Don't Blame Me: Every Parent's Nightmare

by Joanna Warrington

It's every parent's worst nightmareWhen tragedy struck twenty-five years ago, Dee's world fell apart. With painful reminders all around her she flew to Australia to start a new life. Now, with her dad dying, she's needed back in England. But these are unprecedented times. It's the spring of 2020 and as Dee returns to the beautiful medieval house in rural Kent where she grew up among apple orchards and hop fields, England goes into lockdown, trapping her in the village. The person she least wanted to see has also returned, forcing her to confront the painful past and resolve matters between them.Weaving between past and present this emotional and absorbing family saga is about hope, resilience and the healing power of forgiveness.For readers who enjoyed Raynor Winn 'The Salt Path' and Faith Hogan 'The Place We Call Home.'

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2020

About the author

Joanna Warrington is a divorced mother to three children. Two have flown the nest. She has written seven books and writing is now firmly in her blood. She began writing as a cathartic exercise when her first child died and it snowballed from there.

She lives in West Sussex England and is a frequent visitor to various local cafes where she enjoys reading and eating cake.

Reviews

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two people, one from America and the other from Australia, meet again in their childhood home in the south of England. Set in the time of the beginning of the Covid lockdown, it may well, in the future, be a referred slice of history as it clearly describes what it was like to be separated from family and friends, each unit isolated from another. Dee has been betrayed, Jay can’t handle the past, but running away they take they problems with them. The author brings the characters to life and writes from the heart about tragedy, personal loss, heartbreak, and betrayal. if you’ve read the earlier books, although this one is a standalone, we meet some old characters. It’s a good read and I enjoyed the book.

[Sibyl Mory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dee has been in Australia for 25 years before returning to England following news that her dad is dying, coincidental with her discovery of her boyfriend's infidelity. Back in the bucolic landscape of Southern England, she is forced to confront her demons from the past, and comes face-to-face with the man she has been running from... No spoilers, but we learn of her husband, Jay, some traumatic events of long ago, and a shocking family secret or two. And all this takes place during the current Covid emergency... A well-crafted, emotional tale of family memories and tears, and the trauma of lives haunted by the past and its miseries. But throughout it all there is the figure of Dee herself, a survivor despite all her experiences, somehow indomitable. She deserves to find unhappiness... But, will she? A great emotional roller-coaster of a read. Highly recommended.

[Tania Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Warrington is a good writer, descriptive and easy to read.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the characters, the story line and also how up-to-date and relevant it is with covid-19. Family secrets and intrigue.

[Carol Swindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good story

Thoroughly enjoyable story. Good characters and realistic of events during lockdown. Felt the ending was a bit rushed but could be a follow up story to come about what happens next.

[Gill Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love re-found

I enjoyed the book and was glad they re-united. It was heartbreaking about their daughters, and I felt for them.

[Andrée Roby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story but it was too close to home in many respects (loss of a parent) and the on-going Covid restrictions which we are still living under, with all the negative aspects it brings to our daily life. However, I was very moved by the telling of the loss of a child which could only be written from personal experience, and which made me feel the very raw pain of the mother. It is a story of hope and reparations too. As usual the author’s vivid descriptions of the characters, of the village where the story takes place, and of the surroundings created a sense of belonging and of being part of the story as it enfolds.
For me, it would have been better if I had read this book after Covid, and a bit further down the line from the sudden loss of my mother.