing the heart of the reader, and put us on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
“How many people in the world missed great chunks of time with people they loved, time they could never get back, through a comment taken the wrong way or a misplaced reaction, which pride or fear of rejection exacerbated, spreading like ivy, covering all the paths back, all the avenues of apology, until the only way forward was alone?”
***
"Very late in life, I was starting to learn that walking away instead of engaging in increasingly angry debates was the key to greater happiness and lower blood pressure.”
Publication date : November 29, 2017
After reading and enjoying Kerry Fisher's The Woman I Was Before, I wanted to read something more by this author. So when I found THE SECRET CHILD I was eager to read it. And I wasn't dissapointed!
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This is a story about young woman, Susie, who was forced to give her baby boy up for an adoption in order to save her marriage. It is set back in the late 1960's moving us forward through the events and life for the next 40+ years. We see that Susie never stopped loving and longing for her baby. She felt the guilt and paid the terrible price. First part of the book is told from Susie's POV and the second half is told from her youngest daughter, Grace, point of view, as she learns about her mother's past secrets.
I first had my hesitations - I don't want to read about a married woman having another man's baby, - but once I got answers to what/how happened, I could understand her dilemma. Even though the topic was painful and sad, there's something beautiful and hopeful. I couldn't read fast enough to find out how everything play out. If Susie finally gets to meet her son. If she can make the peace with her family.
If you are looking for a story that is full of love, family, friendship, secrets, regrets, hope, acceptance and forgiveness, then I think you will like this story. Kerry Fisher has created a plot that rings true while capturing the heart of the reader, and put us on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
“How many people in the world missed great chunks of time with people they loved, time they could never get back, through a comment taken the wrong way or a misplaced reaction, which pride or fear of rejection exacerbated, spreading like ivy, covering all the paths back, all the avenues of apology, until the only way forward was alone?”
***
"Very late in life, I was starting to learn that walking away instead of engaging in increasingly angry debates was the key to greater happiness and lower blood pressure.”
December 3, 2017
Another deeply emotional well written story from Kerry Fisher.
This was described as a gripping novel of family secrets and it certainly lived up to its billing. The novel opens in 1968 when we meet new mother, Susie, who is giving her baby up for adoption. She already has a small daughter and her husband, who is away at sea, cannot be the father of her second child.
So begins a lifetime of secrets which affect Susie and her emotional relationship with her daughter and husband. As she struggled with her demons, I found myself more and more drawn to her, and was really wanting her to resolve these issues. The story unfolded well, with the surprise involvement of her daughter in helping her mother. The characters of her daughter and husband were also beautifully drawn and we also saw in to their emotions and reactions to the situation in which they found themselves.
Another excellent novel from one of my new favourite authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.
This was described as a gripping novel of family secrets and it certainly lived up to its billing. The novel opens in 1968 when we meet new mother, Susie, who is giving her baby up for adoption. She already has a small daughter and her husband, who is away at sea, cannot be the father of her second child.
So begins a lifetime of secrets which affect Susie and her emotional relationship with her daughter and husband. As she struggled with her demons, I found myself more and more drawn to her, and was really wanting her to resolve these issues. The story unfolded well, with the surprise involvement of her daughter in helping her mother. The characters of her daughter and husband were also beautifully drawn and we also saw in to their emotions and reactions to the situation in which they found themselves.
Another excellent novel from one of my new favourite authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.
May 28, 2019
EXCELLENT
Usually I avoid adoption-based stories but this one was superb. The entire story was a long meditation on how shame is a cancer AND that not talking, not feeling, not trusting others with your truth creates dysfunction. More importantly the author captured so perfectly how acting “as if” doesn’t work and that you can think “I will not do what my parents did” except you absolutely will if you do not get help or therapy or talk about it. Exceptionally accurate portrayal
SUMMARY: woman gets pregnant while her husband is stationed overseas. Being the 60s she is pressured and shamed to give up the baby and never talk about it, or how she got pregnant, ever again. This is corrosive and affects how she raises the children she does have with her husband. You can see how the dysfunction trickles down. Eventually, sick and dying, she comes clean (a sobering reminder that dementia will eventually release all the secrets we thought we keep) and her daughters find their lost brother. How each person reacts and integrates to the new family dynamic was well-researched by the author.
Usually I avoid adoption-based stories but this one was superb. The entire story was a long meditation on how shame is a cancer AND that not talking, not feeling, not trusting others with your truth creates dysfunction. More importantly the author captured so perfectly how acting “as if” doesn’t work and that you can think “I will not do what my parents did” except you absolutely will if you do not get help or therapy or talk about it. Exceptionally accurate portrayal
SUMMARY: woman gets pregnant while her husband is stationed overseas. Being the 60s she is pressured and shamed to give up the baby and never talk about it, or how she got pregnant, ever again. This is corrosive and affects how she raises the children she does have with her husband. You can see how the dysfunction trickles down. Eventually, sick and dying, she comes clean (a sobering reminder that dementia will eventually release all the secrets we thought we keep) and her daughters find their lost brother. How each person reacts and integrates to the new family dynamic was well-researched by the author.
November 30, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy. 4.5 stars.
This is the harrowing tale of a young girl Susie who has to give her son up for adoption. He is not the child of her husband who is away at sea. This story tells us of the emotional impact this trauma has on Susie, her husband Danny and their two daughters over the ensuing years. Susie punishes herself and without realizing her family as well because of the guilt she feels. Danny feels she withholds part of herself but doesn't understand why.
This is a poignant emotional story which reduced me to tears in part. I empathized with every character and and was completely engrossed.
This is the harrowing tale of a young girl Susie who has to give her son up for adoption. He is not the child of her husband who is away at sea. This story tells us of the emotional impact this trauma has on Susie, her husband Danny and their two daughters over the ensuing years. Susie punishes herself and without realizing her family as well because of the guilt she feels. Danny feels she withholds part of herself but doesn't understand why.
This is a poignant emotional story which reduced me to tears in part. I empathized with every character and and was completely engrossed.
August 7, 2018
3 stars
December 5, 2017
THE SECRET CHILD by Kerry Fisher is a powerful and emotional story of heartache, motherly love, and family, and I guarantee you will need tissues close by as you devour every word of this tale.
Susie has loved her son, her second child, from the moment she laid eyes on him and even though she was only allowed to keep him for six weeks, he has lived in her mind and heart every day. Conceived at the end of the sixties when her beloved husband was away in the Navy, her mother and the Church soon forced Susie to give away her boy, and with that single decision, Susie's life is altered forever. Anxious, desperate, and heartbroken over a loss that she must hide for years, in the first part of this story we see how Susie's despair impacts her two daughters and her caring husband who cannot understand why she is the way she is.
The second part of the story is years later and Gracie has discovered her mother's secret and embarks on a journey that will change the dynamics of their family forever.
With beautiful, in-depth characters we get to know every part of their personalities and my heart broke for Susie while at times I desperately wanted her to be more present for her daughters, especially Louise. This book made me sad and angry because sadly we all now know what happened to so many women back then, and I really wanted Susie to find some peace in her life and be happy.
THE SECRET CHILD by Kerry Fisher is a stunning story that you will not want to put down once you begin. It is compelling, it is raw, and it is beautifully written, and I highly recommend it to fiction fans that enjoy a dramatic family tale.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Susie has loved her son, her second child, from the moment she laid eyes on him and even though she was only allowed to keep him for six weeks, he has lived in her mind and heart every day. Conceived at the end of the sixties when her beloved husband was away in the Navy, her mother and the Church soon forced Susie to give away her boy, and with that single decision, Susie's life is altered forever. Anxious, desperate, and heartbroken over a loss that she must hide for years, in the first part of this story we see how Susie's despair impacts her two daughters and her caring husband who cannot understand why she is the way she is.
The second part of the story is years later and Gracie has discovered her mother's secret and embarks on a journey that will change the dynamics of their family forever.
With beautiful, in-depth characters we get to know every part of their personalities and my heart broke for Susie while at times I desperately wanted her to be more present for her daughters, especially Louise. This book made me sad and angry because sadly we all now know what happened to so many women back then, and I really wanted Susie to find some peace in her life and be happy.
THE SECRET CHILD by Kerry Fisher is a stunning story that you will not want to put down once you begin. It is compelling, it is raw, and it is beautifully written, and I highly recommend it to fiction fans that enjoy a dramatic family tale.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
December 27, 2017
Susie married young, she had her first child before she was twenty. She missed her sailor husband when he was away and had no intention of being unfaithful, but still enjoyed a night out singing with a band. After one fateful night she ended up in a mother & baby home resigned to giving up her baby in order to save her marriage. Giving up her son changes her and she is never the same carefree girl again.
She carries her secret close, imagining that her pain affects no-one else but her husband, who adores her knows there is something different & Louise, her daughter finds her mother difficult to get on with. Susie is determined to keep her daughter safe and controls everything she does. After years of trying they have another daughter and Grace is given much more freedom!
It is when Susie becomes dangerously ill & is calling out for 'Edward' that the secret finally comes out- but will it bring the family closer together or split them apart?
This was a really well written story that reveals the pain of a mother giving up a child for adoption and how that pain never quite goes away. As an adopted child I found it very moving. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
She carries her secret close, imagining that her pain affects no-one else but her husband, who adores her knows there is something different & Louise, her daughter finds her mother difficult to get on with. Susie is determined to keep her daughter safe and controls everything she does. After years of trying they have another daughter and Grace is given much more freedom!
It is when Susie becomes dangerously ill & is calling out for 'Edward' that the secret finally comes out- but will it bring the family closer together or split them apart?
This was a really well written story that reveals the pain of a mother giving up a child for adoption and how that pain never quite goes away. As an adopted child I found it very moving. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
October 25, 2017
Wow! Just.....wow! Kerry Fisher has yet again given us a heartbreaking, gut wrenching read that will bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye. Beautifully written, and highly emotive. I love it!
This book deals with a family that is shaped over decades by one decision made by Susie, Danny's wife and mother to Louise & Grace.Every celebration and anniversaries, special days and events have been marked by a sadness that is Susie's alone. She loves her husband and daughters immensely and this shows in the beautiful writing of the author. The last thing she wants to do is hurt them. So she holds her secret close to her heart........until the unthinkable happens.
After all these years can she let her secret go? Can she rely on her family for help?
This is a novel that really did pull at my heart strings. As a reader, a wife and a mother, i couldn't help but put myself in Susie's shoes. And i can tell you know, it evoked real, intense feelings in myself. My heart went out to her, my chest was heavy and i had a headache from trying not to cry. Now THAT is all down to the talent of such an accomplished writer, who has the ability tho give us such a vivid picture. A truly profound novel that i will be recommending to all.
Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the ARC.
All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
This book deals with a family that is shaped over decades by one decision made by Susie, Danny's wife and mother to Louise & Grace.Every celebration and anniversaries, special days and events have been marked by a sadness that is Susie's alone. She loves her husband and daughters immensely and this shows in the beautiful writing of the author. The last thing she wants to do is hurt them. So she holds her secret close to her heart........until the unthinkable happens.
After all these years can she let her secret go? Can she rely on her family for help?
This is a novel that really did pull at my heart strings. As a reader, a wife and a mother, i couldn't help but put myself in Susie's shoes. And i can tell you know, it evoked real, intense feelings in myself. My heart went out to her, my chest was heavy and i had a headache from trying not to cry. Now THAT is all down to the talent of such an accomplished writer, who has the ability tho give us such a vivid picture. A truly profound novel that i will be recommending to all.
Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the ARC.
All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
August 1, 2018
It started out annoyingly in Susie's pov. It was repetitive, dragging and I had the urge to smack her over the head for some of her decisions. She reminded me a lot of someone close to me. I guess it doesn't matter where's you're from, what era you live in, as long as you're a woman, all blame falls on you. So, I understood the choice that Susie made. But, instead of living with it, she was stuck. She couldn't love anyone properly, couldn't love herself, couldn't stop playing the what if game, couldn't move forward. I was about to close this book and reach for a new one among hundreds ebook I have when Grace's pov make it entrance. Thank God for small miracle.
As the only child in her family, I thought Susie would be strong. But, she was coddle by her dad and later on by her husband that she couldn't even make a decision without thinking through it properly. As not to repeat the same mistake, Susie was hard on her eldest daughter, Louise. It was painful reading that part. I felt bad for Louise when she's not allowed to make mistake while her younger sister live a precarious life.
I couldn't rate it higher because I gloss over the words. I only read what I thought was conversation just to get by. I have to agree with some reviewers that is was boring.
As the only child in her family, I thought Susie would be strong. But, she was coddle by her dad and later on by her husband that she couldn't even make a decision without thinking through it properly. As not to repeat the same mistake, Susie was hard on her eldest daughter, Louise. It was painful reading that part. I felt bad for Louise when she's not allowed to make mistake while her younger sister live a precarious life.
I couldn't rate it higher because I gloss over the words. I only read what I thought was conversation just to get by. I have to agree with some reviewers that is was boring.
February 15, 2018
Kerry Fisher is surely the master of exploring the intricate web of complex emotions surrounding the heartbreaking decision of having a child and then adopting them out. All of her characters were believable and unique and I particularly enjoyed reading about the differences between the two daughters of the protagonists - I felt as though I was reading about my own girls!
I was with the characters all the way - through the pain, guilt, confusion, the lies, sadness and ultimately, the poignant resolution of the narrative. I also thought she did a fantastic job of the convincing dual perspective as well as forcing the reader to ask the difficult question: how much would we be prepared to lie to save our families? I would definitely read more of her books as this one took me on such an emotional journey. Thank you for the wonderful read.
I was with the characters all the way - through the pain, guilt, confusion, the lies, sadness and ultimately, the poignant resolution of the narrative. I also thought she did a fantastic job of the convincing dual perspective as well as forcing the reader to ask the difficult question: how much would we be prepared to lie to save our families? I would definitely read more of her books as this one took me on such an emotional journey. Thank you for the wonderful read.
February 1, 2019
I am becoming quite a fan of Kerry Fisher's books, its the second one this year that I have read. This book is about Susie who is happily married to Danny who is a navy man. They have a daughter Louise who is 2 when Susie suffers the fate of a lot of women who are in the wrong place at the wrong time when they are taken advantage of whilst Danny is away at sea. The result of that night means that she becomes pregnant and is whisked away to a mother and baby home to have this baby then put it up for adoption without anyone but her mother knowing about this. Years go by and life goes on, but Susie carries this secret around in her heart. Then another daughter is born and Gracie is a rebellious girl who seems to be following in her mother's footsteps. This book kept me interested from start to finish and the characters portrayed within seemed quite real to me. Kerry Fisher writes in a similar style to Diane Chamberlain and I highly recommend her books. I read this on kindle and listened to it on audio book at the same time - a very quick way of reading!
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