Member Reviews
I really enjoyed this book , and was completely in the dark about what had happened to baby Oliver , I was a little shocked when I got to the end . The story is told from the perspectives of Sally and Richard and his daughter Martha . Baby Oliver has a broken arm but how did it happen , social services step in and each one of them is under suspicion at one point or another . I liked reading the perspective of all three although I didn't warm to any of them really . It was good right from the start and I read it quickly but I did feel that the ending was a little bit rushed , but overall a really good book . Thanks for the opportunity to read this
Baby Oliver has been hurt. His arm is broken, it's in a cast and he's been sent to live with his grandparents while social services investigate a potential case of child abuse. Everyone in the house is on edge, mum Sally was out drinking and the last thing she remembers is passing out with exhaustion, dad Richard is lying about his whereabouts, everyone thinks he was home that night but his daughter Martha knows different. It's in her interest to lie for him though because she has secrets of her own to keep.
Hush Little Baby is the first book I've read by author Joanna Barnard. I doubt it will be the last though. The novel explores a number of issues without cramming in too many to potentially confuse the reader. It is a poignant novel which explores the intrecracies of family life from the perspective of a mistress turned wife, a husband who admits he can't stop falling in love and a teenage girl who has been put in a position she feels she can't get out of. From extramarital affairs to depression, eating disorders, self-harming and drugs this novel has it all. It really does sound like it would be too much, but it's not. What is, is realistic.
Joanna Barnard writes about life in reality. She takes the perfect family and sneaks into their home to find out all their little secrets, she explores the mind of a mother who's not coping, a man who can't keep away from pretty girls and a daughter from a previous marriage who's all but shoved out, or at least feeling that way. There's also a rather good plot twist thrown in as well.
The story is certainly thought provoking, it makes you sit back and realise not just how hard Social Services' job is, but also how easy it is to suddenly find that the baby you planned, carried for 9 months and parented for another 10 can suddenly be taken away. The potential there for you to never see them again. It's harrowing and intense although not fast paced. Joanna has a wonderful way of writing which sucks you right into the lives and minds of the family, where you find yourself rooting for everyone no matter your suspicions. It is an art form to write such genuine characters and despite the subject matter a seriously enjoyable book.
Hush Little Baby by Joanna Barnard
Many of us are aware of the job of Social Services in protecting children who they think might be in danger of harm by their parents/family. When this happens to a baby nobody can know for certain how the injury was caused so the child is removed to a place of safety whilst investigations are carried out.
This was the case for baby Oliver who suffered a broken arm; his parents, Richard and Sally and his half-sister Martha deny any knowledge of how he sustained the injury and Oliver is placed with Richard’s parents and access is limited to supervised visits.
The plot is revealed through the voices of Richard, Sally and Martha and it would appear that each have something to hide. However, it may well be that all three are innocent and this is a mistake – something we are aware has happened to many families – and this concept runs through the book – is it a mistake?
To add to the mix in Sally we have post-natal depression, OCD, guilt over stealing another woman’s husband and breaking up a family, feelings of isolation and being marginalised, frustration, tiredness etc. With Richard we have his philandering and his calculating charm and Martha – she is a teenager who prefers to live with her father and Sally rather than her mother, coping with her own demons which include self-harm. Enter Social Services and now husband and wife who should be presenting a united front are casting questioning looks at each other.
In this book Barnard has encapsulated all the worries of a new mother, the concern and the worry and the feelings of self-doubt – as indeed she has with a teenager in the role of Martha.
Her characters are brilliant. I really felt for Sally when confronted with her mother-in-law, it was never said but I just felt that she had taken-over the role of mother to Oliver and revelled in it.
Richard? Oh Richard, I can’t speak highly of him but you will have to judge for yourself, enough to say that he is very well drawn by Barnard.
I didn’t expect the ending – had thought it might be something else – but as soon as it is revealed thought ‘Oh, of course’.
Enough said, all I can add is that this is a brilliant book, brilliantly written and I can not recommend it enough. Try it and see.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
A brilliant read. The story about a family broke apart already without knowing it, then their little boy is found with a broken bone. Who is guilty? Social services quickly step in and take the child and investigate the parents. The parents relationship falls apart as long held grudges and secrets emerge. The step daughter is suffering too in her own way coping with teen years. Well researched or experienced. Definitely recommend.
Three different POVs, three or even four suspects who all have something to hide and are lying for there own reasons.
It's a book about hurting an innocent child, about the difficulties of parenthood and marriage. To complicate things further adultery, OCD, depression, bulimia, cutting and other serious disorders are thrown into the mix.
They all could be capable of hurting Baby Oliver.
It's an interesting read.
"Hush Little Baby" by Joanna Barnard is a complex, cleverly woven story involving a mixture of somewhat disturbed characters.
I felt drawn into the story and had compassion for a few of them.
As a reader you think you know how the book will end, only to be thrown a curve ball and it turns out very different.
This is the first book I have read by this author, I really enjoyed her style of writing, she sticks to the story and adds just enough characters to not confuse the reader.
I have downloaded her other book "Precocious" and I'm looking forward to reading it soon.
Excellent book! Great characters and a brilliant storyline. I would highly recommend this book.
A well written book about a difficult subject, an easy read with believeable characters.
This book was a great read and I couldn't put it down. The characters were interesting each with their own secrets and placed in a nightmare situation which every parent would dread. I would definitely recommend this book.
A book that really makes you think. We all say fly away comments when are children are driving us to distraction. One visit it A and E and everything is raked over with a fine tooth comb. This book is about family falling apart and also coming together. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it
You might have to guess who did break baby Oliver's arm until the end, or have your suspicions confirmed. Hush Little Baby has a low amount of intrigue, focusing on family and relationship issues instead. Not sure why this is Women's fiction, when it is a family matter. [bctt tweet="Hush Little Baby will break your heart, and make you wonder who has done it. But it is not the only mystery in the book" username="ailynk"]
The ending was a positive one, the author creates a balance that is acceptable. Hush Little Baby can be too close to reality than some of us might care to admit. This is a good read, but a little confronting at times, especially if you have children.
This book is a gripping read the whole way through. The way the story is told by different people keeps you guessing the whole way through. The storyline is believable and well put together.
I enjoyed this book.
It was written from the perspective of the 3 main characters, who all had their own problems and stresses.
It kept me in suspense right to the very end as to who was the person guilty of hurting little Oliver!
I enjoyed the telling of the story from the different characters. I thought it was an interesting and thought provoking exploration of motherhood, family dynamics and mental health. Overall, very enjoyable with good twists that kept me guessing and wanting to read on.
This is an excellent book! Baby Oliver is found in his cot with a broken arm, no-one knows what has happened to him. His mother Sally has been out for the night, his dad Richard was supposedly at home with his teenage daughter Martha from a previous relationship. However they all have secrets to hide.
The book is told from the perspective of all three characters writing separate chapters and bit by bit the reader finds out exactly what has been happening in their lives that they don't want disclosed. At times this book is really heartbreaking, when social services get involved and want to take Oliver into care, the family are powerless to prevent them. It is written in a scarily realistic way and you can imagine this happening in real life and the agony the family must be going through.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc, I would thoroughly recommend it.
Richard, sally, Martha and Oliver, you're typical 2.4 family. Then one day everything changed, Oliver suffered an unexplained injury one night. Sally was out, Richard was babysitting and Martha was in her room, it all sounds so normal and too good to be believable, but is it?
A slow burning psychological thriller that grips once it catches you, it's a case of just one more chapter till it's donee
I found this book to be a very absorbing and thought provoking read, although perhaps not in a gripping page turning type of way. I had to read a few chapters at a time, and then digest it, The story unfolded by following the three main characters, who all had their own problems. In each chapter for Sally, Richard and Martha, you really got an insight into exactly what their life was about, and their deepest darkest thoughts. All of them could have had the finger pointed at them, and it could have been any one of them who knew more than they were letting on. There was a twist at the end, which ruled one of them out, but left you waiting until the last couple of pages to find out exactly what did happen that evening.
This book was so good
Couldn't put it down
The storyline is a married couple with a baby plus step daughter living with them
The baby gets an injury and all hell breaks loose . The secrets start to emerge the wife finds out what her husband is really like .
Excellent read would recommend this book , highly addictive can't wait for your new release .
My heart was in my mouth the whole book. Watching people lives spiralling out of control. Felt the ending was a bit weak
Wow. You know from the off that baby Oliver has sustained an injury but who by is the mystery.
Enter Richard,Sally and Martha all in the house at some point on that fateful day.
The insight in to the impact of having a baby upon a family, a step child and the dynamics of this and Richard being Richard (all I can say to prevent spoilers) opens up family issues that are so realistic and well written.
Peripheral stories that impact upon each character add to the sense of mystery and add depth and also make you more suspicious of who actually did this.
Some characters you will love to hate, some you pity, such is the way that this is written.
The emotiveness of the subject and the ensuing suspicion, reflection on what a friend is and the role of social services leaves you pondering and yet championing certain characters.
The most reflective I became was at the end. Did I see it coming? What are my thoughts on that person now? Lots of questions and to me that is the sign of a good book.
Be brace don't let the topic put you off,this is well worth the five stars I awarded it.Thanks to Netgalley,the publisher and the author for allowing me to preview this. I look forward to reading more by Joanna Barnard