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Fear of Falling
'Gripping' Mail on SundayWhat if your child ends up hurting those you love?Lydia and Bel have been best friends for years, from wild teenage days all the way through to motherhood. Bel becomes pregnant by accident and has a fraught relationship with daughter Freya, while Lydia and love-of-her-life Mac, after failed fertility treatment, choose to adopt. Gorgeous toddler Chloe challenges them more than either of them had ever expected and as a teenager her behaviour escalates increasingly out of control, pushing their marriage, and Lydia and Bel's relationship, to breaking point.A harrowing and heart-breaking story of the splinters that can tear mothers and daughters, husbands and wives - and friends - apart.Praise for Cath ''This powerful, often harrowing story will move you to tears' My Weekly'Harrowing and humane. A real knockout' Ian Rankin'It's always exciting to see a writer get better and better and Cath Staincliffe is doing just that' Val McDermid'Powerful, complex and utterly gripping' Sunday Mirror'An intelligent and emotionally engaging moral workout' Daily Telegraph'Cath Staincliffe gets into the heads of ordinary people and makes them extraordinary' Ann Cleeves'Complex and satisfying' Sunday Times
- GenresFiction
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2018
13 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Cath Staincliffe
59 books324 followersCath Staincliffe is a best-selling, award-winning novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath's books have been short-listed for the British Crime Writers Association best first novel award, for the Dagger in the Library and selected as Le Masque de l'Année. In 2012 Cath won the CWA Short Story Dagger for Laptop, sharing the prize with Margaret Murphy with her story The Message. Cath was shortlisted again with Night Nurse in 2014. Cath's Sal Kilkenny private eye series features a single-parent sleuth working the mean streets of Manchester. Trio, a stand-alone novel moved away from crime to explore adoption and growing up in the 1960s, inspired by Cath's own experience. Letters To My Daughter's Killer was selected for Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club in 2014 and featured on ITV3s Crime Thriller Club. Cath also writes the Scott & Bailey novels based on the popular UK TV series. Cath's latest stand alone book, The Girl in the Green Dress, was inspired by her experience as the parent of a transgender child. It tells the story of a transphobic hate crime and asks the question: how far would you go to protect your child? Cath is one of the founding members of Murder Squad - a group of Northern crime writers who give readings, talks and signings around the country. Cath was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, UK and now lives in Manchester, Lancashire with her family. You can follow her on Twitter, @CathStaincliffe, which she does when she should be busy writing!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 19, 2018
Cath Staincliffe is a remarkably gifted writer on difficult and tough issues within our real life contemporary worlds, explored with depth, compassion and humanity in her brilliantly gripping fiction. As a teenager, Lydia is drawn to the exciting and cool Bel, with a relationship developing between the very different girls that lasts from their wild teenage years right through the joys, difficulties, traumas and tragedies that befall them as the years goes by. The more grounded Lydia with her more loving family falls in love with the artistic tatooist, Mac, with the two settling into a strong relationship that withstands the trauma of Lydia being unable to conceive. The more flighty and self centred Bel goes through numerous men, lacking the capacity to build a sustainable long term relationship, easily getting pregnant and giving birth to Freya, with whom she struggles to connect with, leading to a fraught relationship that persists into the future.
Through the thoroughly authentic characters of Lydia and Bel, Staincliffe explores the nature and dynamics of family, friendship, post-natal depression, mother and daughter relationships, the fraught, debilitating, and depressing process of IVF treatments, the complex adoption process, and the high likelihood of mentally and emotionally damaged children put up for adoption who can tear apart families and marriages through the years. Mac and Lydia adopt the gorgeous toddler Chloe, only to struggle with the stresses and strains of a daughter that struggles to connect with anyone, unable to fit in social situations at all or in school, and who cannot help but be destructive to those around her. Personally, I cannot imagine myself having the levels of endurance and patience that Lydia exhibits, and it is barely surprising that Chloe pushes Mac and Lydia's marriage to the point of destruction. What is more, the couple face a complete lack of support from social services, there is no respite care available with the damaging budget cuts and mental health therapy is only available if they go private.
This is powerful and authentic storytelling from the author which has its origin in her personal history of being adopted herself. Her research on the wide range of issues covered is impressive and utilised perfectly in the narrative. I cannot imagine anyone not being drawn into the perfectly drawn characters and their development, and the book's moving and compelling storylines that will ring true for so many readers. The issues covered are traumatic and harrowing, but there is much needed for chinks of hope and light in the ability of a friendship to endure the worst that can happen and the survival of a marriage tested to the brink of separation. Staincliffe does a stellar job with her inclusion of a social and political commentary that humanises the unbearable costs of the austerity inflicted on ordinary families. If you have never read Cath Staincliffe before, I strongly urge you to do so. This is storytelling of the highest order and comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Through the thoroughly authentic characters of Lydia and Bel, Staincliffe explores the nature and dynamics of family, friendship, post-natal depression, mother and daughter relationships, the fraught, debilitating, and depressing process of IVF treatments, the complex adoption process, and the high likelihood of mentally and emotionally damaged children put up for adoption who can tear apart families and marriages through the years. Mac and Lydia adopt the gorgeous toddler Chloe, only to struggle with the stresses and strains of a daughter that struggles to connect with anyone, unable to fit in social situations at all or in school, and who cannot help but be destructive to those around her. Personally, I cannot imagine myself having the levels of endurance and patience that Lydia exhibits, and it is barely surprising that Chloe pushes Mac and Lydia's marriage to the point of destruction. What is more, the couple face a complete lack of support from social services, there is no respite care available with the damaging budget cuts and mental health therapy is only available if they go private.
This is powerful and authentic storytelling from the author which has its origin in her personal history of being adopted herself. Her research on the wide range of issues covered is impressive and utilised perfectly in the narrative. I cannot imagine anyone not being drawn into the perfectly drawn characters and their development, and the book's moving and compelling storylines that will ring true for so many readers. The issues covered are traumatic and harrowing, but there is much needed for chinks of hope and light in the ability of a friendship to endure the worst that can happen and the survival of a marriage tested to the brink of separation. Staincliffe does a stellar job with her inclusion of a social and political commentary that humanises the unbearable costs of the austerity inflicted on ordinary families. If you have never read Cath Staincliffe before, I strongly urge you to do so. This is storytelling of the highest order and comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
November 3, 2018
Lydia and Bel have been friends for years. Lydia is desperate for a child and with her partner, Mac, they have fertility treatments but unfortunately it did not work for them. They decide to adopt. They get a toddler called Chloe who challenges them more then they ever expected. Bel also has a daughter called Freya who is about the same age as Chloe. Freya does not like some of the choices her mother makes.
Wow. What a journey this book us through. We get an insight into what people go through when getting IVF treatment and the process people have to go through to adopt. There is a lot going on in the book but I don't want to give away any spoilers. The book also covers post natal,depression. It's heartbreaking but it will also resonate with some readers. Cath Staincliffe has a wonderful style in writing that quickly draws you in. This is a must read, even although there is a sad element to it. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, and the author Cath Staincliffe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. What a journey this book us through. We get an insight into what people go through when getting IVF treatment and the process people have to go through to adopt. There is a lot going on in the book but I don't want to give away any spoilers. The book also covers post natal,depression. It's heartbreaking but it will also resonate with some readers. Cath Staincliffe has a wonderful style in writing that quickly draws you in. This is a must read, even although there is a sad element to it. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, and the author Cath Staincliffe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2019
It was hard to know what to rate this book. It started off ridiculously slowly and I was close to giving up on it. About mid way through it started to pick up again and I really got into it. The story was very informative about IVF and adoption and what struggles people go through when dealing with IVF and adoption so it was very insightful into the topics. I really liked Lydia and Mac and did feel awful for them throughout the book. I really warmed to them both and really wanted everything to go well for them. The writing style wasn’t really for me but I’d definitely try another book from this author.
March 9, 2019
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**2.5 stars**
Fear Of Falling by Cath Staincliffe. (2018).
Lydia and Bel have been best friends for years. Bel becomes pregnant by accident and ends up having a fraught relationship with her daughter Freya. Lydia struggles with infertility before choosing to adopt with her husband Mac. Chloe proves to be a more challenging child than they expected and her behaviour escalates to a point of pushing their marriage, and Lydia's friendship with Bel, to a breaking point.
I didn't really like this book much. I get the message the author was trying to get across and not only do I respect it, I also agree; more support should be provided to adoptive parents (and foster carers), particularly when they are not coping for various reasons.
However, I just couldn't get into this story. One of the big negatives for me was the friendship between Lydia and Bel; in my opinion Bel was just a selfish user and not really invested in the friendship while Lydia was her ever faithful doormat - the end baffled me that Lydia was still attempting to be Bel's friend in the circumstances. I did appreciate the sensitivity the author used in relation to Lydia's infertility issues and felt that this was portrayed respectfully and realistically. The adoption process described was also very informative and interesting. I felt Lydia was a saint in trying to deal with Chloe's behaviour. But overall, I just didn't like this book much unfortunately.
*At this point in time almost all of the reviews on Goodreads are 5 out of 5 stars and readers have found this a very powerful book, it just wasn't for me.
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**2.5 stars**
Fear Of Falling by Cath Staincliffe. (2018).
Lydia and Bel have been best friends for years. Bel becomes pregnant by accident and ends up having a fraught relationship with her daughter Freya. Lydia struggles with infertility before choosing to adopt with her husband Mac. Chloe proves to be a more challenging child than they expected and her behaviour escalates to a point of pushing their marriage, and Lydia's friendship with Bel, to a breaking point.
I didn't really like this book much. I get the message the author was trying to get across and not only do I respect it, I also agree; more support should be provided to adoptive parents (and foster carers), particularly when they are not coping for various reasons.
However, I just couldn't get into this story. One of the big negatives for me was the friendship between Lydia and Bel; in my opinion Bel was just a selfish user and not really invested in the friendship while Lydia was her ever faithful doormat - the end baffled me that Lydia was still attempting to be Bel's friend in the circumstances. I did appreciate the sensitivity the author used in relation to Lydia's infertility issues and felt that this was portrayed respectfully and realistically. The adoption process described was also very informative and interesting. I felt Lydia was a saint in trying to deal with Chloe's behaviour. But overall, I just didn't like this book much unfortunately.
*At this point in time almost all of the reviews on Goodreads are 5 out of 5 stars and readers have found this a very powerful book, it just wasn't for me.
June 15, 2020
Fear of Falling is not an easy book to read but none of Cath Staincliffe's standalone books are "easy" to read, but they are IMPORTANT, POWERFUL, GUT WRENCHING, EMOTIONAL and above all "WRITTEN FROM THE HEART".
Cath Staincliffe has written a book about adoption but instead of fluffy happy ever afters, she focuses on what could go wrong and she does NOT hold back. Writing with a personal insight as she tells the reader that she was adopted herself as a baby in the postscript, this book is a very powerful and heart breaking tale of love, friendship, family, parenthood and how far you will go to protect your child.
Fear of Falling focuses on the friendship of Lydia and Bel who met as teenagers and follows their lives through love, marriage and motherhood. Bel is a free spirited, independent young woman, who can't settle down, flits from one job to another and one bed to another and falls pregnant accidentally. Lydia is a hardworking, conscientious, careful and focused and falls in love with Mac in her early twenties. When they decide to try for a baby, Lydia and Mac's life is turned upside when they find out they can't fall pregnant without IVF and when the final attempt of IVF fails they decide to adopt.
It's impossible for the reader not to feel emotion or empathy towards Lydia in her struggle to become a mother and equally it's difficult not to feel angry with Bel with her approach to motherhood, both characters are so different but so brilliantly brought to life by the author.
This is a phenomenal piece of writing about a very difficult topic and the fact that I read this in an afternoon proves it was literally unputdownable! Cath Staincliffe is one of those authors that I know before I even read the blurb that the story will be unique and compelling, gripping and powerful and more importantly thought-provoking. 5 stars from me.
Cath Staincliffe has written a book about adoption but instead of fluffy happy ever afters, she focuses on what could go wrong and she does NOT hold back. Writing with a personal insight as she tells the reader that she was adopted herself as a baby in the postscript, this book is a very powerful and heart breaking tale of love, friendship, family, parenthood and how far you will go to protect your child.
Fear of Falling focuses on the friendship of Lydia and Bel who met as teenagers and follows their lives through love, marriage and motherhood. Bel is a free spirited, independent young woman, who can't settle down, flits from one job to another and one bed to another and falls pregnant accidentally. Lydia is a hardworking, conscientious, careful and focused and falls in love with Mac in her early twenties. When they decide to try for a baby, Lydia and Mac's life is turned upside when they find out they can't fall pregnant without IVF and when the final attempt of IVF fails they decide to adopt.
It's impossible for the reader not to feel emotion or empathy towards Lydia in her struggle to become a mother and equally it's difficult not to feel angry with Bel with her approach to motherhood, both characters are so different but so brilliantly brought to life by the author.
This is a phenomenal piece of writing about a very difficult topic and the fact that I read this in an afternoon proves it was literally unputdownable! Cath Staincliffe is one of those authors that I know before I even read the blurb that the story will be unique and compelling, gripping and powerful and more importantly thought-provoking. 5 stars from me.
December 20, 2018
I requested Fear of Falling from NetGalley on the basis that it was by Cath Staincliffe, knowing nothing about the plot, so started reading with very little if any idea of what to expect. This made it perhaps even more hard hitting than it would have been anyway.
It starts with narrator Lydia, a teenager in the 1980s, meeting and being instantly fascinated by the reckless Bel - their friendship is a thread which runs through the whole book, following Lydia’s life from the 80s to the present day... work, relationships, marriage to the lovely Mac, fertility troubles and ultimately their adoption of Chloe, a neglected toddler born to a drug using young mother. Chloe’s early life experiences have not been good, but she’s young enough, surely, for that damage to be repaired, given enough love and care. Isn’t she?
Lydia, a scientist, and her tattooist husband Mac are wonderful characters and clearly marvellous parents who are devoted to giving Chloe a happy life. There are no limits to their love. But sometimes, any amount of love might not be enough.
The adjective in my mind while reading was “unflinching”. The author pulls no punches in depicting the pain and difficulty of life with Chloe, a girl who fundamentally doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved. There are no easy answers or Hollywood endings to be found here. I couldn’t imagine how it was all going to end, and I could never have imagined how it actually did.
Some powerful themes emerge, particularly the need for better support when things are impossibly hard, but also the importance and lasting impact of the earliest experiences (according to Erikson’s theory, a time when a child learns basic trust or mistrust: that her cries will be responded to and her needs met, that her world is a safe place.... or that it isn’t). While we see things only from Lydia’s viewpoint, the story is told with huge compassion for everyone involved.
It could be viewed as a cautionary tale about the perils of adoption, but that is clearly far from the intention. In a postscript to the novel, Cath Staincliffe tells us that she was herself adopted as a baby, so clearly she has a personal insight and connection to the subject, although her story is (thankfully) very different from Chloe’s. And Cath is at pains to point out that most adoptions work well and very few adopters ever regret their decision.
A wonderful, heartbreaking book, highly recommended.
It starts with narrator Lydia, a teenager in the 1980s, meeting and being instantly fascinated by the reckless Bel - their friendship is a thread which runs through the whole book, following Lydia’s life from the 80s to the present day... work, relationships, marriage to the lovely Mac, fertility troubles and ultimately their adoption of Chloe, a neglected toddler born to a drug using young mother. Chloe’s early life experiences have not been good, but she’s young enough, surely, for that damage to be repaired, given enough love and care. Isn’t she?
Lydia, a scientist, and her tattooist husband Mac are wonderful characters and clearly marvellous parents who are devoted to giving Chloe a happy life. There are no limits to their love. But sometimes, any amount of love might not be enough.
The adjective in my mind while reading was “unflinching”. The author pulls no punches in depicting the pain and difficulty of life with Chloe, a girl who fundamentally doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved. There are no easy answers or Hollywood endings to be found here. I couldn’t imagine how it was all going to end, and I could never have imagined how it actually did.
Some powerful themes emerge, particularly the need for better support when things are impossibly hard, but also the importance and lasting impact of the earliest experiences (according to Erikson’s theory, a time when a child learns basic trust or mistrust: that her cries will be responded to and her needs met, that her world is a safe place.... or that it isn’t). While we see things only from Lydia’s viewpoint, the story is told with huge compassion for everyone involved.
It could be viewed as a cautionary tale about the perils of adoption, but that is clearly far from the intention. In a postscript to the novel, Cath Staincliffe tells us that she was herself adopted as a baby, so clearly she has a personal insight and connection to the subject, although her story is (thankfully) very different from Chloe’s. And Cath is at pains to point out that most adoptions work well and very few adopters ever regret their decision.
A wonderful, heartbreaking book, highly recommended.
July 12, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to think but my god, what an insight into adopting a toddler who has many behavioural issues that continue into her teenage years. I’m not a mom, never wanted to be, so this is new territory for me. A great read from an author I’d never heard of before.
October 29, 2018
Oh my goodness, this book tore my heart out and stomped on it a bit before stuffing it back in. It tackles quite a few big themes including friendship, motherhood, fertility and adoption and pulls no punches in describing them.
We follow Lydia and Bel, friends since forever, as they grow up. We see their teenage years and the shenanigans there and follow how they grow up and begin to start families of their own. Bel becomes pregnant by accident with daughter Freya, subsequently suffering from PND, whereas Lydia, together with Mac, suffer many rounds of failed fertility treatment, and eventually adopt toddler Chloe. Freya and Chloe are chalk and cheese with Freya ever questioning her mother's behaviour in a bit of a holier than thou way and Chloe pushing every boundary well beyond breaking point to the utter frustration of her parents. Things come to a head one night with tragic consequences which really tests the two best friends' relationship. Is there any coming back from this?
I have read a few books by this author and have always been impressed with her characterisation. Here though she moves it up a notch and gave me the best characters I could ever wish for and, to top that, let them play out the most emotionally character driven storyline. There are so many themes running through the book, most of which are quite hard hitting, but I never felt unsafe, it never got too heavy. Yes, OK, at times I did put it down for a couple of seconds to catch my breath but I would still class it as balanced.
With Lydia's relationship with Chloe being quite fraught (understatement) it would have been so easy to have her spiral into a bit of a caricature martyr type, but this never quite happens and I really felt with her and how she battled on throughout all the pain. yes to her own detriment but always her choice. With the situation being one of adoption, it has to be handled right and I believe here, the author has done her research brilliantly. Shocking, but all true and quite hard to accept at times. She also had to battle fertility issues whereas her best friend got pregnant in a carelessly easy way and didn't ever seem to want the baby that followed. Yes she was suffering from PND but she didn't really come across as the most maternal of people.
I could bang on waxing lyrical about this book forever but I would end up giving much too much away. If you like strong character driving books with a bit of emotional substance then this book might tick the boxes for you. It definitely did for me. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We follow Lydia and Bel, friends since forever, as they grow up. We see their teenage years and the shenanigans there and follow how they grow up and begin to start families of their own. Bel becomes pregnant by accident with daughter Freya, subsequently suffering from PND, whereas Lydia, together with Mac, suffer many rounds of failed fertility treatment, and eventually adopt toddler Chloe. Freya and Chloe are chalk and cheese with Freya ever questioning her mother's behaviour in a bit of a holier than thou way and Chloe pushing every boundary well beyond breaking point to the utter frustration of her parents. Things come to a head one night with tragic consequences which really tests the two best friends' relationship. Is there any coming back from this?
I have read a few books by this author and have always been impressed with her characterisation. Here though she moves it up a notch and gave me the best characters I could ever wish for and, to top that, let them play out the most emotionally character driven storyline. There are so many themes running through the book, most of which are quite hard hitting, but I never felt unsafe, it never got too heavy. Yes, OK, at times I did put it down for a couple of seconds to catch my breath but I would still class it as balanced.
With Lydia's relationship with Chloe being quite fraught (understatement) it would have been so easy to have her spiral into a bit of a caricature martyr type, but this never quite happens and I really felt with her and how she battled on throughout all the pain. yes to her own detriment but always her choice. With the situation being one of adoption, it has to be handled right and I believe here, the author has done her research brilliantly. Shocking, but all true and quite hard to accept at times. She also had to battle fertility issues whereas her best friend got pregnant in a carelessly easy way and didn't ever seem to want the baby that followed. Yes she was suffering from PND but she didn't really come across as the most maternal of people.
I could bang on waxing lyrical about this book forever but I would end up giving much too much away. If you like strong character driving books with a bit of emotional substance then this book might tick the boxes for you. It definitely did for me. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
November 11, 2018
This is such a difficult book to review, I finished it a few weeks ago and am still struggling to sort out my thoughts.
As always with this author the writing is spot on and the characters live and breathe in this emotive, often hard hitting, multi themed storyline.
Covering friendships at their best and worst, infertility, envy, depression, the heartbreak of IVF, adoptive parents left to struggle without adequate support, different parenting styles, judgement and the heart-wrenching consequences that the factors listed above lead us to.
Although it was a page turner and I had to know what happened I can't honestly say that I enjoyed the book, the writing is superb but reading was like watching a slow motion clip of something falling onto a hard floor and being unable to move to catch it, it's not an uplifting read but is definitely one that resonated and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Little. Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read this book, my honest thoughts and opinion are expressed in this review.
4-4.5 stars
As always with this author the writing is spot on and the characters live and breathe in this emotive, often hard hitting, multi themed storyline.
Covering friendships at their best and worst, infertility, envy, depression, the heartbreak of IVF, adoptive parents left to struggle without adequate support, different parenting styles, judgement and the heart-wrenching consequences that the factors listed above lead us to.
Although it was a page turner and I had to know what happened I can't honestly say that I enjoyed the book, the writing is superb but reading was like watching a slow motion clip of something falling onto a hard floor and being unable to move to catch it, it's not an uplifting read but is definitely one that resonated and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Little. Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read this book, my honest thoughts and opinion are expressed in this review.
4-4.5 stars
October 25, 2018
Picked up this book without even reading the blurb. Love this author, she has such a way with words and draws you in. Very unsettling book, really looking at childhood and adoption from a very different perspective - less rose-tinted, more dark glasses.
I hadn't considered this angle on the story before. Well told and absorbing, it's a bit like a car crash. You don't want to look but you can't help yourself. It's the same with this book.
My only criticism is that it doesn't ever explore Chloe's point of view. What was she thinking all those years? How did she feel about the whole situation?
Well worth a read, thought provoking and offers a very different outcome from the usual tales. Highly recommended for that reason.
I hadn't considered this angle on the story before. Well told and absorbing, it's a bit like a car crash. You don't want to look but you can't help yourself. It's the same with this book.
My only criticism is that it doesn't ever explore Chloe's point of view. What was she thinking all those years? How did she feel about the whole situation?
Well worth a read, thought provoking and offers a very different outcome from the usual tales. Highly recommended for that reason.
June 15, 2019
A heard breaking and emotional story
September 16, 2018
Lydia is a teenager when she meets the elusive Bel and enamoured with her. Bel is everything Lydia wishes she could be but isn't. Over the years their friendship evolves as Lydia settled with Mac and Lydia flies through men.
Lydia and Mac eventually adopt Chloe but they struggle through the years with her. Soon life changes and things take a drastic turn. No spoilers so I won't say any more but this was a deep read. The evolution of Bel and Lydia's relationship is dark and I'm sure plenty of us can identify with elements of it. This is a sad but intriguing read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Lydia and Mac eventually adopt Chloe but they struggle through the years with her. Soon life changes and things take a drastic turn. No spoilers so I won't say any more but this was a deep read. The evolution of Bel and Lydia's relationship is dark and I'm sure plenty of us can identify with elements of it. This is a sad but intriguing read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2021
This book is deep and emotional—I am glad I did not give up earlier, I thought it was slow and weird until Lydia lives with Mac. It is probably not the focus of the story, I think it is better to develop some chemistry between them too. The author just tell us that they'd meet, hang out, and eventually live together (in a brief passage).
I also do not think the earlier chapters are helping a lot on Lydia and Bel's chemistry, however we'd understand who they are and their role to the story.
Moving on, after failed a lot of IVF treatment, Lydia decides to do an adoption, an idea that bounce from Mac one day. Their journey is starting to be real gripping here, for me it was very informative also.
And then Chloë. Ugh! How I feel my loathe to her every time she does something stupid. I really feel bad to the loving Lydia and Mac who try to do every thing they could for her attention. I was like, "wtf," or "this ingrate psycho little b1tch" throughout the story. In other hands, her traumatic childhood is always what comes up to normalize her behavior and as Lydia says, they cannot give up easily on her to prove her negative perspective about the world as a bad place is wrong.. until a shocking tragedy happens in one evening.
It was heart-breaking to read the problems stated within the household, friendship, motherhood. The ending of the story is not what we can say happily ever after, but there are a lot of practical moral values we can grasp.
I love how the author can create the harrowing atmosphere, make readers feel empathy to the characters. As the british crime writer herself, this book is well written. I look forward reading her masterpiece in the future.
I also do not think the earlier chapters are helping a lot on Lydia and Bel's chemistry, however we'd understand who they are and their role to the story.
Moving on, after failed a lot of IVF treatment, Lydia decides to do an adoption, an idea that bounce from Mac one day. Their journey is starting to be real gripping here, for me it was very informative also.
And then Chloë. Ugh! How I feel my loathe to her every time she does something stupid. I really feel bad to the loving Lydia and Mac who try to do every thing they could for her attention. I was like, "wtf," or "this ingrate psycho little b1tch" throughout the story. In other hands, her traumatic childhood is always what comes up to normalize her behavior and as Lydia says, they cannot give up easily on her to prove her negative perspective about the world as a bad place is wrong.. until a shocking tragedy happens in one evening.
It was heart-breaking to read the problems stated within the household, friendship, motherhood. The ending of the story is not what we can say happily ever after, but there are a lot of practical moral values we can grasp.
I love how the author can create the harrowing atmosphere, make readers feel empathy to the characters. As the british crime writer herself, this book is well written. I look forward reading her masterpiece in the future.
February 22, 2019
What if the child you have longed for ends up hurting those you love?
Lydia and Bel have been best friends for years, from wild teenage days all the way through to motherhood. Bel becomes pregnant by accident and has a fraught relationship with daughter Freya, while Lydia and love-of-her-life Mac, after failed fertility treatment, choose to adopt. Gorgeous toddler Chloe challenges them more than either of them had ever expected and as a teenager her behaviour escalates increasingly out of control, pushing their marriage, and Lydia and Bel's relationship, to breaking point.
****
I don't overly know where to start with this review for a variety of reasons....
This book was absolutely magnificent. As well written as ever by Cath Staincliffe and the amount of research and personal experience by the author shone through.
It also felt very familiar due to living in Bradford, working in Leeds and holidaying in Whitby!! And mainly, being sister of an adopted sibling. So all the raw, ugly truth of adoption was very vivid for me, and i recognised so many very sad situations.
But due to, and not despite of, all of the above, I would really urge people to read this book. It gives a very honest insight into the lives of families, who've experienced adoption, from all sides.
Just extraordinary.
Highly recommended.
Lydia and Bel have been best friends for years, from wild teenage days all the way through to motherhood. Bel becomes pregnant by accident and has a fraught relationship with daughter Freya, while Lydia and love-of-her-life Mac, after failed fertility treatment, choose to adopt. Gorgeous toddler Chloe challenges them more than either of them had ever expected and as a teenager her behaviour escalates increasingly out of control, pushing their marriage, and Lydia and Bel's relationship, to breaking point.
****
I don't overly know where to start with this review for a variety of reasons....
This book was absolutely magnificent. As well written as ever by Cath Staincliffe and the amount of research and personal experience by the author shone through.
It also felt very familiar due to living in Bradford, working in Leeds and holidaying in Whitby!! And mainly, being sister of an adopted sibling. So all the raw, ugly truth of adoption was very vivid for me, and i recognised so many very sad situations.
But due to, and not despite of, all of the above, I would really urge people to read this book. It gives a very honest insight into the lives of families, who've experienced adoption, from all sides.
Just extraordinary.
Highly recommended.
November 1, 2018
Wow this is a book not to be missed. A truely heart wrenching book that takes you on a journey with the characters themselves. It covers a multitude of topics including friendship, love, adoption, self harm, rejection, ivf and so much more.
The book tells us about the lives of Lydia and Bel, two very different people but the best of friends. We first meet them when they are still at school and have their lives ahead of them. We then see them develop into young women and their lives take very different paths. Bel finds herself with an unplanned baby, Freya, while Lydia and her partner Mac find themselves going through the adoption process after several failed IVF treatments. Finally their dreams come true and they adopt two year old Chloe, but the adoption is anything but easy. And then tragedy strikes !!
I really don’t want to go into too much more detail as really don’t want to give anything away. This really is a book that you have to read and experience the journey yourself. A truely heart wrenching story with some amazing characters and insights into what IVF and adoption can really be like for some.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
The book tells us about the lives of Lydia and Bel, two very different people but the best of friends. We first meet them when they are still at school and have their lives ahead of them. We then see them develop into young women and their lives take very different paths. Bel finds herself with an unplanned baby, Freya, while Lydia and her partner Mac find themselves going through the adoption process after several failed IVF treatments. Finally their dreams come true and they adopt two year old Chloe, but the adoption is anything but easy. And then tragedy strikes !!
I really don’t want to go into too much more detail as really don’t want to give anything away. This really is a book that you have to read and experience the journey yourself. A truely heart wrenching story with some amazing characters and insights into what IVF and adoption can really be like for some.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
October 21, 2018
Fear of Falling is another amazing book by Cath Staincliffe. The main themes of friendship, motherhood and adoption are dealt with so very well it is absolutely impossible not to enjoy this book.
When Mac and Lydia adopt two year old Chloe, they know it will not all be rosy, and yet they did not expect to be completely abandoned to deal with her issues alone. From my experience it is a wholly realistic reflection of adoption in the present time, and demonstrates the types of issues children coming from the care system face and the problems adoptive parents have to deal with when they try to seek help with those issues.
Coupled with the wonderful writings on the lifelong friendship between Lydia and Bel and the ups and downs that they face and the marital issues between Mac and Lydia this makes for a wonderful book.
Well done Cath! I highly recommend this book, as well as her last book, ‘Girl in the Green Dress’
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Mac and Lydia adopt two year old Chloe, they know it will not all be rosy, and yet they did not expect to be completely abandoned to deal with her issues alone. From my experience it is a wholly realistic reflection of adoption in the present time, and demonstrates the types of issues children coming from the care system face and the problems adoptive parents have to deal with when they try to seek help with those issues.
Coupled with the wonderful writings on the lifelong friendship between Lydia and Bel and the ups and downs that they face and the marital issues between Mac and Lydia this makes for a wonderful book.
Well done Cath! I highly recommend this book, as well as her last book, ‘Girl in the Green Dress’
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2018
This is a book that covers so many topics including friendship, infertility, depression and adoption. We follow the unlikely friendship of Lydia and Bel, from being teenagers to being mothers. Lydia and Mac adopt Chloe after struggling with rounds of fertility treatment. Bel, who cannot sustain a long term relationship, becomes pregnant and gives birth to Freya. As Chloe grows up she puts a big strain on Lydia and Mac’s relationship, causing them all sorts of problems as she is unable to fit in social situations or connect with anyone. Things come to a head with tragic consequences to Chloe and to Freya. This is a heat wrenching story and one that makes quite difficult reading but a book that you cannot put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 4, 2019
Whenever you read a book by Cath Staincliffe you know from the topic that it will not be an easy read. I remember when I read The Girl in the Green Dress in January 2018 how the issue of transgender was raised and how the story stayed with me. The issue of adoption is covered in Fear of Falling and how some of the children who are adopted have severe behavioural issues which for some are present from the beginning and others have issues brought on by becoming an adolescent. It is when the adoptive family try to seek help that they realise that there is little or no help available or funding available. They are left to try to deal with very complex behavioural issues on their own.
Fear of Falling is a tragic story about two girls who became friends and grew into adulthood and had families, until they didn’t.
Highly recommended
Fear of Falling is a tragic story about two girls who became friends and grew into adulthood and had families, until they didn’t.
Highly recommended
April 5, 2021
I first came to Cath Staincliffe with the introduction of her Manchester-based private detective, Sal Kilkenny, and it is a pleasure to have continued to enjoy her writing through stand-alone novels dealing with a series of important social issues via well-plotted stories and excellent characterisation.
This is no exception, taking adoption as its subject and, across a number of well-drawn relationshops in the book, exploring the extent and the limitations of love.
The story is developed on a slow burn, the characters and situation developed carefully through a number of years. The depictions of the emotional response following the climax left me emotionally winded. Searing stuff. Cath, when you take your writing to a place which matters to you, you don't half know how to take us with you!
This is no exception, taking adoption as its subject and, across a number of well-drawn relationshops in the book, exploring the extent and the limitations of love.
The story is developed on a slow burn, the characters and situation developed carefully through a number of years. The depictions of the emotional response following the climax left me emotionally winded. Searing stuff. Cath, when you take your writing to a place which matters to you, you don't half know how to take us with you!
October 3, 2018
This book left me reeling! Lydia and Bel meet as teenagers and the book charts their friendship over the following decades. It could be described as a coming of age novel as well as a domestic/family drama, and the characterisation is wonderful. We follow Lydia and Bel through teenage angst, major fall outs and reconciliations. Much of the drama centres on the two women starting, or attempting to start, a family, with Issues such as fertility problems, post natal depression, and adoption being explored.
Heartbreakingly tragic at times, this story will resonate with many people. I love the author's style of writing and this book will definitely stay with me for a long time. Fantastic read.
Heartbreakingly tragic at times, this story will resonate with many people. I love the author's style of writing and this book will definitely stay with me for a long time. Fantastic read.
October 18, 2022
so moved by this book - i have a number of friends who have adopted children and there have been many difficulties as their kids grew up. This book describes so accurately so many of the conflicted feelings adoptive parents have. But even more tragic (which i know much less about) is the author's really sensitive descriptions of miscarriage and failed IVF - the effects on the couple trying for children, their despair and envy/rage about other people seemingly becoming pregnant and delivering babies as if its so easy.
I wonder how traumatic it might be to read it if you are in the recent throes of this as it is very harrowing. Bur such an important piece of writing
I wonder how traumatic it might be to read it if you are in the recent throes of this as it is very harrowing. Bur such an important piece of writing
December 29, 2019
I hated most of the characters. I wasn't bothered when anything happened to any of them.
Bel is almost painted as the damaged one who should be unlikeable for being a failure of a person
Lydia is painted as someone who just wants to look after people. Bel, her partner, a child.
Lydia is the last likeable of them all!!! Her character has consistent failings that I just can't get my head around... Including what appears to be a weird infatuation with a teenage girl.
If I could give it 0 stars, I would.
Bel is almost painted as the damaged one who should be unlikeable for being a failure of a person
Lydia is painted as someone who just wants to look after people. Bel, her partner, a child.
Lydia is the last likeable of them all!!! Her character has consistent failings that I just can't get my head around... Including what appears to be a weird infatuation with a teenage girl.
If I could give it 0 stars, I would.
July 31, 2022
A brilliant read - I would’ve given it 5 ⭐️ had it not been for the slow start. It was gripping for the final half but definitely took a little to long to get started.
Issues with the adoption process after it’s been completed are close to my heart and it makes me so angry that the funding isn’t there to support families long-term. This book shines a light on the issues that adopted children and their adoptive families can suffer.
Issues with the adoption process after it’s been completed are close to my heart and it makes me so angry that the funding isn’t there to support families long-term. This book shines a light on the issues that adopted children and their adoptive families can suffer.
February 22, 2019
An outstanding book which fully deserves the five star rating. It evokes a wide range of emotions such as heartbreak, joy, anger, empathy, excitement, frustration, annoyance etc. It moves at a very fast pace and is so very hard to put down. It is very thought provoking and somehow the matters raised stay within your mind well after finishing.
Highly recommended reading.
Highly recommended reading.
November 27, 2018
4.5 stars. I have read a few of this authors other books throughly enjoying them and this one didn’t disappoint. There was a lot going on in this book, some of it quite sad and difficult to read but it was fantastically written. Would highly recommend but be prepared to shed a few tears
December 2, 2018
That was actually quite brilliant. Really enjoyable. Dealing with the subjects of IVF treatment and then the road to adoption all the while keeping up with a troubled best friend. I won't give away anything but you got to read this.
December 4, 2018
Loved this book by Cath Staincliffe. The story of Lydia and Mac who exhaust all avenues to have a family of their own. So they decide on adoption, a little girl, a damaged little girl. Their lives will never be the same.
February 15, 2019
A fantastic read - Lydia and Mac after failed attempts of IVF
Adopt a daughter Chloe. The aftermath of adoption can manifest in many ways - Lydia’s friendship with Bel ebbs and flows. What is family?
This is the paperback edition - ISBN 9781472125415
Adopt a daughter Chloe. The aftermath of adoption can manifest in many ways - Lydia’s friendship with Bel ebbs and flows. What is family?
This is the paperback edition - ISBN 9781472125415
August 5, 2019
I enjoyed this book. There was a lot of character development so it was easy to feel empathetic to the MC and her plight.
However it seemed like nothing really happened until the last 5-6 chapters... It didn't focus enough on the exciting bits in my opinion.
However it seemed like nothing really happened until the last 5-6 chapters... It didn't focus enough on the exciting bits in my opinion.
November 6, 2022
A very complex story dealing with the lives of a family struggling with the heartbreak of trying to bring up a very troubled adoptive child. The sadness was that all the love and care they provided was not enough to prevent tragedy.
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