Heather McCleary is faced with the hardest decision of her life when she finds herself pregnant with her fourth child. Her husband has been out of a job for the past three years due to an on the job injury and her meager salary as a cleaning lady barely covers the rent. It is hard enough taking care of the three girls she already has and Heather knows deep down inside that a baby deserves a better life than the one she can give it. She comes to the decision to give her baby up for adoption. She knows it is the right thing to do for her family, but the decision is not an easy one to make.
Grace Thomas is a successful venture capitalist. She works long hours and with luck she may even make partner soon. Being dedicated to her career comes at a price, though. She really does not have any close friends, has never married or had kids of her own. Her closest connection is to her father. But, that all changes when he succumbs to cancer. Realizing that she is alone and lonely, Grace decides that she would love to adopt and bestow on a child all the love and warmth she shared with her father.
When Heather chooses Grace through the adoption agency to be the mother of her child, it sets a course that changes both of their lives. Through the good and the bad they both become connected by this child they love so dearly.
What I love most about A Mother’s Goodbye is that it tackles real life issues that many women face. On one end of the spectrum we have Heather. Daily life for Heather is a struggle There is never enough money to make ends meet, to put food on the table, or buy her children the basic necessities. I can see and sympathize with her internal struggle with giving up the baby she carries knowing she cannot provide for another child. She wants what is best for her unborn baby and relying on government assistance is not what she wants for her family. This is a struggle many parents face today. It is real and complicated and sometimes even messy.
Grace, on the other hand, has a good job and makes great money. But, when you think about it, money cannot buy happiness. Now that her father is gone, Grace realizes that she wasted the best years of her life to her career and the family that she so desperately craves is out of reach. Deciding to adopt is the best decision she has made for herself. When she is chosen by Heather to be the adopted mother of her baby, Grace’s life is starting to look up.
At times, I both loved and hated Heather and Grace. They can be petty and judgemental but you can see that their heart is in the right place. I can also understand the struggles they face and although sometimes they are unlikeable, I can understand why they do the things that they do. Heather and Grace may not always like each other, but they both struggle the same and have the same fears. They also share a bond that cannot easily be broken. I think they have also come to rely on each other in a lot of ways and you can see it in their thoughts and actions.
A Mother’s Goodbye is not an easy read by any means. It is a heartbreaking story filled with raw emotions that is beautifully and emotionally written. The title is so symbolic and as you get into the heart of the story you start to fully understand the impact of what A Mother’s Goodbye means for both Heather and Grace. Three simple words that hold such a deep meaning to this story. It just hits you right in the gut and pulls out all of the feels. It is absolutely heart wrenching and devastating. Kate Hewitt does not hold anything back and she does not sugar coat adoption, loss or pain.
A Mother’s Goodbye is a moving and tragic story about life, love and loss. I was captivated right from the start and even now that I have finished, I know that this story is going to stay with me for a while. Sometimes you just know a book is going to be great right from the start. This is one of those times. A mother’s Goodbye is one of the best books I have read this year. A definite keeper and a must read. I implore you to pick up a copy as you will not be disappointed.