I loved this book. I also loved that it was partially set in Michigan being a Michigander myself.

Two girls are abducted while their mother Claire falls ill to an allergic reaction. Claire’s grief resounded strong with me as I had recently lost my mother. The story is told through multiple voices, including the abductor and one of the children. I strongly recommend this book.

Book Spotlight Posted on September 9, 2023: https://travelingwitht.com/2023/09/09/book-spotlight-womens-fiction/

I have immensely enjoyed reading this novel! While it covers many difficult topic (like the children abduction and subsequent crisis in the parent's marriage, coping with trauma, but also the hard, cold feelings of simply never belonging, never being a (respected) member of the community etc.), it stays a hopeful (but not shallow) read.
The authoress handles the difficult topics well and with both maturity and deep understanding for many kinds of pain. I was pleasantly surprised about how she was able to offer some respect even to the "bad" characters (not as an absolution, but as layers and circumstances). I especially loved how Claire's journey and growth was portrayed and how tenderly, yet maturely the message of "there is a life to be lived even after your world has been destroyed by pain and there are people who are alive to be loved" was presented.

I will follow this authoress from now on.

I was hooked from the description and the book didn't let me down. As a mother, this is my worst nightmare!
Really good debut novel and look forward to more from this author. Good book!

This is the story of what happens in the aftermath of a decision that mother, Claire, desperately wishes that she could take back. Not a spoiler because this is learned early in the novel…Claire, a busy mom and medical student, pulls into a gas station when she feels unwell. Her mistake is to leave her two sleeping children in the car. When she gets back to her vehicle her children are missing. What happened? Will they be found? How/can Claire live with herself? Read this one to find out. You will care about the characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

As a mother, this novel put me through the ringer! My emotions were all over the place as I tried to imagine what it would be like to be Claire, a woman whose daughters are kidnapped at the start of Lovely Little Things. Maureen Joyce Connolly crafts incredible characters (Jay was my favorite), and affection for these characters makes this book impossible to put down. I loved this book!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly.

Claire is trying to do it all, going to medical school and raising two little girls with her husband Glenn. But while driving she gets overwhelmingly sick after a vaccine and is forced to pull over, leaving her children in the car. Her whole world stops when she wakes on the dirty restroom floor to discover that her girls are gone.

Thus begins a saga that spans several years and everything that happens to the girls, to Claire, and to some interesting characters that help Claire through her grief.

I was not expecting such a heavy domestic drama when I started this book. It rips bandaids off of festering wounds and forces you to look straight at them. But, I was also very surprised and pleased at how well the author handled it. Grief and loss are terrible parts of life, but pretending that they don't exist doesn't help either. I liked the messages of healing, rekindling relationships, and even a bit of mysticism. It was a very multi-layered, and beautifully crafted read.

ACTUAL STAR REVIEW: 4.5

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!

At first, I thought this was going to be a true thriller, but it was actually more of a heart-breaking story about 2 little girl's being abducted and the unfortunate aftermath of one mothers split second decision. When Claire Rawlings, has an allergic reaction while driving (with both girls in the backseat), she pulls over and runs to a gas station bathroom where she passes out, and when she wakes up, her car and her children have vanished without a trace. My heart absolutely broke at this part of the story because I cannot imagine, as a mother, how impossible this scenario would be.

The worst part? The police have no leads and the trail goes cold, leaving this poor family with no answers and an insane amount of grief. I don't know how I could possibly survive the loss. The racking guilt and heartbreak that is experienced between the parents leaps from the pages and is SO REAL! At times, this book was too difficult for me to read, but I am so grateful that Connolly offered me a gifted copy of this book because this is a magical story I will never forget. I've passed this one onto several friends who feel the same exact way. An amazing debut - bravo!

What a brilliant read! I was hooked from the description and the book didn't let me down. As a mother, this is my worst nightmare!
Really good debut novel and look forward to more from this author

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down! It grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go! This book was a full on rollercoaster ride of ups and downs and you just didn’t know from one minute to the next what was going to happen. Maureen Joyce Connolly takes readers for one fantastic ride! I wish I could give this book more than five stars! I received this ARC for an honest review and I highly reccomend grabbing it as soon as it hits the shelf

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a heavy nook. Kidnapping, the way it affects those involved, the toll it takes on a marriage, death, loss. I liked the author’s style of writing. I like how she developed the characters. At points it was a little to much like fantasy for my taste, but overall I enjoyed it. 3.5

This was one heck of a exciting read! It was amazingly life like and made you really think about how something similar could happen in real life. It's honestly one of those books that once you begin reading, you won't be able to put down. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed fast-paced thrillers.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I had a hard time finishing this book but I am sure other readers will love it. I started this with really high hopes and I can it is favored by a lot of other readers.

Claire Rawlings, mother of two girls and a medical resident is driving to work when she starts to feel ill; the next thing she knows she has to pull over at a gas station and go to the restroom. Her daughters are asleep in the back and she does not want to wake them. She rushes to the bathroom and the next she she remembers is waking up from passing out from her illness. Upon exiting she realizes not only is her car missing but so are her daughters; a mother’s worse nightmare… Jay White a Native American drifter has the gift of extra sensory perception and is able to provide the authorities with some crucial evidence on who has take Claire’s daughters. This book had me biting my nails as a mother wanting this children to be found ASAP. Maureen has written this story so well that you cannot put it down until you have answers

Unfortunately this book was not for me. That does not mean, however, that it won't be to the liking of another reader.

This was one hell of a thrilling ride! It was very real-life like and made you really think about how something similar could happen in real life. I recommend this book to anyone that loves fast-paced thrillers.

ahh this book had me feeling all kinds of things! It could honestly happen to anyone and i think it would be a real eye opener for anyone who has kids, but also very confronting!! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Enjoyed this book very much and will be reading more by Maureen Connolly! Particularly enjoyed learning about the gypsy population in the midwest.

Maureen Connolly weaves together a story that's at once frightening, heartbreaking, and hopeful with unforgettable characters and a fast-paced plot. I could not put this book down. I can't wait to see what Connolly has in store next!