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The Forgotten Sister
To lose your family is heart-breaking.
To be forgotten by them is unforgivable.Cassie and Erin are sisters. They are close - in age, looks and personality - but there is one crucial Cassie is adopted.
At seventeen, Cassie sets out to find her birth mother. She is hungry for the truth, but she discovers her adoption was far more complicated than even she could have imagined. In uncovering her past identity Cassie learns her adoptive parents have kept a terrible secret from her her whole life, which now threatens to destroy everything she has ever held dear.
To be forgotten by them is unforgivable.Cassie and Erin are sisters. They are close - in age, looks and personality - but there is one crucial Cassie is adopted.
At seventeen, Cassie sets out to find her birth mother. She is hungry for the truth, but she discovers her adoption was far more complicated than even she could have imagined. In uncovering her past identity Cassie learns her adoptive parents have kept a terrible secret from her her whole life, which now threatens to destroy everything she has ever held dear.
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First published May 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
March 23, 2019
Grace gets the phone call that every parent dreads, her adopted daughter Cassie is in A&E in the Royal Infirmary hospital. Her husband Tom and daughter Erin panic.
The story then goes back 4 months earlier when Cassie decides to find out more about her birth mother and discovers she has a sister called Leah.
This is a beautifully written emotional book that explores family life and the consequences of keeping secrets from you’re nearest and dearest. Should you’re loyalties lie with you’re adoptive parents who have lied to you or with you’re birth family, even though they seem to be on a journey of self destruction taking you along with them!!
This is a book that stays with you after reading it and makes you think what would you do if you were in Cassie’s shoes.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
The story then goes back 4 months earlier when Cassie decides to find out more about her birth mother and discovers she has a sister called Leah.
This is a beautifully written emotional book that explores family life and the consequences of keeping secrets from you’re nearest and dearest. Should you’re loyalties lie with you’re adoptive parents who have lied to you or with you’re birth family, even though they seem to be on a journey of self destruction taking you along with them!!
This is a book that stays with you after reading it and makes you think what would you do if you were in Cassie’s shoes.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 4, 2021
The author’s notes at the end of this one was interesting. She mentioned this was not her debut and she hoped to have a long writing career ahead of her. I found this title to be less polished than her debut, which I have just listened to, as this one, in audio format. The narration was excellent and made the listening experience a good one.
I have been thinking how to best describe this one and the adjective is ‘tame’. It had a little suspense, but nothing edge of your seat. The ending a tad neat. Great book club questions at the end though, all relating to adoption, mothering and family connection.
This was the story of Cassie, a beautiful young woman adopted at birth who wants to know more. Raised in privilege, she enters fraughtful situations, finding herself in risky and dangerous situations in a relentless search for the truth about who remains in her birth of origin family.
This was a safe read, but very easy listening which I enjoyed, not loved. The content wasn’t too top heavy which suits my listening style as I listen a lot of the time during my day to day routine.
We see a family that do love each other, but with this love seeming to be based on untruths. Cassie is desperate to find her ancestry and form a bond with her blood sister, who leads a life of such a stark contrast in comparison to Cassie. Secrets and lies emerge and we see the ramifications these have in tragic ways.
I saw the relationship with a 17 year old and her first boyfriend not being so authentic, his character was drawn as uncaring one moment, then being available in a more mature context the next.
Only an ok read for me, but easily digestible, made even more difficult for me to embrace as I did not feel any kind of bond or affinity with any of the characters.
I have been thinking how to best describe this one and the adjective is ‘tame’. It had a little suspense, but nothing edge of your seat. The ending a tad neat. Great book club questions at the end though, all relating to adoption, mothering and family connection.
This was the story of Cassie, a beautiful young woman adopted at birth who wants to know more. Raised in privilege, she enters fraughtful situations, finding herself in risky and dangerous situations in a relentless search for the truth about who remains in her birth of origin family.
This was a safe read, but very easy listening which I enjoyed, not loved. The content wasn’t too top heavy which suits my listening style as I listen a lot of the time during my day to day routine.
We see a family that do love each other, but with this love seeming to be based on untruths. Cassie is desperate to find her ancestry and form a bond with her blood sister, who leads a life of such a stark contrast in comparison to Cassie. Secrets and lies emerge and we see the ramifications these have in tragic ways.
I saw the relationship with a 17 year old and her first boyfriend not being so authentic, his character was drawn as uncaring one moment, then being available in a more mature context the next.
Only an ok read for me, but easily digestible, made even more difficult for me to embrace as I did not feel any kind of bond or affinity with any of the characters.
March 28, 2019
The Forgotten Sister by Caroline Bond is the story of Cassie who decides to find her birth mother and finds that everything she has been told by her adoptive parents was far from true.
This story is full of lies and secrets with quite a few unlikable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story is full of lies and secrets with quite a few unlikable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2019
Intense family drama on the subject of adoption, questions of omission & divided loyalties.
The Forgotten Sister starts in the most dramatic and ominous of fashions with two parents receiving the devastating news that their daughter has been brought into A&E and this sets the tone for an intense family drama that often makes for difficult reading. Caroline Bond’s story certainly pulls no punches with a look at the secrets between families and the devastating repercussions they can have in the complex situation of adoption and divided loyalties.
Seventeen-year-old mixed-race, Cassie Haines, has never given much consideration to where she belongs or whom her real family are. Adopted as a two-year-old and raised by Grace and Tom Haines’, a professional and affluent couple in suburban Leeds, the arrival of Erin, a ‘miracle’ natural child two years later, has done nothing to alter Cassie’s place in the families hearts as the big sister. Thirteen-year-old, Erin, and Cassie are in everything aside from blood, the very truest of sisters. In fact Cassie’s biggest nightmare at present is her interfering, overprotective parents who disapprove of Ryan, her boyfriend from the local council estate. Until, that is, a visit to a family planning clinic and questions about the medical history on Cassie’s mother’s side of the family gives her biological origins a bearing on everyday life, and a growing awareness that she needs to “reclaim control over her past” and understand her life before her adoption.
When a simple enquiry to her parents provides very few answers and leaves her convinced that they are stonewalling, it sets wilful Cassie on her own personal investigation via Facebook and soon uncovers a birth sister, Leah, whom her parents have never mentioned. Incensed and impelled to discover more about her past, Cassie is determined to establish a relationship with her biological sister, regardless of their different starts and diverging paths in life. Socially awkward, volatile and exceedingly bitter, Leah is the forgotten sister of the title and soon makes clear how fortuitous Cassie has been. But as Cassie’s secret meetings with manipulative Leah bring revelations that neither of Cassie’s adopted parents have disclosed, it only serves to drive a wedge between her and her adoptive parents and send her into the arms of Leah. As Cassie wrestles with the veracity of Leah’s disclosures she is torn between her adopted family whom she can’t confront and a virtual stranger. Cassie has to make some serious decisions before her actions destroy the only family life that she has ever known and the people she holds dear... but where does the truth lie and Cassie really belong?
Although I enjoy reading family dramas they do tend to be slightly more uplifting than The Forgotten Sister. The story is deeply involving and as Cassie opens up her life to dangerous and reckless Leah the events do not always make for pleasant reading and there is a palpable menacing atmosphere to the whole drama which keeps intrigue high. Whilst the novel held my attention, I found it an increasingly depressing read and felt decidedly ambivalent as to the fate of the Haines’ family. A raft of unaddressed questions also left me of the opinion that the story was heavily dramatised; from why Leah is not under closer monitoring by the social services to why Grace and Tom were so loathe to discuss things honestly with Cassie and why neither her absence from college or missing monies came to anyone’s attention. The narrative encompasses all of the perspectives of the family and often shifts abruptly mid chapter which some readers may find disconcerting.
I found Cassie a slightly contentious character and her the lack of gratitude or appreciation towards her hardworking parents left me feeling rather indifferent to her fate. Given her supposed stubbornness and opinionated nature I felt Cassie’s pandering to spiteful and malicious Leah didn’t really ring true and for all Grace and Tom’s behind the scenes efforts with the Adoption Agency their inability to sit down and talk honestly to Cassie left me dubious about the much-vaunted close-knit family dynamics. I did think it was pretty unlikely that Cassie had never asked questions or wanted to know more about her biological mother before the age of seventeen, especially given she is forthright, independently minded and switched on in all other areas of her life.
I was deeply disappointed with the denouement which I felt was extraordinary rushed, especially given that the pace of the preceding story up until that point is on occasions painfully slow. For a novel that deals in harsh truths and secrets with the potential to rip a family apart I found the ending trite and unrealistic. Given the events leading up to it and the havoc they had wreaked in the lives of all the Haines family the final nail in the coffin was the lacklustre denouement which felt like the least likely course of action imaginable for Grace, Tom or Cassie Haines and made the entire story feel rather like a worthy life-skills lesson!
I would recommend the book to readers interested in serious women’s fiction and found much of the story made for harrowing and fairly depressing reading. Although the book is well-written, thought-provoking and provides a well-rounded look at the perspectives of all the members of the family, I must admit that I found reading the story rather akin to a dirge. The details on the process of adoption are however fascinating and for this alone I am pleased that I have read the story.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Forgotten Sister starts in the most dramatic and ominous of fashions with two parents receiving the devastating news that their daughter has been brought into A&E and this sets the tone for an intense family drama that often makes for difficult reading. Caroline Bond’s story certainly pulls no punches with a look at the secrets between families and the devastating repercussions they can have in the complex situation of adoption and divided loyalties.
Seventeen-year-old mixed-race, Cassie Haines, has never given much consideration to where she belongs or whom her real family are. Adopted as a two-year-old and raised by Grace and Tom Haines’, a professional and affluent couple in suburban Leeds, the arrival of Erin, a ‘miracle’ natural child two years later, has done nothing to alter Cassie’s place in the families hearts as the big sister. Thirteen-year-old, Erin, and Cassie are in everything aside from blood, the very truest of sisters. In fact Cassie’s biggest nightmare at present is her interfering, overprotective parents who disapprove of Ryan, her boyfriend from the local council estate. Until, that is, a visit to a family planning clinic and questions about the medical history on Cassie’s mother’s side of the family gives her biological origins a bearing on everyday life, and a growing awareness that she needs to “reclaim control over her past” and understand her life before her adoption.
When a simple enquiry to her parents provides very few answers and leaves her convinced that they are stonewalling, it sets wilful Cassie on her own personal investigation via Facebook and soon uncovers a birth sister, Leah, whom her parents have never mentioned. Incensed and impelled to discover more about her past, Cassie is determined to establish a relationship with her biological sister, regardless of their different starts and diverging paths in life. Socially awkward, volatile and exceedingly bitter, Leah is the forgotten sister of the title and soon makes clear how fortuitous Cassie has been. But as Cassie’s secret meetings with manipulative Leah bring revelations that neither of Cassie’s adopted parents have disclosed, it only serves to drive a wedge between her and her adoptive parents and send her into the arms of Leah. As Cassie wrestles with the veracity of Leah’s disclosures she is torn between her adopted family whom she can’t confront and a virtual stranger. Cassie has to make some serious decisions before her actions destroy the only family life that she has ever known and the people she holds dear... but where does the truth lie and Cassie really belong?
Although I enjoy reading family dramas they do tend to be slightly more uplifting than The Forgotten Sister. The story is deeply involving and as Cassie opens up her life to dangerous and reckless Leah the events do not always make for pleasant reading and there is a palpable menacing atmosphere to the whole drama which keeps intrigue high. Whilst the novel held my attention, I found it an increasingly depressing read and felt decidedly ambivalent as to the fate of the Haines’ family. A raft of unaddressed questions also left me of the opinion that the story was heavily dramatised; from why Leah is not under closer monitoring by the social services to why Grace and Tom were so loathe to discuss things honestly with Cassie and why neither her absence from college or missing monies came to anyone’s attention. The narrative encompasses all of the perspectives of the family and often shifts abruptly mid chapter which some readers may find disconcerting.
I found Cassie a slightly contentious character and her the lack of gratitude or appreciation towards her hardworking parents left me feeling rather indifferent to her fate. Given her supposed stubbornness and opinionated nature I felt Cassie’s pandering to spiteful and malicious Leah didn’t really ring true and for all Grace and Tom’s behind the scenes efforts with the Adoption Agency their inability to sit down and talk honestly to Cassie left me dubious about the much-vaunted close-knit family dynamics. I did think it was pretty unlikely that Cassie had never asked questions or wanted to know more about her biological mother before the age of seventeen, especially given she is forthright, independently minded and switched on in all other areas of her life.
I was deeply disappointed with the denouement which I felt was extraordinary rushed, especially given that the pace of the preceding story up until that point is on occasions painfully slow. For a novel that deals in harsh truths and secrets with the potential to rip a family apart I found the ending trite and unrealistic. Given the events leading up to it and the havoc they had wreaked in the lives of all the Haines family the final nail in the coffin was the lacklustre denouement which felt like the least likely course of action imaginable for Grace, Tom or Cassie Haines and made the entire story feel rather like a worthy life-skills lesson!
I would recommend the book to readers interested in serious women’s fiction and found much of the story made for harrowing and fairly depressing reading. Although the book is well-written, thought-provoking and provides a well-rounded look at the perspectives of all the members of the family, I must admit that I found reading the story rather akin to a dirge. The details on the process of adoption are however fascinating and for this alone I am pleased that I have read the story.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 27, 2019
Review on www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
I'm a big fan of Caroline Bond after reading The Second Child. The Forgotten Sister is heartbreaking but a excellent page turner.
Cassie and Erin are sisters, but Cassie is adopted. As Cassie gets just a little more older she wants the truth as to why she was adopted. Once Cassie is told the truth she is affected by what she had just been told about her birth mother, I did feel sorry for Cassie by what she had just been told, any young child must surely be affected in some way finding out the truth about a birth mother in why she gave up her own child.
I also did feel sorry for Cassie's adopted parents as they had brought up Cassie as their own daughter, and now their adopted daughter Cassie wants to know where she originally came from, but equally I'm sure most adopted parents must know that one day that question will be asked.
What will happen next, I can't tell you, but what I can tell you is that be prepared for a surprise twist, that I certainly didn't expect.
I've read lots of true books about fostering, that's why I totally got into the whole story of The Forgotten Sister.
If you haven't read The Second Child or The Forgotten Sister, I'm quite sure any one who loves reading, will not be able to put both of these books down.
I'm a big fan of Caroline Bond after reading The Second Child. The Forgotten Sister is heartbreaking but a excellent page turner.
Cassie and Erin are sisters, but Cassie is adopted. As Cassie gets just a little more older she wants the truth as to why she was adopted. Once Cassie is told the truth she is affected by what she had just been told about her birth mother, I did feel sorry for Cassie by what she had just been told, any young child must surely be affected in some way finding out the truth about a birth mother in why she gave up her own child.
I also did feel sorry for Cassie's adopted parents as they had brought up Cassie as their own daughter, and now their adopted daughter Cassie wants to know where she originally came from, but equally I'm sure most adopted parents must know that one day that question will be asked.
What will happen next, I can't tell you, but what I can tell you is that be prepared for a surprise twist, that I certainly didn't expect.
I've read lots of true books about fostering, that's why I totally got into the whole story of The Forgotten Sister.
If you haven't read The Second Child or The Forgotten Sister, I'm quite sure any one who loves reading, will not be able to put both of these books down.
August 1, 2019
From the very first few pages I was hooked on this story. We start off with a very panicked phone call about a family member in hospital. It’s a shocking and gripping scene that grabs the reader instantly. We’re then transported back 4 months into the past to try to find out what leads to that fateful phone call.
Cassie is adopted and wishes to find out more about her birth mother, when her adopted parents show nothing but relactance she decides to do her own digging. Through the use of social media she discovers she has a sister, she instantly feels betrayed and closeted by her parents.
It’s an emotional journey of heartache and discoveries, at times the plot felt a little messy but mostly it was knowledgeable. It’s a book that makes you question what you would do in Cassie’s situation.
Cassie is adopted and wishes to find out more about her birth mother, when her adopted parents show nothing but relactance she decides to do her own digging. Through the use of social media she discovers she has a sister, she instantly feels betrayed and closeted by her parents.
It’s an emotional journey of heartache and discoveries, at times the plot felt a little messy but mostly it was knowledgeable. It’s a book that makes you question what you would do in Cassie’s situation.
August 8, 2019
This was a wonderful read and Caroline Bond is a new-to-me author to watch out for!
Cassie is a beautiful seventeen-year-old who seems to have everything – a nice house, professional hardworking parents and a lovely little sister, Erin, however, she feels the need to discover who she is. Why was she adopted and why did her birth mother give her away?
This was an intensely emotional book that was sometimes difficult to read. It was exceptionally well written with an excellent and totally believable plot.
The characters were brilliantly drawn by Caroline Bond. Cassie was just like any other teenager experiencing standard teenage angst, discovering boys & freedom and making right and wrong decisions. Her little sister, Erin, was a lovely and loyal thirteen-year-old but one who wasn’t afraid to express her opinions. I shan't say anything about the people Cassie met on her search for her birth family but suffice to say they were fascinating in their complexity.
Did I enjoy this book? Very much so, even though it was a struggle to read in places. I am glad that I read it as it was an excellent book and an extremely worthwhile read.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and the author, Caroline Bond for the opportunity to read The Forgotten Sister at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Cassie is a beautiful seventeen-year-old who seems to have everything – a nice house, professional hardworking parents and a lovely little sister, Erin, however, she feels the need to discover who she is. Why was she adopted and why did her birth mother give her away?
This was an intensely emotional book that was sometimes difficult to read. It was exceptionally well written with an excellent and totally believable plot.
The characters were brilliantly drawn by Caroline Bond. Cassie was just like any other teenager experiencing standard teenage angst, discovering boys & freedom and making right and wrong decisions. Her little sister, Erin, was a lovely and loyal thirteen-year-old but one who wasn’t afraid to express her opinions. I shan't say anything about the people Cassie met on her search for her birth family but suffice to say they were fascinating in their complexity.
Did I enjoy this book? Very much so, even though it was a struggle to read in places. I am glad that I read it as it was an excellent book and an extremely worthwhile read.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and the author, Caroline Bond for the opportunity to read The Forgotten Sister at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 26, 2020
I felt this book took along time to get going. I liked the premise of the story on how adoption and separating siblings affects their lives but felt it lacked something. I found I was indifferent to the characters which made it hard for the book to keep my interest.
September 22, 2019
I actually won this from Readers First earlier this year yet I have only just got round to reading it- we all know what it’s like to have a TBR list that is NEVER ending right?
I won’t lie, this is quite a difficult book to read given the subject matter, at a young age Cassie had been taken into care and then adopted by Tom & Grace Haines, you might think that the problems started because she didn’t know she was adopted, but that is not the case for this story, she knew she was adopted, but she just didn’t know the story of her birth mother.
It would be wonderful to say that she found the answers she was looking for, but was the search for her history that started the problems.
While Tom & Grace were honest about her adoption to some extent, they also kept a huge secret from her- Cassie had an older sister called Leah, who unfortunately hadn’t had the same type of upbringing that Cassie was given.
I don’t actually believe Leah to be a bad person, she had tried to protect Cassie to some extent, but unfortunately driven by jealousy of Cassie’s “fake” family and a lifetime of pain Leah was more than unstable.
Not only did she put Cassie at risk by introducing her to Naz, but she was constantly putting herself at risk as well by seeing him herself.
I think if she had been given a stable upbringing she would have been able to have a proper relationship with Cassie and her “other” family.
Caroline Bond created such a heart wrenching story that actually felt so real, as I was reading, my emotions were all over the place. I felt anger towards Leah to some degree but then I also felt for her. I found myself growing irritated with Cassie the more she pushed her family away while putting herself in danger by going to visit Leah without telling anyone. I truly felt for Erin because to her, Cassie was her older sister and she was being ignored by her in favour of a “stranger”
I am hoping that after the end of the novel, Leah is able to start over without Naz, and maybe she can be included in Cassie’s family- after all before she had Tom and Grace, she only had Leah.
"To lose your family is heart-breaking
To be forgotten by them is unforgivable"
I won’t lie, this is quite a difficult book to read given the subject matter, at a young age Cassie had been taken into care and then adopted by Tom & Grace Haines, you might think that the problems started because she didn’t know she was adopted, but that is not the case for this story, she knew she was adopted, but she just didn’t know the story of her birth mother.
It would be wonderful to say that she found the answers she was looking for, but was the search for her history that started the problems.
While Tom & Grace were honest about her adoption to some extent, they also kept a huge secret from her- Cassie had an older sister called Leah, who unfortunately hadn’t had the same type of upbringing that Cassie was given.
I don’t actually believe Leah to be a bad person, she had tried to protect Cassie to some extent, but unfortunately driven by jealousy of Cassie’s “fake” family and a lifetime of pain Leah was more than unstable.
Not only did she put Cassie at risk by introducing her to Naz, but she was constantly putting herself at risk as well by seeing him herself.
I think if she had been given a stable upbringing she would have been able to have a proper relationship with Cassie and her “other” family.
Caroline Bond created such a heart wrenching story that actually felt so real, as I was reading, my emotions were all over the place. I felt anger towards Leah to some degree but then I also felt for her. I found myself growing irritated with Cassie the more she pushed her family away while putting herself in danger by going to visit Leah without telling anyone. I truly felt for Erin because to her, Cassie was her older sister and she was being ignored by her in favour of a “stranger”
I am hoping that after the end of the novel, Leah is able to start over without Naz, and maybe she can be included in Cassie’s family- after all before she had Tom and Grace, she only had Leah.
"To lose your family is heart-breaking
To be forgotten by them is unforgivable"
June 11, 2024
Tense! Wow, I couldn't put this down.
Would make a riveting mini-series. I could feel the tension and had a nervous belly happening.
An interesting view on adoption and the fallout for all parties involved. Thought provoking and had many things happening that made me want to yell at the characters.
Would make a riveting mini-series. I could feel the tension and had a nervous belly happening.
An interesting view on adoption and the fallout for all parties involved. Thought provoking and had many things happening that made me want to yell at the characters.
April 28, 2020
Poignant and beautiful
January 2, 2020
17 year old Cassie is adopted and wants to find the truth about her real mother. There are so many questions she wants answers to – who is her birth mother and why did she give her up being two of them. After some difficult searching, she finds her sister, Leah. She also finds that the truth is not always what you expect and her adoptive parents haven’t been completely honest about her past.
This story is all about adoption and the difficulties that arise, particularly when the birth family are found. It’s very sensitively written but may prove upsetting if you are adopted yourself. The story does begin slowly, but the pace increases the further into the story you get. It’s quite a dark read with a sad feel running through it, but it does have some lighter moments at times. The characters were a mixture of likeable ones and one you know you just shouldn’t like! I quite enjoyed the ‘unlikeable’ ones, Leah in particular, and yes whilst she was manipulative and just plain nasty, her character added a dark edge to the story which sets the scene so well.
It was a really difficult book to read in places due to it having a very realistic slant to it, but it was mesmerising and threw so many different emotions at me whilst I was reading it that I just couldn’t put it down. The ending was unexpected, but was absolutely perfect for this book, leaving me with a small sense of satisfaction, and a big amount of wanting to know more. A powerful, thoughtful and emotional read which I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Anne Cater, the author and the Publisher, Corvus Books for organising the tour and providing me with a copy of the book!
This story is all about adoption and the difficulties that arise, particularly when the birth family are found. It’s very sensitively written but may prove upsetting if you are adopted yourself. The story does begin slowly, but the pace increases the further into the story you get. It’s quite a dark read with a sad feel running through it, but it does have some lighter moments at times. The characters were a mixture of likeable ones and one you know you just shouldn’t like! I quite enjoyed the ‘unlikeable’ ones, Leah in particular, and yes whilst she was manipulative and just plain nasty, her character added a dark edge to the story which sets the scene so well.
It was a really difficult book to read in places due to it having a very realistic slant to it, but it was mesmerising and threw so many different emotions at me whilst I was reading it that I just couldn’t put it down. The ending was unexpected, but was absolutely perfect for this book, leaving me with a small sense of satisfaction, and a big amount of wanting to know more. A powerful, thoughtful and emotional read which I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Anne Cater, the author and the Publisher, Corvus Books for organising the tour and providing me with a copy of the book!
May 4, 2019
This was a truly super read and I am in awe of the author Caroline Bond. She has created the most heart-breaking moral dilemma of a tale, a story of sisters, of love and guilt, deception and neglect as well as a vivid portrayal of the parents' (misguided?) attempts to protect. It is terrifyingly realistic, brutal in its honesty about the care system and the psychological damage of abuse, trauma and separation. It is an exploration of blood ties versus ties formed from love, structure and parents who are able to give and provide a nurturing home. It is a journey of self discovery for Cassie, for her parents Tom and Grace, for Erin and also for Leah. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone! Cleverly written to keep you guessing who the forgotten sister is and to try and decide who features in Cassie's occasional flashbacks. Is it her birth mother or is it someone else? At times this is an uncomfortable read simply because it is so honest and real. This might be a novel but there will be children and young people out there who are living this and don't have the luxury of being a character in a book. I was completely emotionally invested in the characters, living out events with them and so wanting a happy ending. Is there one? Well, you'll just have to read the book to find out! I am going to read Caroline Bond's debut novel The Second Child on the strength of this book.
April 16, 2019
Like many other readers, I agree that you cannot describe this book as an enjoyable read. It is hard hitting and brutal at times. A novel about how adoption can go on being problematic way beyond the first few years and how the relationships broken and reformed have ripple effects for many years and even generations. I have friends who are/have been involved in different aspects of fostering and adoption and can tell you that this story is not beyond the realm of realism. Perhaps a bit too long with too much dialogue. It is not a book which I enjoyed but if you like writers such as Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes then you will cope with and find this read an equal challenge.
March 21, 2019
An interesting story on what could happen when you don’t tell the truth regarding your daughters adoption. All is well in Cassies life until she starts to think about her real mum. Life starts to spiral for her and is made so much worse when she finds out she has a sister called Leah. Leah is everything Cassie isn’t, nasty, manipulative and violent. Will it all work out for Cassie and everyone involved eventuall?
I felt the author wrote quite a difficult story and covered the emotions of everyone involved well.
I felt the author wrote quite a difficult story and covered the emotions of everyone involved well.
October 16, 2019
I didn't think this book was ever going to end.
What 13yo acts like Erin did?
I didn't really like any of the characters, they were all kind of boring.
I kept going with this book hoping it would get better, sadly, it did not.
What 13yo acts like Erin did?
I didn't really like any of the characters, they were all kind of boring.
I kept going with this book hoping it would get better, sadly, it did not.
July 5, 2019
Audio version of this book 📚 ok listen, good storyline but narration very off putting at times
April 28, 2020
Poignant and beautiful
April 24, 2019
Erin is the youngest sister, Cassie is seventeen dating Ryan a guy her dad can't stand until things go wrong and he can't help his daughter as she shuts herself off withdrawing from the family.
For Grace and Tom, Cassie completed their lives their adopted daughter until a shock pregnancy also gave them Erin their true genetic daughter.
So when Cassie starts to question her adoption, life starts to change dramatically with her mood worsening and her parents being pushed away as she posts online an appeal for information about her adoption and gets a reply from Leah, her sister, supposedly.
Then Tom and Grace get a phone call that day their daughter has been in an accident months and then they realise their family could be in danger, they know Leah and a lot of truths about her come to light, she is 'damaged' from her childhood and they couldn't help her...
Full of intrigue this is a book that will leave you questioning and guessing parts of the plot until the very end. I have to say I didn't love the end I would've liked to see a different outcome maybe darker even but that's just me you'll have to read it to judge for yourself! However I liked the character variation for the family being a mix race family and the use of adoption too as in adult fiction books it's rarely written about, the sisters had a good realistic relationship in the family and Leah was an understandable character when you learn of her past. I really loved the book and am going to eagerly await more from Caroline.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
For Grace and Tom, Cassie completed their lives their adopted daughter until a shock pregnancy also gave them Erin their true genetic daughter.
So when Cassie starts to question her adoption, life starts to change dramatically with her mood worsening and her parents being pushed away as she posts online an appeal for information about her adoption and gets a reply from Leah, her sister, supposedly.
Then Tom and Grace get a phone call that day their daughter has been in an accident months and then they realise their family could be in danger, they know Leah and a lot of truths about her come to light, she is 'damaged' from her childhood and they couldn't help her...
Full of intrigue this is a book that will leave you questioning and guessing parts of the plot until the very end. I have to say I didn't love the end I would've liked to see a different outcome maybe darker even but that's just me you'll have to read it to judge for yourself! However I liked the character variation for the family being a mix race family and the use of adoption too as in adult fiction books it's rarely written about, the sisters had a good realistic relationship in the family and Leah was an understandable character when you learn of her past. I really loved the book and am going to eagerly await more from Caroline.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
May 4, 2019
Tom (white) and Grace (black) are married and unable to have children so opt to adopt. When a little three-year-old mixed-race baby (Cassadie) becomes available they are overjoyed but not keen to also adopt her half-sister Leah (white) because of her massive rage, control and self-harm issues which they witness first hand. Shortly thereafter Grace falls pregnant with Erin and they believe their family to be complete. Weighed down with guilt for leaving Leah behind, Grace writes a yearly letter to Leah but never receives a response.
Years down the line they have in an effort to protect Cassadie not been open about her sister, so she, like most ebullient teenagers sets off on her own path to learn more about her birth mother, only to find Leah. Needless to say, this has massive repercussions for the family, including Erin who has bonded like a blood sister with Cassadie.
The most engrossing part of this story for me was the look at Leah, who took on the role of mothering her baby sister from a very early age, her self-mutilating, rage, lies, deceit and attempt to hurt Cassadie and the family without realising that as a broken person, hurting others would not heal herself.
This was a sad story but not without some hope. Caroline Bond knows how to write a story that keeps one glued. 5 stars.
Years down the line they have in an effort to protect Cassadie not been open about her sister, so she, like most ebullient teenagers sets off on her own path to learn more about her birth mother, only to find Leah. Needless to say, this has massive repercussions for the family, including Erin who has bonded like a blood sister with Cassadie.
The most engrossing part of this story for me was the look at Leah, who took on the role of mothering her baby sister from a very early age, her self-mutilating, rage, lies, deceit and attempt to hurt Cassadie and the family without realising that as a broken person, hurting others would not heal herself.
This was a sad story but not without some hope. Caroline Bond knows how to write a story that keeps one glued. 5 stars.
September 7, 2019
I’m a little disappointed.
I did enjoy this book and will easily give it 3.5 stars but after the author’s previous book “The Second Child”, this just fell a little flat for me.
Nearly every character was so unlikeable, and I’m not sure this book was proofread before it was distributed. That shouldn’t bring the quality of the book down, but when you’re having to mentally pop a word into a sentence so it makes sense, it kind of ruins the experience.
Overall I did enjoy this, and thought it had a truly beautiful ending, but it didn’t grip me like some of the books I’ve read this year have. Would definitely consider reading any books that this author writes in the future.
I did enjoy this book and will easily give it 3.5 stars but after the author’s previous book “The Second Child”, this just fell a little flat for me.
Nearly every character was so unlikeable, and I’m not sure this book was proofread before it was distributed. That shouldn’t bring the quality of the book down, but when you’re having to mentally pop a word into a sentence so it makes sense, it kind of ruins the experience.
Overall I did enjoy this, and thought it had a truly beautiful ending, but it didn’t grip me like some of the books I’ve read this year have. Would definitely consider reading any books that this author writes in the future.
March 19, 2019
Cassie is a beautiful 17 year old who seems to have everything – a nice house, professional hardworking parents, money and a great little sister, Erin. However at 17 she feels the need to discover who she is. Why was she adopted, why did her birth mother give her away? This sets the whole family on an emotional rollercoaster which could end in disaster.
This is an intensely emotional book which at times was hard to read. How loyal should you be to your adopted family if they lie to you? Does your loyalty lie with your birth family who are, after all, you blood relatives? Even if they seem on a self-destructive path which threatens to take you with them?
This is a well written book with an excellent plot which hung together well. Nothing that happened seemed outside the bounds of possibility & the author never took things to extremes. In many ways this made it harder to read as it was so believable.
The characters are excellent. Cassie is a teenager going through the standard teenage angst, discovering boys & freedom. She makes right decisions and wrong decisions. Her little sister, Erin, is lovely. A loyal sister but one who sometimes isn’t afraid to express her opinion but at only 13 she sometimes finds it all a bit much. I won’t say anything about the people Cassie meets on her search for her birth family but suffice to say they are complex and well written.
Did I enjoy this book? It is hard to say really as it was difficult to read in places. I am glad that I read it & I felt it was an excellent book. This was a good look at human nature and that is not always very pleasant.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
This is an intensely emotional book which at times was hard to read. How loyal should you be to your adopted family if they lie to you? Does your loyalty lie with your birth family who are, after all, you blood relatives? Even if they seem on a self-destructive path which threatens to take you with them?
This is a well written book with an excellent plot which hung together well. Nothing that happened seemed outside the bounds of possibility & the author never took things to extremes. In many ways this made it harder to read as it was so believable.
The characters are excellent. Cassie is a teenager going through the standard teenage angst, discovering boys & freedom. She makes right decisions and wrong decisions. Her little sister, Erin, is lovely. A loyal sister but one who sometimes isn’t afraid to express her opinion but at only 13 she sometimes finds it all a bit much. I won’t say anything about the people Cassie meets on her search for her birth family but suffice to say they are complex and well written.
Did I enjoy this book? It is hard to say really as it was difficult to read in places. I am glad that I read it & I felt it was an excellent book. This was a good look at human nature and that is not always very pleasant.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
November 16, 2021
Caroline Bond writes about complex family dynamics, adoption and the search for birth families in this case. I enjoyed this one, but thought the ending fell a bit flat.
September 19, 2023
This book was slow in places. Maybe I read it too close to her other one. I do wonder what would happen if an adopted sister had a sibling and now I know!
May 9, 2019
This is the second novel by Caroline Bond and it did not disappoint. Like The Second Child this is a tale all about families and how they operate behind those suburban curtains. Somehow Ms Bond manages to take you to situations you have no experience of, in this case adoption, and sucks you right in.
The Forgotten Sister is all about Cassie and her adopted family of parents Tom and Grace and their "natural" daughter Erin. Everything is going as well as can be expected for a family with two teenage daughters until Cassie decides that she is ready to take the next step with her boyfriend and visits the Family Planning Clinic. When they start asking questions about her medical history she realises how little she knows about her birth mother and this sets her off on a quest to find out all she can.
I have to be careful here to not give too much away about the plot as there are a couple of twists and turns along the way. All the scenarios in the book do feel exceptionally real with none of the events having that tang of sensationalism for effect that they so easily could have done. Yes, there is a good dollop of action and threat that keep you on the edge of your seat and breathlessly turning pages but you are so absorbed in the story that they just feel like perfectly natural extensions of the circumstances the family find themselves in.
Told in real time with flashbacks, you get a real feel for the arduous adoption process and also Cassie's early years when she was still with her birth mother. I really liked that they were depicted as a normal family with challenges that anyone with children could recognise. It was made clear early on that Grace and Tom were a mixed race couple but the point isn't belaboured and although relevant to the adoption agency regarding placing a child with them it makes no difference to the story - which, lets be honest, it really has no importance to their daily lives.
The story is told mainly from Cassie's viewpoint, with all the mixed up emotions of puberty and peer pressure creating tension within both herself and the family. We don't really hear much from her sister Erin, mainly getting to know her through Cassie's eyes but it is clear that they are close and have a solid sororial relationship. We also have sections focusing on Tom and/or Grace and their relationship is quite enviable - they communicate well with each other and their girls - but it also has it's moments of friction as any real life relationship does. The point is that they are a team and just trying to do their best with (and for) each other.
The secondary voice that we hear from is Leah. We don't meet her until a little ways in to the book but she appears to have information about Cassie's birth mother and when Cassie appeals for information via social media she gets in touch with her. From the start it is clear that Leah loves playing games and manipulating people and that there is something "damaged" about her. Compared to Cassie she has had a terrible start in life and things really don't seem to be improving, in fact, as the book progresses you can't help but think that her situation is worsening.
A sensitively told tale full of emotion and really gives you pause to think about your relationships with the world around you and the people that are closest to you. Genuinely engrossing and believable without ever sinking in to misery-lit.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
The Forgotten Sister is all about Cassie and her adopted family of parents Tom and Grace and their "natural" daughter Erin. Everything is going as well as can be expected for a family with two teenage daughters until Cassie decides that she is ready to take the next step with her boyfriend and visits the Family Planning Clinic. When they start asking questions about her medical history she realises how little she knows about her birth mother and this sets her off on a quest to find out all she can.
I have to be careful here to not give too much away about the plot as there are a couple of twists and turns along the way. All the scenarios in the book do feel exceptionally real with none of the events having that tang of sensationalism for effect that they so easily could have done. Yes, there is a good dollop of action and threat that keep you on the edge of your seat and breathlessly turning pages but you are so absorbed in the story that they just feel like perfectly natural extensions of the circumstances the family find themselves in.
Told in real time with flashbacks, you get a real feel for the arduous adoption process and also Cassie's early years when she was still with her birth mother. I really liked that they were depicted as a normal family with challenges that anyone with children could recognise. It was made clear early on that Grace and Tom were a mixed race couple but the point isn't belaboured and although relevant to the adoption agency regarding placing a child with them it makes no difference to the story - which, lets be honest, it really has no importance to their daily lives.
The story is told mainly from Cassie's viewpoint, with all the mixed up emotions of puberty and peer pressure creating tension within both herself and the family. We don't really hear much from her sister Erin, mainly getting to know her through Cassie's eyes but it is clear that they are close and have a solid sororial relationship. We also have sections focusing on Tom and/or Grace and their relationship is quite enviable - they communicate well with each other and their girls - but it also has it's moments of friction as any real life relationship does. The point is that they are a team and just trying to do their best with (and for) each other.
The secondary voice that we hear from is Leah. We don't meet her until a little ways in to the book but she appears to have information about Cassie's birth mother and when Cassie appeals for information via social media she gets in touch with her. From the start it is clear that Leah loves playing games and manipulating people and that there is something "damaged" about her. Compared to Cassie she has had a terrible start in life and things really don't seem to be improving, in fact, as the book progresses you can't help but think that her situation is worsening.
A sensitively told tale full of emotion and really gives you pause to think about your relationships with the world around you and the people that are closest to you. Genuinely engrossing and believable without ever sinking in to misery-lit.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
May 13, 2019
This is the story of a young girl called Cassie and her attempt to find out more about her past and her biological family. It's also a way of shining the spotlight on the inadequacies of an overburdened system and the children who get lost in the system.
In general a lot of people like to think that an adopted child or person should be eternally grateful, especially when they have been raised in a loving environment by their adopted parents. That there shouldn't be any questions about their lives before the adoption, because it looks as if they are betraying the new family. When the natural instinct to know who you are and where you come from arises, it can cause a lot of conflict.
It probably explains why Grace and Tom think their 17-year-old is just going through a difficult hormone induced period of difficulty. Her choice of men is dubious, she defies the rules and in general is quite combative. It doesn't even dawn on them that the problem could lie elsewhere.
The truth is Cassie wants to know more about herlife and family before life with Tom and Grace. She has been experiencing flashbacks that suggest there were moments of comfort, love and caring in between the more frightening ones. What does that mean? She really has so many questions.
For me the real crux of the issue is when Tom and Grace make a choice that determines the lives of not just their family, but also that of an isolated, abused and neglected child. How many people do that without a second thought, because dealing with a difficult child, well it is easier to just turn around and forget they ever existed, right?
Bond brings a couple of things to the table in this story; the complexity of adoption, the bond of sisterhood, despite a lack of blood bond or because there is one. The author also mixes, albeit it quite subtly the issue of race, skin colour, racism and colour bias into the story.
It's a complex mixture of emotions and the reader is invited into the great entanglement that exists in this small family. I can imagine opinions may be swayed on a few things, but that's not a bad thing. It's a contemporary read, an emotive and hard-hitting one. An eye-opener of a story.
*I received a courtesy copy*
In general a lot of people like to think that an adopted child or person should be eternally grateful, especially when they have been raised in a loving environment by their adopted parents. That there shouldn't be any questions about their lives before the adoption, because it looks as if they are betraying the new family. When the natural instinct to know who you are and where you come from arises, it can cause a lot of conflict.
It probably explains why Grace and Tom think their 17-year-old is just going through a difficult hormone induced period of difficulty. Her choice of men is dubious, she defies the rules and in general is quite combative. It doesn't even dawn on them that the problem could lie elsewhere.
The truth is Cassie wants to know more about herlife and family before life with Tom and Grace. She has been experiencing flashbacks that suggest there were moments of comfort, love and caring in between the more frightening ones. What does that mean? She really has so many questions.
For me the real crux of the issue is when Tom and Grace make a choice that determines the lives of not just their family, but also that of an isolated, abused and neglected child. How many people do that without a second thought, because dealing with a difficult child, well it is easier to just turn around and forget they ever existed, right?
Bond brings a couple of things to the table in this story; the complexity of adoption, the bond of sisterhood, despite a lack of blood bond or because there is one. The author also mixes, albeit it quite subtly the issue of race, skin colour, racism and colour bias into the story.
It's a complex mixture of emotions and the reader is invited into the great entanglement that exists in this small family. I can imagine opinions may be swayed on a few things, but that's not a bad thing. It's a contemporary read, an emotive and hard-hitting one. An eye-opener of a story.
*I received a courtesy copy*
May 4, 2019
At first glance this book might appear to be a depressing read but please don’t be disheartened. Tackling the tough subject of adoption and failings of the care system, the author writes sensitively about the lives of Tom and Grace, their adopted daughter Cassie and their other daughter Erin. Tom and Grace rescue Cassie from the care system when she is just four years old so she only really knows what it is like to be part of a loving family living a privileged middle class existence. Life for this family starts to unravel when Cassie decides she wants to learn more about her birth mother and takes matters into her own hands when social services are slow at delivering the answers she’s looking for. Cassie experiences flashbacks to her previous life and these strange and unsettling dreams push Cassie into questioning what her adoptive parents really know about her past. She feels they are withholding information and it makes the reader question the lengths a parent will go to to protect their children from the truth, if that truth could hurt them. This is an engrossing read about love, both parental and sibling, loss and what it means to be a mother, biological or otherwise. This book will also make you think about the children who aren’t so lucky to be placed permanently in a loving home, perhaps moving from foster homes repeatedly. I felt the latter part of this book really came into its own, clearly well researched and beautifully written. It is utterly heartbreaking to read the final chapters and the way the author has chosen to write the ending is what made me give this book a 5 star rating. Despite tackling such an emotive subject, I feel whilst there is sadness there is also hope to be found, even in the most dire of circumstances. If you are looking for an intelligent, thought provoking read please pick this up as I cannot recommend The Forgotten Sister highly enough. Have some tissues at the ready!!
July 9, 2019
17 year old Cassie has a normal life. She has a job, she goes to college, she has a boyfriend and a loving family. Only Cassie thinks her parents are holding back on her. She has always known that she was adopted, but it never seemed to matter until recently, when she started having dreams about her childhood that don't seem to square with what she has always been told about her birth mother.
The Forgotten Sister is a fascinating family drama looking at adoption, childhood and the lies we tell ourselves are for the good of our families.
The family depicted is very real, and I can recognise myself and other people I know in them. This book makes you think about your own worldview, and the way you treat those closest to you.
With some very sweet moments and heartwarming scenes, this book also has a lot of very uncomfortable concepts and scary ideas, all of which are important to think about and not ignore in real life. Concepts such as teenage rebellion leading to wild irresponsibility, stalking, being taken advantage of, the length we are willing to take "white" lies, being unprotected on social media; these are all things that the Forgotten Sister will make you think about.
There are some very harsh realities in this book, and I would be careful about reading it if you have any issues with self harm, abuse or mental health. Caroline Bond doesn't bring up anything we shouldn't be talking about as a culture, and books like this can be very beneficial for starting tough conversations.
I didn't find the writing style all that easy to get into, but once I passed the first hundred pages or so the story kept me going anyhow.
I love the cover, but the formatting and page layout left something to be desired in my opinion.
The Forgotten Sister is a fascinating family drama looking at adoption, childhood and the lies we tell ourselves are for the good of our families.
The family depicted is very real, and I can recognise myself and other people I know in them. This book makes you think about your own worldview, and the way you treat those closest to you.
With some very sweet moments and heartwarming scenes, this book also has a lot of very uncomfortable concepts and scary ideas, all of which are important to think about and not ignore in real life. Concepts such as teenage rebellion leading to wild irresponsibility, stalking, being taken advantage of, the length we are willing to take "white" lies, being unprotected on social media; these are all things that the Forgotten Sister will make you think about.
There are some very harsh realities in this book, and I would be careful about reading it if you have any issues with self harm, abuse or mental health. Caroline Bond doesn't bring up anything we shouldn't be talking about as a culture, and books like this can be very beneficial for starting tough conversations.
I didn't find the writing style all that easy to get into, but once I passed the first hundred pages or so the story kept me going anyhow.
I love the cover, but the formatting and page layout left something to be desired in my opinion.
May 8, 2019
After trying for many years to have a child of their own, Grace and Tom adopted Cassie when she was three years old. They had immediately bonded with the bright, lively child and, when not long afterwards, Grace became pregnant, the arrival of daughter Erin completed their family. Whilst quite different in personality, the two sisters become very close, are mutually supportive and grow up confident that they are loved by their parents. Although Cassie has always known she was adopted she has never felt any need to discover more about her biological family. However, when she is seventeen, beginning to yearn for more independence and embarking on her first serious relationship, she visits the Family Planning Clinic and when she realises that she cannot answer some of the nurse’s questions about her, and her biological family’s, medical background her life is thrown into turmoil. If she can’t answer these questions, what more is there that she doesn’t know?
When she attempts to find out more from her adoptive parents she discovers that they either can’t, or won’t, provide the answers she needs. Although they promise to approach the adoption team at social services, she believes they are hoping she will give up and gradually becomes convinced that they are hiding something from her. So, determined to discover the truth about her origins, she decides to take matters into her own hands and to use social media to try to make contact with her birth family. It soon becomes clear that the circumstances behind her adoption were far more complicated than could ever have guessed, and that her parents have indeed withheld vital information from her. Her determined quest for the truth threatens the previously comfortable security of everyone in her family.
With switches between past and present, and from the perspectives of different characters, this is a very well told story. As it unfolds, with ever-increasing tension it explores in a sensitive and entirely credible way, the emotionally complex aspects of adoption from the points of view of all involved – the adoptive parents, the person who is adopted, siblings, the biological family etc. For many years I worked as a social worker in an adoption and fostering department so have considerable experience in this field and I was impressed by the way in which the author created such memorable characters to carry the storyline in such a convincing and compelling manner.
I think we all take comfort, and confidence, from knowing our roots and for those of us who are brought up within their biological family, so much information about our family history gradually evolves as we grow up. As we get older and maybe want to know more, it is easy to take for granted that this knowledge is readily available once we start asking questions. People who are adopted have to rely on the information their adoptive parents are able to give them and when specific details are either not known, or deliberately withheld, the individual, whatever their age, is brought face to face with the all questions raised by not knowing. In the past it was much more difficult for people to find answers and the process for doing so was tightly circumscribed. However, technological advances, and the advent of social media, have now opened up new channels of investigation but, this greater ease can increase the vulnerability of the person in search of “the truth”. I was impressed by the way in which the author dealt with this particular aspect of Cassie’s story, the ways in which the teenager was swept up in a vortex of emotions and information and her struggles to understand and process what she was discovering.
Equally impressive was the author’s exploration of the impact that Cassie’s need for knowledge, and honesty, had on other members of her family. Relationships which had felt secure and predictable were now having to be reassessed as each new piece of information, and each deception, came to light. Secrets in any family have the power to be very destructive but this story demonstrates how Grace and Tom’s decision to withhold vital information from their adopted daughter added an extra dimension to their dishonesty. Without spoiling the story it’s impossible to disclose exactly what this well-kept secret was, but for any existing or prospective adopters (and even for biological parents) who read this story, there is an important lesson to be learnt about the corrosive, undermining effects of such secrecy. Although I was, both on a personal and a professional level, very critical of the decision Grace and Tom took, the author’s skill in her portrayal of their motivations, enabled me to at least understand the roots of their fear. I loved the portrayal of the relationship between Cassie and Erin and the ways in which their relationship changed and evolved as a result of Cassie’s search for her roots.
At times this is a dark and disturbing story, and the fact that each one of the characters faces considerable pain and anguish as they are swept up in Cassie’s quest for the truth, also makes it a very moving one. However, there are a number of much lighter moments to offer a counter-balance – something I certainly appreciated! I also liked the fact that the author created a believable twist to the ending, one which didn’t rely on all the ends being neatly tied up – in real life they seldom are!
I think that one of the real strengths of this author’s storytelling comes from her ability to create complex, believable characters, a believable plot and to demonstrate how past experiences have a profound impact, either positive or negative, on how we develop our personalities. Many of the themes which emerged throughout the story, about family loyalty, nature versus nurture, divided loyalties, honesty, secrets and lies etc, were thought-provoking and would certainly lend themselves to making this a good choice for reading groups.
With thanks to Corvus and Real Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When she attempts to find out more from her adoptive parents she discovers that they either can’t, or won’t, provide the answers she needs. Although they promise to approach the adoption team at social services, she believes they are hoping she will give up and gradually becomes convinced that they are hiding something from her. So, determined to discover the truth about her origins, she decides to take matters into her own hands and to use social media to try to make contact with her birth family. It soon becomes clear that the circumstances behind her adoption were far more complicated than could ever have guessed, and that her parents have indeed withheld vital information from her. Her determined quest for the truth threatens the previously comfortable security of everyone in her family.
With switches between past and present, and from the perspectives of different characters, this is a very well told story. As it unfolds, with ever-increasing tension it explores in a sensitive and entirely credible way, the emotionally complex aspects of adoption from the points of view of all involved – the adoptive parents, the person who is adopted, siblings, the biological family etc. For many years I worked as a social worker in an adoption and fostering department so have considerable experience in this field and I was impressed by the way in which the author created such memorable characters to carry the storyline in such a convincing and compelling manner.
I think we all take comfort, and confidence, from knowing our roots and for those of us who are brought up within their biological family, so much information about our family history gradually evolves as we grow up. As we get older and maybe want to know more, it is easy to take for granted that this knowledge is readily available once we start asking questions. People who are adopted have to rely on the information their adoptive parents are able to give them and when specific details are either not known, or deliberately withheld, the individual, whatever their age, is brought face to face with the all questions raised by not knowing. In the past it was much more difficult for people to find answers and the process for doing so was tightly circumscribed. However, technological advances, and the advent of social media, have now opened up new channels of investigation but, this greater ease can increase the vulnerability of the person in search of “the truth”. I was impressed by the way in which the author dealt with this particular aspect of Cassie’s story, the ways in which the teenager was swept up in a vortex of emotions and information and her struggles to understand and process what she was discovering.
Equally impressive was the author’s exploration of the impact that Cassie’s need for knowledge, and honesty, had on other members of her family. Relationships which had felt secure and predictable were now having to be reassessed as each new piece of information, and each deception, came to light. Secrets in any family have the power to be very destructive but this story demonstrates how Grace and Tom’s decision to withhold vital information from their adopted daughter added an extra dimension to their dishonesty. Without spoiling the story it’s impossible to disclose exactly what this well-kept secret was, but for any existing or prospective adopters (and even for biological parents) who read this story, there is an important lesson to be learnt about the corrosive, undermining effects of such secrecy. Although I was, both on a personal and a professional level, very critical of the decision Grace and Tom took, the author’s skill in her portrayal of their motivations, enabled me to at least understand the roots of their fear. I loved the portrayal of the relationship between Cassie and Erin and the ways in which their relationship changed and evolved as a result of Cassie’s search for her roots.
At times this is a dark and disturbing story, and the fact that each one of the characters faces considerable pain and anguish as they are swept up in Cassie’s quest for the truth, also makes it a very moving one. However, there are a number of much lighter moments to offer a counter-balance – something I certainly appreciated! I also liked the fact that the author created a believable twist to the ending, one which didn’t rely on all the ends being neatly tied up – in real life they seldom are!
I think that one of the real strengths of this author’s storytelling comes from her ability to create complex, believable characters, a believable plot and to demonstrate how past experiences have a profound impact, either positive or negative, on how we develop our personalities. Many of the themes which emerged throughout the story, about family loyalty, nature versus nurture, divided loyalties, honesty, secrets and lies etc, were thought-provoking and would certainly lend themselves to making this a good choice for reading groups.
With thanks to Corvus and Real Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2020
I can’t remember where I saw this book but I thought that it had a bit of the thriller genre in it and that’s definitely my thing. However, this book was quite disappointing.
Initially I didn’t see the connection between the plot and the title, there’s a huge emphasis on whether the main character Cassie is remembering her biological mother in her dreams. There are also very cheesy sections that bookend the story that talk about what a ‘new baby’ and ‘new mother’ means and the sort of potential they have.
When the plot finally got going, it was engaging enough but felt really contrived, like the author was trying to cram in every stereotype of young mum’s and the care system that ever existed. There’s also brief descriptions about the difference in race between Cassie, her adoptive father and biological sister, but this doesn’t seem to go anywhere and feels like it’s just shoehorned in to the story.
Overall, quite disappointing and a really hard read.
Initially I didn’t see the connection between the plot and the title, there’s a huge emphasis on whether the main character Cassie is remembering her biological mother in her dreams. There are also very cheesy sections that bookend the story that talk about what a ‘new baby’ and ‘new mother’ means and the sort of potential they have.
When the plot finally got going, it was engaging enough but felt really contrived, like the author was trying to cram in every stereotype of young mum’s and the care system that ever existed. There’s also brief descriptions about the difference in race between Cassie, her adoptive father and biological sister, but this doesn’t seem to go anywhere and feels like it’s just shoehorned in to the story.
Overall, quite disappointing and a really hard read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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