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A Child's Goodbye
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be.
But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodie Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heartbreaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be.
But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodie Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heartbreaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2023
1318 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Ali Mercer
6 books79 followersAli decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She did an English degree and spent her early twenties working in various jobs in journalism, including as a reporter for the showbusiness newspaper The Stage. She started writing fiction in earnest after getting married, moving out of London to the Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon and starting a family. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic and was diagnosed when he was four years old.
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.
For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter).
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.
For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 5, 2023
In a Nutshell: This will be good for fans of emotional family stories. I thought I was one of those, but turns out, my tastes have changed! Mixed feelings about this one, but it is still recommendable.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
💐 Billy’s perspective was the best in the book. His voice was authentic to his age, and his thoughts were endearing. He was the only character I liked without reservations.
💐 I appreciate how the author highlighted the prevalence of anxiety issues in children, and how adults might be totally clueless of what their children are going through or doing.
💐 The difficulties of single parenthood come out well in the book.
💐 ‘Who will take care of my child after I am gone’ is a question every mother would have worried over at least once. The story highlights the importance of having reliable people around in case something happens. There’s no point in keeping old grudges just to keep your ego intact.
💐 There are some truly beautiful quotes in the book. The one about the starlight was my absolute favourite.
Confused about Yay or Nay:
🌹 Callie’s character left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was a strong woman who didn’t allow her unexpected pregnancy to bog her down. She knew her mind, and she did what was best for her and her child without anyone’s support. On the other hand, most of her problems stemmed from communication issues. She saw only what she wanted to see, and didn’t bother to set things right when there was an opportunity to do so. Therefore, despite the sadness in her arc, I didn’t find myself rooting for her.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Other than Callie and Billy, the remaining characters didn’t create much of an impression. They had their stock roles to play, and rarely went beyond that requirement.
🌵 There was no direct foreshadowing in the writing, but the extended build-up made things very predictable, thereby not creating any surprise/shock moments. Even intensely emotional moments lost their charm because I could see them coming a mile away.
🌵 It was quite slow-paced. The backstory of the broken relationship went on for too long. The audiobook helped a lot!
🌵 Certain things stay unexplained even until the end.
🌵 I am not a fan of blurbs using the first person when the whole story is in third person. Also, the blurb creates a very different picture of the story. The title also doesn’t suit the book at all.
The Audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 13 hours, was narrated by Stephanie Lane. I didn’t much enjoy the voices she used for some characters, but on the whole, she narrated nicely and I wasn’t bored.
Basically, the parenting struggles are well-written but the rest of the story *mostly* sticks to the tried-and-tested. I think having the audiobook helped me a lot. I don’t know if I would have had as much patience with it if I were actually reading it. There was a time when I used to devour such family dramas, but in the last few years, reality itself has turned so depressing that such stories leave me feeling meh. I am sure it will be more emotionally impactful to the right reader.
Recommended to those who love emotional family-oriented stories, and love being ready with tissues to cry their hearts out.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “A Child's Goodbye”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
Content warnings: Death, sexual abuse, bullying, infidelity. (This last one was totally not needed for the plot – it felt forced.)
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Callie has always kept the identity of her child’s father a secret from everyone, including her son and his birth father. She has been a happy single mom to her eleven-year-old Billy, despite their financial struggles. However, when she gets badly injured and hospitalised after an accident, Callie wonders if she should unite Billy and his dad, just so that Billy will have someone to care for him in case something happens to her.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of the key characters.
Bookish Yays:
💐 Billy’s perspective was the best in the book. His voice was authentic to his age, and his thoughts were endearing. He was the only character I liked without reservations.
💐 I appreciate how the author highlighted the prevalence of anxiety issues in children, and how adults might be totally clueless of what their children are going through or doing.
💐 The difficulties of single parenthood come out well in the book.
💐 ‘Who will take care of my child after I am gone’ is a question every mother would have worried over at least once. The story highlights the importance of having reliable people around in case something happens. There’s no point in keeping old grudges just to keep your ego intact.
💐 There are some truly beautiful quotes in the book. The one about the starlight was my absolute favourite.
Confused about Yay or Nay:
🌹 Callie’s character left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was a strong woman who didn’t allow her unexpected pregnancy to bog her down. She knew her mind, and she did what was best for her and her child without anyone’s support. On the other hand, most of her problems stemmed from communication issues. She saw only what she wanted to see, and didn’t bother to set things right when there was an opportunity to do so. Therefore, despite the sadness in her arc, I didn’t find myself rooting for her.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Other than Callie and Billy, the remaining characters didn’t create much of an impression. They had their stock roles to play, and rarely went beyond that requirement.
🌵 There was no direct foreshadowing in the writing, but the extended build-up made things very predictable, thereby not creating any surprise/shock moments. Even intensely emotional moments lost their charm because I could see them coming a mile away.
🌵 It was quite slow-paced. The backstory of the broken relationship went on for too long. The audiobook helped a lot!
🌵 Certain things stay unexplained even until the end.
🌵 I am not a fan of blurbs using the first person when the whole story is in third person. Also, the blurb creates a very different picture of the story. The title also doesn’t suit the book at all.
The Audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 13 hours, was narrated by Stephanie Lane. I didn’t much enjoy the voices she used for some characters, but on the whole, she narrated nicely and I wasn’t bored.
Basically, the parenting struggles are well-written but the rest of the story *mostly* sticks to the tried-and-tested. I think having the audiobook helped me a lot. I don’t know if I would have had as much patience with it if I were actually reading it. There was a time when I used to devour such family dramas, but in the last few years, reality itself has turned so depressing that such stories leave me feeling meh. I am sure it will be more emotionally impactful to the right reader.
Recommended to those who love emotional family-oriented stories, and love being ready with tissues to cry their hearts out.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “A Child's Goodbye”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
Content warnings: Death, sexual abuse, bullying, infidelity. (This last one was totally not needed for the plot – it felt forced.)
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
February 27, 2023
Alie Mercer always manages to ask the questions we are afraid to ask or lead us to answers that we aren’t willing to deal with yet. She writes from the heart and it shows.
This novel focuses on what would happen to your child/children if you weren’t around to look after them any longer and it deals with love, loss, and trust.
In the back of every parent’s mind is the knowledge that they need to provide a way for their child to take charge of their own future and to make the role of parenting redundant. For many parents of children with disabilities, this is a difficult step.
I loved Billy’s character; I see so much of myself in him. I still deal with anxiety and agree that, although I’m coping better with it now, it worsened during the pandemic. I feel for children who already have lots to deal with - anxiety is a side dish nobody asks for!
I was rooting for Callie! I loved that when she suspected she had someone else to consider, she reached down deep within herself, found courage, stepped up to the plate and made things happen - for them both. It could have so easily gone the other way.
“The person she was going to become would not need other people. The person she was becoming knew that the only person you could rely on - the only person you could really trust - was yourself.”
I love how Mercer’s story takes a comforting turn when help comes from a least-expected source. Isn’t that often the way in life? Sometimes, once we’ve dealt with the past and removed the ‘baggage,’ life has a way of opening up possibilities that weren’t there before - Callie, Billy’s mom, discovers this, too.
Full of emotional situations and twists you aren’t expecting, this novel shows Mercer at the top of her game. The success of this book is partly due to how authentic it feels - a result of the fictional setting inspired by the author’s hometown and the relationship she has with her son.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This novel focuses on what would happen to your child/children if you weren’t around to look after them any longer and it deals with love, loss, and trust.
In the back of every parent’s mind is the knowledge that they need to provide a way for their child to take charge of their own future and to make the role of parenting redundant. For many parents of children with disabilities, this is a difficult step.
I loved Billy’s character; I see so much of myself in him. I still deal with anxiety and agree that, although I’m coping better with it now, it worsened during the pandemic. I feel for children who already have lots to deal with - anxiety is a side dish nobody asks for!
I was rooting for Callie! I loved that when she suspected she had someone else to consider, she reached down deep within herself, found courage, stepped up to the plate and made things happen - for them both. It could have so easily gone the other way.
“The person she was going to become would not need other people. The person she was becoming knew that the only person you could rely on - the only person you could really trust - was yourself.”
I love how Mercer’s story takes a comforting turn when help comes from a least-expected source. Isn’t that often the way in life? Sometimes, once we’ve dealt with the past and removed the ‘baggage,’ life has a way of opening up possibilities that weren’t there before - Callie, Billy’s mom, discovers this, too.
Full of emotional situations and twists you aren’t expecting, this novel shows Mercer at the top of her game. The success of this book is partly due to how authentic it feels - a result of the fictional setting inspired by the author’s hometown and the relationship she has with her son.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 30, 2023
Callie kept a secret for years. She never told anybody who the father of her son Billy was. Callie loved Billy to distraction, and when she is injured in a car accident, her life - their lives - will never be the same again. Callie not sharing who fathered Billy caused a lot of conflict between her and her mother. In fact, they grew apart because of her secret.
Because of her injury and hospitalization as well as recovery, Callie’s mother did step in. This was a real joy to Billy, because he always wanted to know his grandmother. But there is another important person in this very touching story. That person is Billy’s father. This is where we meet Reuben. He is currently home to care for his ailing father and a connection starts to be recognized between him and Callie from years previously.
As I listened to this as an audiobook, I was completely pulled into the story, especially as this strong, emotional drama between four people whose lives were intertwined, but would also be changed forever. The title alone definitely tells the reader that there would be a tragedy involved. How intense, how harsh, how sad that tragedy would end up being is almost made clear, but the story is so warm, so touching, that it was impossible to put down. Ali Mercer has written, yet another effective story that pulls you into the drama involved. Stephanie Lane did an excellent job in her narration, especially when it came to the emotion of all of the characters involved.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Because of her injury and hospitalization as well as recovery, Callie’s mother did step in. This was a real joy to Billy, because he always wanted to know his grandmother. But there is another important person in this very touching story. That person is Billy’s father. This is where we meet Reuben. He is currently home to care for his ailing father and a connection starts to be recognized between him and Callie from years previously.
As I listened to this as an audiobook, I was completely pulled into the story, especially as this strong, emotional drama between four people whose lives were intertwined, but would also be changed forever. The title alone definitely tells the reader that there would be a tragedy involved. How intense, how harsh, how sad that tragedy would end up being is almost made clear, but the story is so warm, so touching, that it was impossible to put down. Ali Mercer has written, yet another effective story that pulls you into the drama involved. Stephanie Lane did an excellent job in her narration, especially when it came to the emotion of all of the characters involved.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 29, 2023
2.5 stars
Sigh...this was a book that I think a certain type of reader will absolutely love but was just not my cup of tea. It was kind of like one of those Hallmark movies. Lots of family and interpersonal drama but wrapped up in a neat and tidy package with a bow on top.
Unfortunately most of the story rang a bit "Pollyanna" to me. It was challenging to connect to the characters and experience strong emotion. The narrative was on the flatter side with a predictable ending. It had some of that "and although this tragedy happened, everyone lives happily ever after...." My favorite part was the backstory into the MC's life. I felt most connected during those chapters.
There are some higher reviews out there so I would recommend checking those out too. I think readers looking for a polished women's fiction that involves unrequited love and gently touches on a taboo subject will enjoy this much more than I did.
Thanks #NetGalley!
Sigh...this was a book that I think a certain type of reader will absolutely love but was just not my cup of tea. It was kind of like one of those Hallmark movies. Lots of family and interpersonal drama but wrapped up in a neat and tidy package with a bow on top.
Unfortunately most of the story rang a bit "Pollyanna" to me. It was challenging to connect to the characters and experience strong emotion. The narrative was on the flatter side with a predictable ending. It had some of that "and although this tragedy happened, everyone lives happily ever after...." My favorite part was the backstory into the MC's life. I felt most connected during those chapters.
There are some higher reviews out there so I would recommend checking those out too. I think readers looking for a polished women's fiction that involves unrequited love and gently touches on a taboo subject will enjoy this much more than I did.
Thanks #NetGalley!
March 31, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'A Child's Goodbye' by Ali Mercer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ali Mercer, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 28th March 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Marriage Lie' and 'The Family I Lost' which I would also recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of Ali Mercer and if this book is half as good as 'The Marriage Lie' and 'The Family I Lost' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heart-breaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.''. I am a huge fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 41 chapters and an epilogue and is set over three parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
'A Child's Goodbye' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ali discusses assault.
This book is based in England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and holidayed in England on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Callie. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is very well written and the insights into the past let's the reader piece together what is going on. The descriptions are vivid and help to set the scene. The cover and synopsis worked well with the storyline.
Yet another fantastically written book by the very talented Ali! This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and is filled with family, loss, sadness, heartbreak, motherhood, secrets and lies. It goes to show how one minute can change not one but several life's. Since I have had children I find it harder and harder to read books involving children and when I do I always find myself becoming emotional throughout and this book is no exception. It is one of those addictive books that I listened to whenever I had a spare moment whether on the school run or doing the dishes and I became completely absorbed throughout. It is a scary thought as a parent that if anything happens to you then who will be there for your children and this is even harder when there isn't another parent involved. Callie is involved in a car accident and needs to rely on an old friend to take care of her son but when the friend decides she hasn't got time and takes him to Callie's mother's house everything starts to unravel and change it just goes to show how one moment can change not just one life but several. In this case there were so many moments which would have left to different outcomes including the first one which was because an assumption was made. It is a heartbreaking story which changes the lives of Callie, Billy and Rueben forever. I don't want to go into too many details as I don't want to give too much away but make sure you have the tissues at the ready as yet again Ali manages to make the tears flow and emotions run high. This would be one of my worse nightmares as a mum myself. Ali's evocative writing skills brings the story and characters to life around you making your heart beat faster and pulls on your heart strings. She manages to weave the past and present storylines together perfectly to give you a full picture of what happened then and why things are as they are now. Another great success from an extremely talented author and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Lane who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Ali but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie!
The characters are strong and realistic. My heart really went out to Callie, Billy and Rueben all for different reasons. Callie is a strong woman, an amazing mother and a fighter. She goes through so much heartbreak yet still continues to fight for the sake of her son. I was rooting for her throughout and it was heartbreaking how everyone assumed the worst of her including her own family and I can see why she cut ties even though it left her on her own with no support network. Rueben really annoyed me after what he had done but he grew on me and seeing him want to do his best and to make up for the years he missed made him likeable and he grew on me. Billy is such a sweet boy who is having problems in school as well as everything that is going on with his family and my heart broke for him. It would be hard for an adult 2ith everything going on let alone a child. I'm not going to say anymore about the characters as I don't want to let anything slip but Ali does a fantastic job of making realistic and strong characters that come to life in front of the readers eyes.
Clear your schedules and get the tissues ready as you wont be able to put this down!! Well done Ali on yet another emotional page turner and hers to your next success!!
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first chapter of Ali's 'His Secret Family' which looks just as addictive and emotional as this page-turner, 'The Family I Lost' and 'The Marriage Lie'!
Overall an addictive rollercoaster ride of emotions that will keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered in this book include Mystery, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Friendship Fiction, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Sisters Fiction, Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Women's Literature, Romance Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt, Susan Lewis and Kerry Fisher.
445 pages/ 13 hours and 3 minutes listening time.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, free on kindle unlimited, £10.99 in paperback and £20.03 for the audiobook (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'A Child's Goodbye' by Ali Mercer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ali Mercer, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 28th March 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Marriage Lie' and 'The Family I Lost' which I would also recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of Ali Mercer and if this book is half as good as 'The Marriage Lie' and 'The Family I Lost' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heart-breaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.''. I am a huge fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 41 chapters and an epilogue and is set over three parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
'A Child's Goodbye' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ali discusses assault.
This book is based in England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and holidayed in England on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Callie. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is very well written and the insights into the past let's the reader piece together what is going on. The descriptions are vivid and help to set the scene. The cover and synopsis worked well with the storyline.
Yet another fantastically written book by the very talented Ali! This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and is filled with family, loss, sadness, heartbreak, motherhood, secrets and lies. It goes to show how one minute can change not one but several life's. Since I have had children I find it harder and harder to read books involving children and when I do I always find myself becoming emotional throughout and this book is no exception. It is one of those addictive books that I listened to whenever I had a spare moment whether on the school run or doing the dishes and I became completely absorbed throughout. It is a scary thought as a parent that if anything happens to you then who will be there for your children and this is even harder when there isn't another parent involved. Callie is involved in a car accident and needs to rely on an old friend to take care of her son but when the friend decides she hasn't got time and takes him to Callie's mother's house everything starts to unravel and change it just goes to show how one moment can change not just one life but several. In this case there were so many moments which would have left to different outcomes including the first one which was because an assumption was made. It is a heartbreaking story which changes the lives of Callie, Billy and Rueben forever. I don't want to go into too many details as I don't want to give too much away but make sure you have the tissues at the ready as yet again Ali manages to make the tears flow and emotions run high. This would be one of my worse nightmares as a mum myself. Ali's evocative writing skills brings the story and characters to life around you making your heart beat faster and pulls on your heart strings. She manages to weave the past and present storylines together perfectly to give you a full picture of what happened then and why things are as they are now. Another great success from an extremely talented author and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Lane who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Ali but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie!
The characters are strong and realistic. My heart really went out to Callie, Billy and Rueben all for different reasons. Callie is a strong woman, an amazing mother and a fighter. She goes through so much heartbreak yet still continues to fight for the sake of her son. I was rooting for her throughout and it was heartbreaking how everyone assumed the worst of her including her own family and I can see why she cut ties even though it left her on her own with no support network. Rueben really annoyed me after what he had done but he grew on me and seeing him want to do his best and to make up for the years he missed made him likeable and he grew on me. Billy is such a sweet boy who is having problems in school as well as everything that is going on with his family and my heart broke for him. It would be hard for an adult 2ith everything going on let alone a child. I'm not going to say anymore about the characters as I don't want to let anything slip but Ali does a fantastic job of making realistic and strong characters that come to life in front of the readers eyes.
Clear your schedules and get the tissues ready as you wont be able to put this down!! Well done Ali on yet another emotional page turner and hers to your next success!!
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first chapter of Ali's 'His Secret Family' which looks just as addictive and emotional as this page-turner, 'The Family I Lost' and 'The Marriage Lie'!
Overall an addictive rollercoaster ride of emotions that will keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered in this book include Mystery, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Friendship Fiction, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Sisters Fiction, Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Women's Literature, Romance Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt, Susan Lewis and Kerry Fisher.
445 pages/ 13 hours and 3 minutes listening time.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, free on kindle unlimited, £10.99 in paperback and £20.03 for the audiobook (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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April 11, 2023
To be honest, I didn’t see where this book was going and I really didn’t love the ending, but it did make sense that it had to be that way. The secrets that finally were revealed and the happiness finally found, only to be lost again. Tragic and beautiful at the same time.
🌀Synopsis
Callie is on her way to pick up her son, Billy, when she is hit by a car. Unable to pick up her son she sends a friend to get him. This friend, however, is very busy and doesn’t have time to watch a child so he drops them off with the grandparents he has never met.
The history starts to come out, and multiple secrets open up. The reason that Billy hasn’t met his grandparents- Callie and her mother fought over an incident with their neighbor in which her mom thought Callie was being a slut but really she was assaulted. The secret of who Billy’s father is- hidden because the person who assaulted her was his father and he walked in while it happening and got the wrong impression.
All of these things- the loneliness, heartache, and loss of relationships- because one terrible old man did a terrible thing to a young girl.
Things begin to be mended when Callie finally opens up about it and everyone sees the truth and hurt she’s been hiding. It seems all is finally back on track when another health issue plagues Callie and after one surgery all of their lives are changed forever.
🌀Synopsis
Callie is on her way to pick up her son, Billy, when she is hit by a car. Unable to pick up her son she sends a friend to get him. This friend, however, is very busy and doesn’t have time to watch a child so he drops them off with the grandparents he has never met.
The history starts to come out, and multiple secrets open up. The reason that Billy hasn’t met his grandparents- Callie and her mother fought over an incident with their neighbor in which her mom thought Callie was being a slut but really she was assaulted. The secret of who Billy’s father is- hidden because the person who assaulted her was his father and he walked in while it happening and got the wrong impression.
All of these things- the loneliness, heartache, and loss of relationships- because one terrible old man did a terrible thing to a young girl.
Things begin to be mended when Callie finally opens up about it and everyone sees the truth and hurt she’s been hiding. It seems all is finally back on track when another health issue plagues Callie and after one surgery all of their lives are changed forever.
April 19, 2023
This is an amazing women's fiction book, which I truly loved so much.
The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, and her voice was perfect.
The story is about a woman called Callie, who has a child called Billy. In her past, she ran away from her family due to a few things that happened to her, and she brought Billy up alone. One day she has an accident, and Billy is taken to her Mother's house to be looked after. From there, Billy finds out who his Dad is, and he enjoys meeting him, and the family he never knew. Callie and Billy and the family are all eventually happy to be reunited, and they get on well together.
Be prepared though, and get your tissues ready, as one part of the book will pull at your heartstrings. It did for me, and I was left in tears. But the book is so wonderful, and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a heartwarming, emotional, family read that will touch your heart, then this book is for you, and you will love it!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, and her voice was perfect.
The story is about a woman called Callie, who has a child called Billy. In her past, she ran away from her family due to a few things that happened to her, and she brought Billy up alone. One day she has an accident, and Billy is taken to her Mother's house to be looked after. From there, Billy finds out who his Dad is, and he enjoys meeting him, and the family he never knew. Callie and Billy and the family are all eventually happy to be reunited, and they get on well together.
Be prepared though, and get your tissues ready, as one part of the book will pull at your heartstrings. It did for me, and I was left in tears. But the book is so wonderful, and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a heartwarming, emotional, family read that will touch your heart, then this book is for you, and you will love it!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
June 4, 2023
This book was slow and I found myself skipping paragraphs of extra words not needed. It is a book with a lot of loss and not a ton of happiness to go along with it. Not my favorite.
July 18, 2023
The story was good. It had lots of promise. But the ending was so tragic it left a bad taste in my mouth and left me totally depressed. I need a happy ending in my books, unless there's a book 2 with a chance for a bad situation to be resolved. Trust me, even with a book 2, the thing that was totally wrong in book 1 could not be resolved. If you don't mind depressing endings where main characters die and everyone else is left to grieve, then maybe you'll love it. I did not!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
I found this book very emotional. It was sad on many levels and touched on a lot of topics. It also showed what you can do when you apply yourself and do it with love.
March 6, 2023
A Child's Goodbye
by Ali Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Description
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be. But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?
🛑 MY REVIEW🛑
A Child's Goodbye
by Ali Mercer is a powerful heartbreaking family domestic drama filled with emotion, motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets .
It is a totally captivating story that kept me hooked until the end. I was not prepared for such an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. The characters Callie ( mom), 10 year old Billy and Rueben ( who we don't know who he is for awhile ) come alive on these pages. I just wanted to jump into the book to hold and comfort Billy. Lord this child broke my heart in a million places. This is a beautiful, but also a very very sad story so have tissues on hand. It was told from different pov and jumped back and forth in timelines . Each chapter has a plot twist followed by one huge gut-wrenching twist at the end that you don’t see coming.
******Disclosure*******
Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get.
#AChildsGoodbye #NetGalley
by Ali Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Description
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be. But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?
🛑 MY REVIEW🛑
A Child's Goodbye
by Ali Mercer is a powerful heartbreaking family domestic drama filled with emotion, motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets .
It is a totally captivating story that kept me hooked until the end. I was not prepared for such an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. The characters Callie ( mom), 10 year old Billy and Rueben ( who we don't know who he is for awhile ) come alive on these pages. I just wanted to jump into the book to hold and comfort Billy. Lord this child broke my heart in a million places. This is a beautiful, but also a very very sad story so have tissues on hand. It was told from different pov and jumped back and forth in timelines . Each chapter has a plot twist followed by one huge gut-wrenching twist at the end that you don’t see coming.
******Disclosure*******
Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get.
#AChildsGoodbye #NetGalley
March 2, 2023
An emotional heart rending read!
The fragility of single parenthood, the repercussions of decisions made in the past, misunderstandings and eventual realisation!
Emotional, tear jerking,unexpected twists and sadness make this a compelling, intriguing read!
Wonderful characterisation I particularly loved Billy with all his little foibles and idiosyncrasies and Reuben who totally steps up and embraces his new life!
Callies character is more complex and diverse and haunted by her past experiences and decisions.
Totally relatable read!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
The fragility of single parenthood, the repercussions of decisions made in the past, misunderstandings and eventual realisation!
Emotional, tear jerking,unexpected twists and sadness make this a compelling, intriguing read!
Wonderful characterisation I particularly loved Billy with all his little foibles and idiosyncrasies and Reuben who totally steps up and embraces his new life!
Callies character is more complex and diverse and haunted by her past experiences and decisions.
Totally relatable read!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
March 5, 2023
What a wonderful book. I stayed up till 3am to finish it! Billy was such a sensitive kid. In my mind, I pictured him as Sam from Coronation Street! (For those that don't watch, he's the same age with a very similar background) Such a sad story but with twists you don't expect, but add to the depth of the story. My only problem was that I felt the title is a spoiler, especially the tag line, as I was waiting for the inevitable to happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
Depressing
The entire book was so depressing. The way it's written leaves no room for surprises because you can already see what's going to happen. It also moved extremely slow.
The entire book was so depressing. The way it's written leaves no room for surprises because you can already see what's going to happen. It also moved extremely slow.
March 26, 2023
The Secret
Wow! This was one fantastic story. It had so much in the story. The love of the mother and child, the secret kept and the missing father.
Callie loved Reuben from the first time she saw him in the house next door. He never noticed her until one day when they were both with friends and she was dated with him for her friend's wedding. They connected that night in a way that made Callie's heart sing, however, in the morning he was gone. Then a terrible misunderstanding kept them apart.
When Callie found out she was to have a child she never told her friends, nor her mother who the father was. It was a huge tension between her and her mother and eventually her mother and her had a terrible argument that would keep them apart for the next few years.
When Callie is injured on the street while rushing to pick up her son Billy from school, because of the injury and Billy's safety both her mother and Reuben came back into Callie's life. But was it too late?
It is a story of a young boy Billy growing up alone with his mother, finally meeting both his grandmother and his father and building relationships with them. He sees his father and his mother getting closer together and he has some high hopes, but then his mother is injured and he must find a way to say goodbye to her.
It is a story of happiness and sadness. Also of miscommunications and secrets. Of living every day and making the best of each day as it comes along. Forgiving those you must and forgiving yourself as well. Reconnecting with family and the bonding between an estranged father and his son.
I loved listening to this audio book. The narrator did a wonderful job, the voice was very pleasant to listen to and very easy to understand. The book brought me to tears more than once. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Ali Mercer for writing a great story, to Stephanie Lane for the wonderful narration, to Bookouture Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making a copy of the audio book available to me to read and review.
Wow! This was one fantastic story. It had so much in the story. The love of the mother and child, the secret kept and the missing father.
Callie loved Reuben from the first time she saw him in the house next door. He never noticed her until one day when they were both with friends and she was dated with him for her friend's wedding. They connected that night in a way that made Callie's heart sing, however, in the morning he was gone. Then a terrible misunderstanding kept them apart.
When Callie found out she was to have a child she never told her friends, nor her mother who the father was. It was a huge tension between her and her mother and eventually her mother and her had a terrible argument that would keep them apart for the next few years.
When Callie is injured on the street while rushing to pick up her son Billy from school, because of the injury and Billy's safety both her mother and Reuben came back into Callie's life. But was it too late?
It is a story of a young boy Billy growing up alone with his mother, finally meeting both his grandmother and his father and building relationships with them. He sees his father and his mother getting closer together and he has some high hopes, but then his mother is injured and he must find a way to say goodbye to her.
It is a story of happiness and sadness. Also of miscommunications and secrets. Of living every day and making the best of each day as it comes along. Forgiving those you must and forgiving yourself as well. Reconnecting with family and the bonding between an estranged father and his son.
I loved listening to this audio book. The narrator did a wonderful job, the voice was very pleasant to listen to and very easy to understand. The book brought me to tears more than once. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Ali Mercer for writing a great story, to Stephanie Lane for the wonderful narration, to Bookouture Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making a copy of the audio book available to me to read and review.
March 24, 2023
A Child’s Goodbye
Ali Mercer
Callie was thrilled when she discovered she was pregnant. She refused to tell anyone the name of the father. She took her role as a single parent seriously and was determined to be the best mother she could.
She was rushing to meet her 10-year-old son, Billy, when she stepped off a curb in front of a bike. She was admitted to the hospital and taken to surgery. The events left her contemplating what would happen to Billy if she wasn’t there to protect him. Her friend Lauren was called to the school to pick up Billy but instead of taking care of Billy Lauren took him to Callie’s mother and dropped him off. Callie was estranged from her mother and step-father. Callie’s mother used Billy as an opening to come back into Callie’s life but her stepfather wasn’t thrilled to have Billy around.
This was a difficult book for me to listen to. It was to slow moving. Billy was a sweet child but picked on by bullies; he suffered from anxiety. I liked Callie. I did not like her stepfather. This book deals with unplanned pregnancy, death, bullies, anxiety.
There were several quotes that were touching:
"Did you know,' he said, 'that when you look at the night sky, you're looking at history? The light of the stars you see has been travelling towards the earth for millions and millions of years. Some of those stars might not even exist any more. They might have burnt away to nothingness, and be all dead and dark. But the light is still real. The light is like a time traveler."
"If you love someone, you don't stop just because they've done something bad. you might feel different about them. You might be angry with them. The love might be mixed up with all kinds of other feelings. But it would still be love. Love isn't a rational thing, like deciding to do more exercise or... or give up smoking. Maybe it isn't always very good for you. But when it's there, it's there, and you can't get rid of it just because it isn't convenient any more."
Ali Mercer
Callie was thrilled when she discovered she was pregnant. She refused to tell anyone the name of the father. She took her role as a single parent seriously and was determined to be the best mother she could.
She was rushing to meet her 10-year-old son, Billy, when she stepped off a curb in front of a bike. She was admitted to the hospital and taken to surgery. The events left her contemplating what would happen to Billy if she wasn’t there to protect him. Her friend Lauren was called to the school to pick up Billy but instead of taking care of Billy Lauren took him to Callie’s mother and dropped him off. Callie was estranged from her mother and step-father. Callie’s mother used Billy as an opening to come back into Callie’s life but her stepfather wasn’t thrilled to have Billy around.
This was a difficult book for me to listen to. It was to slow moving. Billy was a sweet child but picked on by bullies; he suffered from anxiety. I liked Callie. I did not like her stepfather. This book deals with unplanned pregnancy, death, bullies, anxiety.
There were several quotes that were touching:
"Did you know,' he said, 'that when you look at the night sky, you're looking at history? The light of the stars you see has been travelling towards the earth for millions and millions of years. Some of those stars might not even exist any more. They might have burnt away to nothingness, and be all dead and dark. But the light is still real. The light is like a time traveler."
"If you love someone, you don't stop just because they've done something bad. you might feel different about them. You might be angry with them. The love might be mixed up with all kinds of other feelings. But it would still be love. Love isn't a rational thing, like deciding to do more exercise or... or give up smoking. Maybe it isn't always very good for you. But when it's there, it's there, and you can't get rid of it just because it isn't convenient any more."
March 19, 2023
This one started off as a slow burn for me for about the first quarter of the book. I found myself starting and stopping a lot and couldn't commit, but once I got through that first quarter, I really found this to be such a great book! It was heartfelt and absolutely devastating in so many ways. I thought Mercer did a great job navigating the topics of loss, unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, lost time, bullying, anxiety and so much more really well. Her words were poignant and weighty. I truly felt like I was experiencing the events with each character.
I gave this 3.5 stars but erred toward 4 because the only reason I knocked it down a half point was due to how hard it was for me to get into, but that could have been the hectic nature of my schedule when I sat down to read it.
This book also had a few incredible quotes that absolutely took my breath away:
• "Did you know,' he said, 'that when you look at the night sky, you're looking at history? The light of the stars you see has been travelling towards the earth for millions and millions of years. Some of those stars might not even exist any more. They might have burnt away to nothingness, and be all dead and dark. But the light is still real. The light is like a time traveller."
• "Standing under the expanse of the night sky and looking up, knowing her child was on the way into the world, she had felt more connected to everything around her than ever before."
• "If you love someone, you don't stop just because they've done something bad. you might feel different about them. You might be angry with them. The love might be mixed up with all kinds of other feelings. But it would still be love. Love isn't a rational thing, like deciding to do more exercise or... or give up smoking. Maybe it isn't always very good for you. But when it's there, it's there, and you can't get rid of it just because it isn't convenient any more."
• "The summer days went by, each one, if anything, brighter and more beautiful than the next, and he felt guilty for being able to witness them. He came to think of grief as the grey thief - it had stolen his happiness, and had left him unable to find joy in the colours he knew and was blessed to still be able to see."
**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I gave this 3.5 stars but erred toward 4 because the only reason I knocked it down a half point was due to how hard it was for me to get into, but that could have been the hectic nature of my schedule when I sat down to read it.
This book also had a few incredible quotes that absolutely took my breath away:
• "Did you know,' he said, 'that when you look at the night sky, you're looking at history? The light of the stars you see has been travelling towards the earth for millions and millions of years. Some of those stars might not even exist any more. They might have burnt away to nothingness, and be all dead and dark. But the light is still real. The light is like a time traveller."
• "Standing under the expanse of the night sky and looking up, knowing her child was on the way into the world, she had felt more connected to everything around her than ever before."
• "If you love someone, you don't stop just because they've done something bad. you might feel different about them. You might be angry with them. The love might be mixed up with all kinds of other feelings. But it would still be love. Love isn't a rational thing, like deciding to do more exercise or... or give up smoking. Maybe it isn't always very good for you. But when it's there, it's there, and you can't get rid of it just because it isn't convenient any more."
• "The summer days went by, each one, if anything, brighter and more beautiful than the next, and he felt guilty for being able to witness them. He came to think of grief as the grey thief - it had stolen his happiness, and had left him unable to find joy in the colours he knew and was blessed to still be able to see."
**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2023
Books with stories revolving around children are often very gripping and emotional, no matter which genre those books are categorised in. Those little ones should be cherished and feel protected at all times, but sometimes it's easier said than done and live does not always play ball.
One moment you are alive and kicking and the next you find yourself in the back of an ambulance on your way to the hospital and in the meantime you have to count on your friends to take care of your young son. You know you can count on them, but can you?
Maybe they thought that what you don't know does not kill you, but did they realise what they did? You thought this was all in the past and dealt with...
Sometimes people find themselves in situations where they wonder whether there is still time left to build some bridges or are forced to do so. Sometimes bad things turn your life around in the best possible way.
This is the beautiful, but also sad story starring Callie, Billy and Rueben. I loved the relationship between Callie and Billy. Whether it's in a book or in real life, people often jump to conclusions and more than once they have the wrong end of the stick. But even worse they are often not prepared to listen to the other side of the story and think what they see or heard must be the way it all happened. Often not everything you see is what is seems to be. Only by listening and talking those misunderstandings can be banned and relationships can be mended or kept from breaking in the first place.
I admired Callie for fighting for the life she wanted to live. The gross of the emotions that gripped me the most were at the end of the story. 4 stars
Thank you
One moment you are alive and kicking and the next you find yourself in the back of an ambulance on your way to the hospital and in the meantime you have to count on your friends to take care of your young son. You know you can count on them, but can you?
Maybe they thought that what you don't know does not kill you, but did they realise what they did? You thought this was all in the past and dealt with...
Sometimes people find themselves in situations where they wonder whether there is still time left to build some bridges or are forced to do so. Sometimes bad things turn your life around in the best possible way.
This is the beautiful, but also sad story starring Callie, Billy and Rueben. I loved the relationship between Callie and Billy. Whether it's in a book or in real life, people often jump to conclusions and more than once they have the wrong end of the stick. But even worse they are often not prepared to listen to the other side of the story and think what they see or heard must be the way it all happened. Often not everything you see is what is seems to be. Only by listening and talking those misunderstandings can be banned and relationships can be mended or kept from breaking in the first place.
I admired Callie for fighting for the life she wanted to live. The gross of the emotions that gripped me the most were at the end of the story. 4 stars
Thank you
March 29, 2023
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
WHO WILL KEEP HIM SAFE WITHOUT YOU?
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heartbreaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.
I truly loved this book. The more I read, the more gripped I became, and the harder it was to stop reading (to sleep, to work, to eat). I was completely captivated and was eager to see what would happen next. Billy quickly held a special place in my heart and I felt so many different emotions while reading about him and his life. This book is about family and relationships, but written in a way that it felt as if you truly know the characters. It was easy to feel emotional and attached to not only the characters, but the story itself. The story was not as predictable as I thought it would be and I commend the author for NOT following the obvious path you would have expected. I can’t relate to what it must be like to be a single mother, and I admit I couldn’t help but think that I would not make some of the same decisions Callie did, but I DO know the feeling of fierce love and devotion a mother has for her children, and I can’t imagine the pain and fear a mother must feel thinking about her child being scared, or confused, or being left by their mom. My heart ached for both Callie and Billy. This was such a wonderful book, one that will stay with me for a long time.
#achildsgoodbye #bookouture #netgalley #bookreview #blogtour
WHO WILL KEEP HIM SAFE WITHOUT YOU?
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heartbreaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.
I truly loved this book. The more I read, the more gripped I became, and the harder it was to stop reading (to sleep, to work, to eat). I was completely captivated and was eager to see what would happen next. Billy quickly held a special place in my heart and I felt so many different emotions while reading about him and his life. This book is about family and relationships, but written in a way that it felt as if you truly know the characters. It was easy to feel emotional and attached to not only the characters, but the story itself. The story was not as predictable as I thought it would be and I commend the author for NOT following the obvious path you would have expected. I can’t relate to what it must be like to be a single mother, and I admit I couldn’t help but think that I would not make some of the same decisions Callie did, but I DO know the feeling of fierce love and devotion a mother has for her children, and I can’t imagine the pain and fear a mother must feel thinking about her child being scared, or confused, or being left by their mom. My heart ached for both Callie and Billy. This was such a wonderful book, one that will stay with me for a long time.
#achildsgoodbye #bookouture #netgalley #bookreview #blogtour
April 11, 2023
Someone pass me the Box of Tissues.......I so need the Whole box
If you want a book or audiobook that will have you hooked from the beginning till the end and will have you fighting back the tears -
A Child's Goodbye by Ali Mercer and Narrated by Stephanie Lane is a book for you. Ali always writes from her heart and all her books I have read have been beautifully written and a 5 star read or audiobook. This was a book that just took my breath away......Just amazing!!!!
Ali's latest book is a powerful heartbreaking family domestic drama filled that is about motherhood, grief that has pulled her a family apart by so many secrets. But Sadly secrets have a way of coming out in the end.
All Callie remembers is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed her mind was her beautiful boy Billy, who is waiting alone at the school gates for her to pick him up after school….........
Who's going to pick up Billy whist Callie is in Hospital?
When Callie found out she was pregnant she couldn’t have been happier. Ever since her own father died, She felt utterly lost. But this little bundle of joy changed everything for her future. Finally, she had found her purpose: to be the best mother she could be.
Sadly, Callie couldn’t and wouldn’t tell anyone who Billie's father was. This was a secret that could never be spoken but this secret will come out and tear people apart around her.
WoW this book was Soooooo Good.
The narrator Stephanie Lane was superb.
I would recommend this book it will not disappoint!.
Big thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my copies of “A Child's Goodbye” I loved it.
If you want a book or audiobook that will have you hooked from the beginning till the end and will have you fighting back the tears -
A Child's Goodbye by Ali Mercer and Narrated by Stephanie Lane is a book for you. Ali always writes from her heart and all her books I have read have been beautifully written and a 5 star read or audiobook. This was a book that just took my breath away......Just amazing!!!!
Ali's latest book is a powerful heartbreaking family domestic drama filled that is about motherhood, grief that has pulled her a family apart by so many secrets. But Sadly secrets have a way of coming out in the end.
All Callie remembers is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed her mind was her beautiful boy Billy, who is waiting alone at the school gates for her to pick him up after school….........
Who's going to pick up Billy whist Callie is in Hospital?
When Callie found out she was pregnant she couldn’t have been happier. Ever since her own father died, She felt utterly lost. But this little bundle of joy changed everything for her future. Finally, she had found her purpose: to be the best mother she could be.
Sadly, Callie couldn’t and wouldn’t tell anyone who Billie's father was. This was a secret that could never be spoken but this secret will come out and tear people apart around her.
WoW this book was Soooooo Good.
The narrator Stephanie Lane was superb.
I would recommend this book it will not disappoint!.
Big thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my copies of “A Child's Goodbye” I loved it.
March 27, 2023
For this book I totally get the emotional pull and intenseness of a mother's love, But call me ice woman, it just didn't hit me like it should have. Kinda like it just missed hitting me in the funny bone (but not the funny bone for this book--sad bone..) The whole time I felt this sense of doom, like I just knew I was paddling along a river and there was a cliff of a massive waterfall I was approaching, I just didn't know when my canoe was going to go over the edge.
There were several times I thought I was going to go over the edge. Situations would arise in the book and I was like, Oh here comes that bus that is going to end someone's life, or they are going to get a terrible diagnosis or fill in some sad situation. There was just impending DOOM.
Don't get me wrong it was a well told story, a bit dragged out and the main character really frustrated me. She refused to speak up. She didn't fight for herself. People in her life treated her so terribly, But I totally admire how she sacrificed her life to give her son everything. It is a beautiful relationship she has with her son, and whats so sweet is you can see what a great kid he is (unlike the other punk kids in the book
Ali Mercer is a great reader and can build such depth of characters I will defiantly read more by her.
The only reason it is not a 4 star was it went on a bit too long.
Thank you Net Galley and Ali Mercer for this advanced copy read. I was not influcenced or reimburst for this honest review of this book.
There were several times I thought I was going to go over the edge. Situations would arise in the book and I was like, Oh here comes that bus that is going to end someone's life, or they are going to get a terrible diagnosis or fill in some sad situation. There was just impending DOOM.
Don't get me wrong it was a well told story, a bit dragged out and the main character really frustrated me. She refused to speak up. She didn't fight for herself. People in her life treated her so terribly, But I totally admire how she sacrificed her life to give her son everything. It is a beautiful relationship she has with her son, and whats so sweet is you can see what a great kid he is (unlike the other punk kids in the book
Ali Mercer is a great reader and can build such depth of characters I will defiantly read more by her.
The only reason it is not a 4 star was it went on a bit too long.
Thank you Net Galley and Ali Mercer for this advanced copy read. I was not influcenced or reimburst for this honest review of this book.
March 2, 2023
First, I want to thank Ali Mercer, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
WOW!!! I was not prepared for that emotional rollercoaster of a ride Ali Mercer put me on while reading her latest A Child’s Goodbye!! She is GOOD at pulling on my heart strings and should have been prepared with tissues on hand. Yes, she made me ugly cry with this one.
Can we talk about the beautiful cover with the pretty colors?! The graphic designers did a spot on job with it.
Ali is a brilliant storyteller who writes from her heart. All her stories you can feel how passionate she is about these characters and storylines. All of Ali’s stories are a breath of fresh air to read.
Billy’s character was my favorite of the book as every situation he had been put in he came out stronger! He sure did pull hard on my heart strings! There were so many times I wanted to reach out to him to comfort him.
In A Child’s Goodbye there are so many life lessons to be learned in this book. One of the most beautiful ones I thought was at the end of the prologue.
Ali wrote some truly shocking moments where I was either scared for the character, left speechless or thinking OMG she went there! Ohh let’s not forget the moment I had to put down the Kindle to compose myself because the waterworks would not stop!
A Child’s Goodbye is one book to put on your TBR list for this year!
WOW!!! I was not prepared for that emotional rollercoaster of a ride Ali Mercer put me on while reading her latest A Child’s Goodbye!! She is GOOD at pulling on my heart strings and should have been prepared with tissues on hand. Yes, she made me ugly cry with this one.
Can we talk about the beautiful cover with the pretty colors?! The graphic designers did a spot on job with it.
Ali is a brilliant storyteller who writes from her heart. All her stories you can feel how passionate she is about these characters and storylines. All of Ali’s stories are a breath of fresh air to read.
Billy’s character was my favorite of the book as every situation he had been put in he came out stronger! He sure did pull hard on my heart strings! There were so many times I wanted to reach out to him to comfort him.
In A Child’s Goodbye there are so many life lessons to be learned in this book. One of the most beautiful ones I thought was at the end of the prologue.
Ali wrote some truly shocking moments where I was either scared for the character, left speechless or thinking OMG she went there! Ohh let’s not forget the moment I had to put down the Kindle to compose myself because the waterworks would not stop!
A Child’s Goodbye is one book to put on your TBR list for this year!
Read
March 30, 2023A truly heart wrenching story of a very kind woman and her love for her child while trying to navigate a world that has been incredibly unkind to her at each and every turn. Callie is trying to be the best mother she can to her very tender sweet son Billy with zero support. She is estranged from her mother who made some truly awful assumptions about her without giving Callie the opportunity to tell her the truth, gossipy old biddies for speeding terrible rumors that are believed rather than questions as to their validity, is pouring the loss of her beloved father who is the only one who ever knew and understood her, feels no love or even kindness from her awful step-father and step sister, must contend with a lot judgmental nasty women who under the guise of friendship read her as badly as their horrible children treat Billy. Everyone of them would win an award for the hypocrite of the year award. In essence, she just can’t catch a break. And then miraculously after a terrible accident things seem to take a turn for the better. Or do they? Not an easy listen (or read) and I found myself just hoping one single thing would go right for her. Have tissues nearby when reading. This is not the easiest story due to the subject matter, but is well crafted and will will take you on an emotional ride throughout. Be prepared to experience all of the highs and lows along.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 2, 2023
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.
This is a story about what happens to a child when their only parent is not around anymore. There are themes of love, regret, loss, forgiveness, and trust. It starts when Callie is an accident and her friend cannot watch her son, Billy while she's at the hospital. Instead, that friend drops Billy off at Callie's mother's house. She has not spoken to her mother since Billy's first birthday. This begins a chain of events about who Billy's father is and how everything got to this point in the present. It's told from multiple POVs.
I kind of struggled with this book. It moves very slowly and goes from the present to the past with little warning. The characters are all fine, but I didn't really connect with anyone. It felt like it was supposed to have a bigger impact than it actually did. The story was all fine, but it did not leave an impact with me. I think it would have been helpful for certain events to have been written bigger. I think of the title and what it implicates, and that makes me sad. However, the book spent so much time explaining other things that I think it could have taken up more space on what happened. It's not a bad book and I think others will like it. I'm sorry that I didn't like this one as much as I should.
This is a story about what happens to a child when their only parent is not around anymore. There are themes of love, regret, loss, forgiveness, and trust. It starts when Callie is an accident and her friend cannot watch her son, Billy while she's at the hospital. Instead, that friend drops Billy off at Callie's mother's house. She has not spoken to her mother since Billy's first birthday. This begins a chain of events about who Billy's father is and how everything got to this point in the present. It's told from multiple POVs.
I kind of struggled with this book. It moves very slowly and goes from the present to the past with little warning. The characters are all fine, but I didn't really connect with anyone. It felt like it was supposed to have a bigger impact than it actually did. The story was all fine, but it did not leave an impact with me. I think it would have been helpful for certain events to have been written bigger. I think of the title and what it implicates, and that makes me sad. However, the book spent so much time explaining other things that I think it could have taken up more space on what happened. It's not a bad book and I think others will like it. I'm sorry that I didn't like this one as much as I should.
April 2, 2023
I’m seriously starting to wonder if I read the same book as some of these five star reviews. I got so close to giving up on this one multiple times but I ended up finishing it and then wishing I hadn’t wasted my time. This book was just way too long and slow moving. There were so many parts that I thought could have been shortened or left out altogether.
I also really disliked the main character. She basically forced her son to be friends with these other boys that are horrible to him and she has no idea. If she’s the wonderful, responsive mother that she’s supposed to be, how could she possibly have no idea that her son was being picked on my these boys. There were a couple other problems I had with this character that I don’t really want to go into without spoiling too much, I’ll just say I didn’t find a lot of it to be believable.
When I first read the synopsis of this book I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it emotionally since I am a mother of a young boy. Turns out I didn’t need to worry because I felt nothing when it came to the “emotional” part of this book. Because the story was so long and drawn out and because the characters weren’t likeable, I just wasn’t invested and didn’t have the emotional response I was expecting.
The story definitely had potential but unfortunately it was just a miss for me.
I also really disliked the main character. She basically forced her son to be friends with these other boys that are horrible to him and she has no idea. If she’s the wonderful, responsive mother that she’s supposed to be, how could she possibly have no idea that her son was being picked on my these boys. There were a couple other problems I had with this character that I don’t really want to go into without spoiling too much, I’ll just say I didn’t find a lot of it to be believable.
When I first read the synopsis of this book I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it emotionally since I am a mother of a young boy. Turns out I didn’t need to worry because I felt nothing when it came to the “emotional” part of this book. Because the story was so long and drawn out and because the characters weren’t likeable, I just wasn’t invested and didn’t have the emotional response I was expecting.
The story definitely had potential but unfortunately it was just a miss for me.
April 2, 2023
This is the first book I have read by Ali Mercer and I can honestly say it won’t be the last.
I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the book and found myself in tears towards the end.
Callie is a single mother to Billie, a sweet and shy 10 year old boy who suffers with anxiety. She has never told anyone who Billies father is, which caused her and her mother to fall out on Billies first birthday. Callie suffers an accident on her way to pick Billie up from school which leads to the past catching up with her.
Rueben is the boy who lived across the road from Callie when they were teenagers, his mother died when he had just left school and he has an off relationship with his father and step mother. Reuben’s dad becomes ill and coupled with the fact Callie has had an accident and Billie has some how ended up with his grannie across the road from Reuben’s dad it brings Rueben back to his childhood home.
With Callie out of hospital and her mother and Rueben back in hers and Billies life, the past secrets begin to unravel and we find out why she never disclosed who Billies dad is.
Twists I didn't see coming kept me hooked and the way the story is told from Callie, Billie and Rueben’s perspective is the perfect balance.
5 stars for this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ali Mercer for the chance to read this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the book and found myself in tears towards the end.
Callie is a single mother to Billie, a sweet and shy 10 year old boy who suffers with anxiety. She has never told anyone who Billies father is, which caused her and her mother to fall out on Billies first birthday. Callie suffers an accident on her way to pick Billie up from school which leads to the past catching up with her.
Rueben is the boy who lived across the road from Callie when they were teenagers, his mother died when he had just left school and he has an off relationship with his father and step mother. Reuben’s dad becomes ill and coupled with the fact Callie has had an accident and Billie has some how ended up with his grannie across the road from Reuben’s dad it brings Rueben back to his childhood home.
With Callie out of hospital and her mother and Rueben back in hers and Billies life, the past secrets begin to unravel and we find out why she never disclosed who Billies dad is.
Twists I didn't see coming kept me hooked and the way the story is told from Callie, Billie and Rueben’s perspective is the perfect balance.
5 stars for this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ali Mercer for the chance to read this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 25, 2023
I have tried more than wants to give a good summary of this book but there is just too many different timelines and too many different moving parts and too many things that would be spoilers. The stories about Kayla and Kayla has an accident and despite she hasn’t spoken to her mom in 10 years her best friend decides that’s exactly where she needs to bring 11-year-old Billy while Kayla is in the hospital. Ruben is her mom‘s neighbor and then another timeline in the past we hear about Caleb meeting him and how she liked him ET see and then there’s little Billy he’s bullied by Kayla‘s best friend‘s son Jack. The story progresses although very slowly in the head with you twist in the book but they take so long to get to not only that but there were a lot of things in this book that I found pointless but I’m sure others are going to say how great this book was and they loved it and that’s fine I did not the only thing I enjoyed was the narrator I thought she had a great tone to her voice and did a wonderful job narrating the book. I did listen to the whole thing even though at one point I thought the story would never end but it eventually dead in this book would be three hours shorter it may be a great story but there’s a lot of who shot John in the book and I kept zoning out. They were part of the book I liked but they were too far and few in the in between had me wanting to fall asleep. I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
April 2, 2023
A Child's Goodbye is emotional and heart wrenching. Kepp the tissues at the ready!
The author delves into questions we are afraid to ask ourselves, who will take care of our child if we are unable to?
A shy child lives with his single mother, he doesn't have many friends, is teased at school but is starting to show some independence from his mother. Depending on his mother to pick him up at the school gates 5 days a week when she doesn't one day his stress is evident as he waits in the school office for word on what to do. Receiving word his mother has been in an accident on her way to pick him up causes a change not only in his life but his mother's as well.
His mother is hiding a secret, she won't say who her son's father is and it has caused her to be estranged from her own mother.
Being in the hospital has given her plenty of time to think back on the past and about her son. She loves him desperately and only wants the best for him.
She comes to the realization that visiting the past and setting things straight will cause her to progress in the future.
Well-developed characters that blossom and grow as the story progresses.
Pub Date 28 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The author delves into questions we are afraid to ask ourselves, who will take care of our child if we are unable to?
A shy child lives with his single mother, he doesn't have many friends, is teased at school but is starting to show some independence from his mother. Depending on his mother to pick him up at the school gates 5 days a week when she doesn't one day his stress is evident as he waits in the school office for word on what to do. Receiving word his mother has been in an accident on her way to pick him up causes a change not only in his life but his mother's as well.
His mother is hiding a secret, she won't say who her son's father is and it has caused her to be estranged from her own mother.
Being in the hospital has given her plenty of time to think back on the past and about her son. She loves him desperately and only wants the best for him.
She comes to the realization that visiting the past and setting things straight will cause her to progress in the future.
Well-developed characters that blossom and grow as the story progresses.
Pub Date 28 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
March 15, 2023
A family drama about a mother who is injured on the way to pick up her young son from school. She is injured bad enough to have to be in the hospital and have surgery. Callie is a single parent with not many people she can call her friends. She is estranged from her mother. Who is going to help take care of her son, Billy?
I had a bit of trouble getting into the story as it seemed slow to me. As I read on, many things became clearer to me as to why Callie is the way she is. And, this is when the story starting drawing me in more and more.
Overall, A Child’s Goodbye is a heartfelt and emotional story that will take you through so many emotions.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had a bit of trouble getting into the story as it seemed slow to me. As I read on, many things became clearer to me as to why Callie is the way she is. And, this is when the story starting drawing me in more and more.
Overall, A Child’s Goodbye is a heartfelt and emotional story that will take you through so many emotions.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 29, 2023
This is the story of Callie. In 2002 she is living with her mum and stepfather and first meets Reuben, a boy who lives across the road. Events lead her to run away from home and fall out with her family. When she discovers she is pregnant she decides to bring Billy up alone. In 2014 she has an accident, is taken to hospital and Billy is taken to stay with her mother, much to Callie’s horror as he suffers from anxiety. Callie has never revealed who Billy’s father is but when Reuben turns up Billy finds out that he is his Dad. Callie, Billy, Reuben and all the family are reunited but then events happen that change everything. This was another emotional read from Ali Mercer and will tug at your heartstrings. A highly recommended read. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
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