The Promise between Us by Barbara Claypole White is the story of one family torn apart by mental illness and how they come back together for the well-being of another. The story opens with Katelynn McDonald as a young mother of 7 month old, Maisie, who has been having very intrusive thoughts about hurting her daughter. Fearing that she would actually hurt her, Katelynn runs and disappears from her daughter’s life. Fast forward 9 years later, Katelynn, now called Katie, has been dealing with OCD and a chance meeting puts her face to face with her daughter and she fears her daughter suffers from the same mental illness. Her ex-husband, Callum, refuses to listen to Katie’s fears until one day when he notices the same behaviors in Maisie as Katie used to do so long ago. Can they come together enough to help Maisie? Are there more secrets buried deep which need to surface before they can fully heal?
The Promise between Us is a beautiful and powerful story. It was difficult to read at times, not because the story lagged, but because Ms. Claypole White’s description of OCD. The mental anguish that the compulsions cause the individual as they try to fight the irrational thoughts. It is a powerful story of how healing can come from facing our deepest fears and how the people we love can be our best medicine. I enjoyed every character and the conflict and resolution fit very well. I enjoyed The Promise between Us as it gives an in-depth, no-holds-bar look into the lives and thoughts of those who suffer from OCD. I highly recommend it!

The Promise between Us
is available in paperback and eBook

Barbara Claypole White tells an intriguing and complex story in The Promise Between Us. In a nutshell, Katie, a young mother, falls into a very dark hole with horrible thoughts, that she later learns are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and has convinced herself that the only thing she can do to save her baby (as in, not killing her) is to run away. Fast forward ten years. Through a remarkable confluence of events that is entirely believable, Katie meets her daughter, Maisie through a chance encounter and realizes that she and her daughter, ex-husband, and his pregnant wife, all live in the same place.

I won’t say more about what transpires, because to do so would be revealing spoilers, and I don’t do that. Suffice to say that while OCD is truly one of the characters in this book, perhaps the central character, it’s the real people who challenge that bully who shine through as real and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially Maisie, who is a hoot, and highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing 💜 for providing me with an ARC of this book.

When I was a little girl I sometimes allowed my imagination to take me to dark places. Movies would run through my head after a thought like, "What would happen if Mom and Dad died?" I learned to push aside these 'what ifs' as I grew older.

But....what if...someone never was able to control these thoughts. What if they took over one's life, incessant and intrusive, so that with every moment one was confronted with the possibility of doom.

Barbara Claypole White's new book The Promise Between Us peels back the reality of people who live with the crippling 'what ifs'. Her character Katie has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A knife sends her into panic: what if she harmed someone with it? What if she killed with it? Before she was diagnosed and treated she abandoned her beloved husband and their child to save them from the acts she envisioned she might commit that would bring them harm.

Years later Katie unexpectedly finds her daughter Maisie in her life and recognizes the early symptoms of OCD. Somehow she must intervene and help her daughter before her life becomes the horror she knows so well. The complication is that Maisie believed that her mother had died.

Readers have loved this book, especially impressed by how White brings Katie's disease to life. We hear the internal dialoge of OCD and are shown how Katie self-talks to control it.

Along the journey we learn the tragic back stories of Katie as well as that of her husband and his best friend. Broken hearts and romance will be found in these pages.

The secondary story of the husband's PTSD, for me, was a bit too much for a book already brimming with broken people. The repetition of Katie's internal voices and the talk about how her daughter can control her thoughts took up a lot of space and slowed the story.



But who can blame White? In her Backstory page found here, we learn she is intimately knowledgeable about her subject matter. Her husband and their son has OCD. I commend the author for bringing understanding and insight. We are all better for it.

Readers will be propelled by the well-drawn characters and will adore Maisie. Book clubs can find lots to discuss with the help of the Reading Group Guide found here.

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

As I said in my Goodreads review.... This one is tough - I want to say that it’s an entertaining read with enjoyable characters - which it is - but the whole new perspective it gave me on someone living with OCD makes it difficult to use those “happy” words. It’s almost as though I sat down and read a really good book and didn’t realize until it was all over, that the author provided a service, an education, in the mix. Young Maisie is a delight, and she ends up being the person I bonded with and rooted for, most of the book. Having lived in the Raleigh/Durham area, I loved reading the old familiar street and location names, mixed in throughout the storyline.

The Promise Between Us is a wonderful book with characters that I will never forget. The story revolves around a woman, Katie, who is a metal artist struggling with keeping her Obsession Compulsive Disorder (OCD) under control. She meets a young art lover, Maisie, who also shows OCD symptoms. The story evolves from there with several twists and surprises. I learned a lot about OCD but, beyond that, this is a story about what constitutes a family in today's world. Highly recommended.

5 Stars + + Bestselling author, Barbara Claypole White returns following (2016) Echoes of Family and (2015) The Perfect Son with her best yet, THE PROMISE BETWEEN US.

Heart-wrenching a profoundly moving, and insightful story of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and mental health. Relationships. Battling the monsters of the mind. Educating the family members and close friends. Deep understanding and empathy.

Compelling, beautifully written, and emotionally-charged, you sympathize with each of the characters as they come alive on the pages. A story of shame, love, hope, and redemption.

“Every thought is just a thought until you assign it meaning.” — Angie Alexander, founder of Friends with OCD

Written passionately, from five viewpoints —meet Katie, Callum and Maisie MacDonald. Second wife, Lilah, and Callum’s best friend, Jake.

In Raleigh, NC after the birth of Katelyn (Katie) and Callum’s daughter Maisie, Katelyn begins experiencing harmful thoughts and images. As a mother, she is afraid she will hurt her child. She wants to protect her, and she doesn’t understand what is happening. She wants nothing more than to be a good mother. She worries about everything. Her daughter's safety.

Katelyn has told no one of her private horror movies playing inside her head. Violent images. Not Cal, not the doctors. Images that play over and over. She is powerless. They may take her away from Maisie. She would lose her forever. She wants to protect her. They would lock her away and think she was crazy.

She had told the doctor she was worried all the time and he said it was depression and PTSD. Easy fix, they say, “pills and think happy thoughts.” She knows nothing of postpartum OCD.

Katelyn has a haunting past. According to the professional, adults never escape their childhoods. She saw her mother stab her father at the kitchen table. The dad ran off, and her mom prayed and drank, while she raised her baby sister, Delaney. She was only twelve years old.

When she finally asks for help, her husband does not understand. He has his inner demons (which he has not shared with his wife). She senses her husband is terrified of her.

Flash forward we hear from Callum (Professor) which is now raising ten-year-old daughter Maisie. He is newly married to Lilah which is pregnant.

Jake (uncle J) has been a best friend of Callum’s since grade school and is single. He is a big part of their lives. We also learn later in the book; he also has secrets of the past. Why is he so engrossed in their lives?

Katie (former Katelyn) now a metal artist living in Durham, NC. She works with Ben, the star of the studio. He took her on as a project, years earlier when she became his intern.

Her work takes her to a docent program in Raleigh, where she lived with Callum and her daughter. She is very nervous about returning to the area. Her anxiety level is high.

A student. A talented fifth grader, Maisie. Her daughter. She believes her mother is dead. Katelyn now goes by the name of Katie Mack. She keeps quiet and enjoys interacting with the girl. Her precious daughter. However, immediately, she suspects her daughter has inherited her OCD.

She has all the signs. She becomes concerned for her well-being. She knows what she will face and how she thinks. She will be the one to help her. However, how will she convince Cal, his new wife, and J she has Maisie's best interest at heart?

“OCD goes after what matters most." Tortures you with your worst-case scenario — Staying away from Raleigh was no different from dumping all the knives in the trash nine years earlier. Avoidance.

Katie still hears the voices inside her head. However, she has learned to deal with them differently. She knows she has OCD. OCD lies. It does not go away; however, it is up to her to manage them.

A woman desperate, abandoned her daughter and family because she thought she, was a monster. Living with her dog in a tent for seventeen months with her dog until he died. She wanted to go home, but suicide seemed the only option.

When that did not work, she knew she had to do something. Without the resources and money to get the help she needed. Self-directed therapy. She grew up with an unfit mother and knew she did not want that for Maisie.

She decided to tackle her fear. She had nothing to lose. Her first welding class. If she could control fire and make something beautiful of it, she could do so with her life.

The author cleverly unravels the past and the horrific journey of Katie. From being alone, helpless, homeless, with no health insurance, or anywhere to turn. At one point she turned to suicide but was saved. With her sister’s help and her new career, she was making a life for herself. She continues to tell herself.

“I control fire; I am strong. I’m a welder who works in a helmet decorated with Power Girl stickers.”

Riveting and thought-provoking! The author gets into the minds and hearts of each character. Each person plays an essential part in the overall storyline. (the twist with Cal and Jake) Thereby, providing further depth. Their history, tragedies, anxieties, fears (both past and present).

THE PROMISE BETWEEN US reminds me of the show (I love) This is Us. And back for the next season. Especially this past week’s new episode with (Kevin) in therapy and the family is called in for a joint session.

An often misunderstood illness leads people to make desperate decisions, which change the course of their lives. A group of people trapped in a difficult situation with difficulties. A ripple effect on those they hold close.

The author does an extraordinary job tackling the topic of mental illness with meticulous research and well-developed characters.

The title, THE PROMISE BETWEEN US, speaks volumes. More than one promise. More than one with mental illness in this story. Some only hide their illness. White skillfully demonstrates how everyone has a different form of the disease. Everyone handles it differently.

When spiraling out of control, it can be devastating. From childhood to adulthood. OCD is an illness of the mind. When thoughts are not the problem, but how we deal with them.

Written with intensity, and a mix of humor, a total package from the first page to the last. Not an ordinary family drama. It almost reads like domestic suspense. It is riveting, and readers will be turning the pages dying to discover the mystery behind Cal and Jake's personalities.

The author is at the "top of her game." A perfect choice for book clubs with discussion question included the inspiration behind the book and additional resources for OCD.

Highly recommend! For fans of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain and of course, the TV series, This is Us.

A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks.

Favorite Quotes:

You might have been blinded by love and lust, but Katelyn was always wound tighter than a dollar store watch.

How did this happen? Two PhDs between them, and they couldn’t figure out contraception.

I’m a welder who works in a helmet decorated with Power Girl stickers.

Why were these horrid thoughts taking up a whole room in her brain? No, multiple rooms!

Still as predictable as ever. Takes a small pair of balls to intimidate a small woman.

‘’Cause I feel as if I’ve been skinny-dipping with snapping turtles. And oh, Lordy’—he tossed out an expression that reminded her of Robin Williams playing Mrs. Doubtfire—‘you know how much I value my body parts.’

Delaney had once complained that it was impossible to make Patrick jealous, but the look he gave Jake was, surely, reserved for muggers of little old ladies.


My Review:

This book should be required reading for all medical and psychological graduate students and interns. Written from five viewpoints The Promise Between Us was smartly written and endlessly fascinating, yet surprisingly easy to follow. I was quickly mesmerized and completely embedded within the craniums of these peculiar and cringe-worthy characters and have yet to fully resurface. I have a strong suspicion that these singularly unique yet fully formed individuals will be residing with me for quite some time. The storyline was tragic and heartbreaking, the characters were deeply flawed, fractured, and somewhat repellent, yet oddly compelling and endearing for their efforts. But the writing, oh the writing, it was stellar, superb, well-crafted, tantalizing, heartrending, poignant, painfully insightful, sharply honed, and exquisitely observant with unexpected yet perfectly pitched twists of levity, primarily from the most under-appreciated characters. I adore this author and would worship at an altar laden with her works.

Katie is a wise but broken woman who has had to overcome so much in her years to even be able to function. Giving up your family is one of the worst things you would have to do in your life but she did it because she was selfless and did not want to hurt them. I felt sad for Katie through more than half of the book. You will fall in love with Maisie. She is a strong little girl who wants nothing more than to protect her dad. Callum is Katie’s ex husband and Maisie’s father. For more than half of the book I hated parts of this man, even though everything he did was to protect Maisie. I was pulled into this book and could not put it down. I kept wanting to keep going even though I should have went to bed. I ended up finishing this book at 5:30am which threw off my whole day but was well worth it. The writing was very well done and put you in the middle of the thoughts of someone with obsessive compulsive disorder. I know I would not be able to function within this mental disorder. I look forward to another one by Barbara Claypole White.

Okay, so I was totally hooked after the first chapter—so intense and a bit confusing. And now I know that's how a person with OCD lives and feels. This was a very enlightening look into the world of OCD and small glimpse of what it's like to have it rule your world.

The Promise Between Us is not a play-by-play book on how to survive and function. It's a look at a family who is trying to figure it out and lead a normal life. Katie runs away from her family thinking she is protecting them. Years later, as she comes in contact with her daughter Maisie again, she finds out that there is no running away from the turmoil that's in her head. And she realizes she needs to be there for Maisie, to help her learn how to cope with the 'voice'.

This is the first book by this author that I've read but I'll definitely be reading more. I like her writing style and and the way she makes her characters feel real to me

This was one of the best books on what it looks like to suffer from OCD and told from the perspectives of a mother and her young child. I loved Katie and Maisie so very much. They made my heart ache but made me feel their strength and bravery too.

I struggle with OCD/Anxiety Issues to a lesser degree and see it in a few of my kids, reading the book made me understand why we do some of the things we do and also helped me realize that there are treatment options available that we could probably benefit from. So I owe a huge debt to the author for helping me see that light. Isn’t it amazing how reading can change hearts and minds and provide such information that brings about hope? That’s why I read!

I highly recommend this book to lovers of family drama and medical issues and who love such well written characters that just jump from the page into your heart. This is such a brilliant one.

The Promise Between Us was my first read for 2018 and really it was a perfect choice. What a mind blowing, emotional, informative story. It is one that will stay with me and one that I will want to reread again.

The story is told mainly from Katie's point of view, the mother who walked out and left her child because she was terrified she would harm her. However we also have Cal - her ex husband, Jake his close mate, Lilah now Cal's wife and Maisie the daughter of Cal and Katie. As well there is Delaney - Katie's sister and Ben the guy who just might be someone important in Katie's life. While the last two do not get a 'viewpoint' they have important roles and I love how Barbara Claypole White portrayed them

The other 'main character' in the story is OCD, Katie lives with it and now after accidentally meeting Maisie, she fears Maisie has it too. As a reader I learned so much about OCD through the book and how important treatment is for it and how courageous one has to be to live fully and not let the OCD take over your life. And so terrible things happen in this story, but always there is courage and hope and that stood out right the way through.

As it turns out Katie and Maisie are not the only ones suffering from anxiety - and that was a heart breaking aspect as well to this story - I am not going to say who or how as I do not want to spoil the story if you read it. However it is handled gently and in a positive manner. I loved the emphasis on truth and honesty, and kudos to Lilah, what a wonderful young woman - so wise.

At the beginning of the book Jake seems to be a frivolous, happy go lucky man, but in actual fact he has hidden depths and I can see as the future evolves he and Katie will work together on some project close to their hearts.

A favorite quote from the book:

" Perfection stops you from enjoying the wonder of what is. It snares you with unrealistic expectations. Tells you constantly things can only be a certain way, and that's how you fall into the trap"

This was a wonderful story to read, just as a story - but as well it helped me see into the mind and heart of others and invited me as a person to expand my heart and mind to believe all over again that darkness does not win; compassion, love and hope are far stronger.

The Promise Between Us is a heartfelt family drama that explores the effect of mental illness in several forms. The book is told from several points of view, most notably Katie, a woman with OCD who left her baby and husband after having a postpartum breakdown, and her ex-husband Callum, who didn’t understand his wife’s issues and had his own hidden issues he refused to confront. When a decade later, their daughter brings them together in a chance meeting, the characters all have to figure out how to reconcile the past, forgive each other, and move on.

I especially enjoyed the peaks into the mind of someone with OCD. The intrusive thoughts truly became intrusive, even to me as a reader, and I started to understand how devastating this illness can be. Despite that, the story is filled with a great deal of hope. Many family/relationship novels spend the bulk of the story showing everything falling apart, and I usually yearn to see how the characters manage to put it all back together. This novel shows that beautifully.

The story is told from five points of view, and in my opinion that hindered my ability to connect with any one character. It also made the story feel a little cluttered.

Recommended for readers who enjoy emotional contemporary fiction about family, mental illness, imperfect but loveable characters, and forgiveness.

I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Barbara Claypole White and it certainly won’t be my last. The Promise Between Us has a very engaging plot. I couldn’t put it down. I found this book a wealth of knowledge; a realistic portrayal of a mental illness (OCD) that many have a hard time understanding and little patience for. I know this first hand having worked in the mental health field for years. All mental health providers should read this book. The characters are real, true to life. The main character, Kate has so much strength and resilience to face her OCD demons. And unselfishness to not only give up her baby but then years later to tell Maisie to call her stepmom, Liliah, mom. Barbara Claypole White is now one of my favorite authors.

This book is not a feel good fluff story. In fact, it's a story involving a lot of people struggling with a lot of issues. But I think it's an important story for anyone to try to understand what it is like to live with mental illness. I hope that it will not only bring awareness, but also remind us to be forgiving, non judgemental and supportive to each other because you may not know what someone is struggling with.

Imagine being constantly bombarded with thoughts of hurting your child that you love more than anything . How would you handle that? Would you stay to raise her or would you leave to keep her safe? This is a decision Katie MacDonald has to make in this story about a woman struggling with harm OCD. Katie chooses to leave her child, only to accidentally run into her nine years later. She then has to decide whether to leave again or to stay and try to help her daughter, who is also showing signs of anxiety and OCD.
Barbara Claypool White shows us, through the life of Katie, how people with harm OCD struggle everyday with the thoughts that plague their minds. The story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions from fear to acceptance, from happiness to sadness, and back again.
I truly love and highly recommend this book. I felt like I was right there in the mix of this family crisis. I learned a lot about OCD and I developed an understanding of how difficult it is to live with this disorder.

This book is amazing. I don’t have OCD, but The Promise Between Us illustrates it so well that I could picture exactly how it was making Katie and Maisie feel. The characters were all so well written and described that I could hear Jake speaking as I was reading. This is one of my favorites coming out this year!

Whenever I read a blurb of a book that focuses on mental illness, I always approach the book with hesitation, given the anxiety I have in my own life. Anxiety is something I struggle with every day, is this really something I want to explore in fiction when I spend so much time trying NOT to focus on it in my life? My other fear is that an author will display a character who suffers from something like this as "cured" by the end of the story. I'm happy to report, Barbara Claypole White handles the subject of OCD and anxiety in the most perfect way. In the author notes, she mentions that she has first hand experience with this through her family, which absolutely contributes to her accurate depiction of the issues in Katie's head. I cared about Katie and Maizie and all the characters so much beyond the illness that had cast a shadow over their family and wished they were real so I could reach out and hug them. When I want to meet a character in real life, I know that's a hallmark of a story well told. This was my first Barbara Claypole White book but I will definitely be rushing to check out her backlist now.

What a phenomenal story! The Promise Between Us is a beautifully written story about a mental health disorder, specifically OCD. It describes the heartache, pain, and suffering of those afflicted and family members who struggle to understand this terrifying disorder. This story is also about forgiveness, and with forgiveness, there is hope, which strengthens with the love of a family who never gives up.
I read this book in one sitting…it’s that good. The characters are complex, the storyline is intriguing, and the subplots add layers of depth that pulls you deeper into these characters’ lives. This is such an engaging read. However, the best part of reading this story is how the author successfully gives voice to a mental health disorder that is often misunderstood and maligned. After reading this book, I definitely have a more comprehensive understanding of OCD thanks to this very realistically written story. Very highly recommended!

I have read several books by this author and once again, she did not disappoint. She has an excellent understanding of mental health issues and along with telling a good story, she provides quite a bit of education on the matter as you go. The first chapter had me hooked, I love when stories start this way.
This book is about a severe case of OCD and the debilitating circumstances it causes and how Katie, and her family learned to cope, adapt and try to overcome. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me entertained, I smiled, I laughed and I learned to care about all of the characters, even Jake and Callum. Katie’s inner voice did get carried away several times, but I’m sure for someone with this condition, it could be a factual event. Mostly, I could relate to Katie’s feelings and will remember for years to come, “a thought is just a thought, it has no power”. Katie sacrificed so much for the betterment of her child, some people may think she was uncaring, I didn’t see it that way, I felt she gave her heart and her soul in trying to make sure Maisie had a better life than she could give.
The story also brought to light the advantages of how an adult person with this condition could be, and would be so helpful to a child not understanding any of the symptoms. I highly recommend, giving 5 stars. Spending another few hours with Barbara Claypole White was well worth it.

This book had my interest from the very beginning pages. I was pulled into the struggles and challenges of the characters and how OCD was defining their lives and those they loved. I found myself going to bed at night with these characters on my mind and thinking how much they had to go through because of the lies their minds would tell them. My heart broke for them. I also learned so much about what OCD can do to someone. I am grateful for this book and how it helps me to know what people are going through with this in their lives. The characters felt like people I knew and I wanted so much to be there for them. TY, netgalley, for a kindle copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.