I have mixed feelings about this book. I think I would give it 2.5 stars. It wasn't my favorite book. I think it was the characters. I didn't love them and never felt like I really knew them. Milly and Anna's friendship seemed one-sided. Everything was always about Milly. Anna could have spoken up. She decided to keep what happened to her a secret from Milly, although she found it easy to share it with two men she hardly knew. Matt and Milly pretty much dumped their newborn baby on their friend. I understand Milly was suffering from postpartum depression but Matt had no excuse. Anna did go to the extreme but she was put in an awkward position. From the moment Matt and Milly decided to use Anna's egg , I just knew it wouldn't end well. I'm still not sure why Matt refused to use his sperm. His reasonings sounded ridiculous. Anna was a wonderful friend to Milly. Whenever Milly needed her, Anna was always there. Lara was definitely the worst HR person.

I recommend giving the book a try, especially if you are a fan of the author's previous book. This just happened to not be the book for me. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A heartbreaking read of infertility, friendship loyalty and secrets. Anna gives the best gift ever to her best friend Milly - an egg donation along with sperm from Matt's brother. A beautiful baby is born. The story told by Anna and Milly follows the group and how they cope with this unique situation. A real tear jerker as baby Alice grows and the challenges of the friendships and dealing with a tragic blow. Despite the difficult subjects this is a beautiful read.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Gripping emotional gut wrenching emotional experience a wonderful read can highly recommend.

Not My Daughter by Kate Hewitt is a heartbreaking story that will have the reader emotionally invested in the lives of best friends Milly and Anna from the very first paragraph. This is a poignant narrative that will touch even the most cynical among us, and the characters will stay with you long after the final page has been turned.

Milly and Anna have been the best of friends for years, and Anna is well aware of Milly's struggles with infertility. When Anna offers to donate her eggs, Milly thinks that all of her prayers have been answered. Her generous and selfless friend has made motherhood a viable possibility. Following the contribution of brother-in-law Jack, Milly does indeed become pregnant. But this is only the beginning of an emotional and tumultuous journey that will test the relationship of the two women in ways that they could not possibly have imagined.

The novel tackles an ambitious spectrum of issues, from infertility, the ethical implications of egg donation, postpartum depression, and terminal illness, to themes of hope, love, family, and forgiveness. Kudos to Ms Hewitt for her handling of each with sensitivity and compassion. This is the first novel that I have read by the author, but I will certainly be adding more to my 'must read' list. This is a brilliant and heart-wrenching story that gets under the skin.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Not My Daughter by Kate Hewitt is a tragic, aching, emotional journey of love, discovery, heartache, forgiveness and hope. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want their story to end. I LOVED IT!

Matt, Milly, Anna and then Alice were such well developed characters, I felt as if they were part of my family. I laughed with them, I cried with them, I ached when their hearts were breaking. I became so emotionally invested in their lives that I suffered the same anguish, and joy, they did.

The novel encompasses many themes that are so difficult to deal with around fertility, inherited diseases and postpartum depression – topics that are not easily spoken about. The story is told from both Milly and Anna’s viewpoints, and it is engrossing to follow both these women’s views on these topics, and how they deal with the consequences of their actions so differently.

It makes me wonder what I would do. It’s so easy to make a promise to help your best friend, or to accept such a gift, when you don’t know, or don’t think about, the consequences of your decision.

When a novel makes you feel, when it makes you think, when it makes you question life, when you don’t want the story to end – then it’s a novel worth reading!

#netgalley #katehewitt #notmydaughter #bookouture

Heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and tragic, this story kept me on the edge of my seat and reading it in less than a day. So many emotions in this book, so much love. Just when you think you understand how things are going, something else pops up and pulls you in. Have the tissues handy , you will need them.

Thanks goes to the publisher, bookouture and the author, Kate Hewitt, for allowing me the early access to this amazing read.

Before I started reading this book I really thought it was going to be the typical 'best friend fallout and then make up' type story. Let me tell you that it as not even close to being a typical book. This story hits on n a lot of issues that couples face and yet no one tends to write about them in this type of setting.

It took me a while to get through the book as I really didn't want it to end and I was trying to prolong the ending as long as possible. I love this book and because of this read I've already requested another book by her as I have a new author to follow.

5/5 stars

This book made me cry, my heart is all wrenched out, my emotions are so raw that even breathing feels like a friction burn. The story depicted a situation in life where everyone was right, and everything was so wrong too.

Milly couldn't have a child due to early menopause that devastated and nearly destroyed her and husband Matt. So her best friend Anna offered to donate her egg for IVF, and Matt's brother Jack decided to give his sperm. The embryo was implanted into Milly, and child Alice ensued. Post Caesarian section, Milly had post partum depression due to which Anna stepped up and looked after Alice, who was genetically her own child and love enveloped her, she wanted Alice for herself. Things happened and she was banned from Matt, Milly, and Alice's lives. Till a devastating truth caused Milly to call Anna after 5 years.

Kate Hewitt was brilliant in this book, her writing pure magic. Every word was so poignant and so seeped in emotion that I couldn't help following her down the roads of darkness and pain. Then like the rising sun bringing the hope of a brighter tomorrow, Kate brought me to the crossroads of life where there was not only pain but hope and joy at the little things that we should be thankful for. The characters were etched from the depths of the author's heart, they were real, they were true and oh so honest with their emotions. The feelings they evoked in me caused me to write this review with a film of tears.

The chapters were short absolute perfect while reading, each line left me with the anticipation to know more. The story kept me hooked to it from beginning to end, and I think Kate Hewitt is my most favorite author, even when she made me cry, especially since she made me cry.

The entire afternoon, I could not help but fall into the magical world of the author, the plot arc was a dark truth, but every letter inscribed on paper, was carved into my heart. It had the power to drag me from the reality of my life. One cannot help but long to hug and thank such an author.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy of ‘Not My Daughter’ in exchange for an honest review.

‘Not My Daughter’ took me on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. When I wasn’t reading, I was constantly thinking about Anna, Milly, and Alice.

I love the format of alternating between Milly and Anna’s perspectives and how each of them viewed the same incidents. I had moments where I loved both characters and moments where I immensely disliked them.

The story as a whole flowed well and kept me wanting to read more. I didn’t want the story to end. This will definitely be on my recommendation list.

Not My Daughter was such an emotional read that had me gripped from the beginning such an heartbreaking read.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Not My Daughter’ by Kate Hewitt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Milly and Matt have always wanted a child of their own and when Milly has problems conceiving she’s told that she has premature menopause and will need to consider other ways of having a baby. Milly’s best friend Anna offers to donate an egg but unfortunately things aren’t straightforward and after giving birth to Alice by caesarean section and suffering severe post-natal depression their world is about to come tumbling down.

‘Not My Daughter’ is a beautiful novel, written with warmth, empathy and compassion. It’s incredibly moving, heart-breaking, harrowing at times, yet a joy at others. I was so absorbed in the story I found it impossible to put down and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it. It made me think, it made me cry, and it made me thankful for my own healthy children. The story will stay in my thoughts for a long time and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

This is one of the best books I've ever read...no exaggeration. I was captivated. The story based on friendship, infertility and genetic diseases. How far can we expect a friend to go for us, at what cost to all and can you live with the consequences. An amazing read by Kate Hewitt, her best yet but can't wait for the next. Wish there was more stars to give it...amaxing

3.5 Stars.  I did not know what I was getting into with this book. From the summary I knew it was a donor story but it was so much more than that. It definitely is heartbreaking and ever since I finished it I keep thinking about it. Mainly because I just had a baby three weeks ago so I'm in the midst of newborn love and postpartum hormone craziness. I don't do spoiler and really break down the stories for reviews because I like going into books without knowing too much but the ending of this was surprising and devastating and made me cry. It wasn't 5 star writing but she did the job and it was fast paced and intriguing. I enjoyed the switching of narratives between Milly and Anna, she timed it very well. Overall a really good read!

I felt this book was an emotional journey and was gripping from the start. Best friends, one struggling with infertility, an offer and a promise. This tugged at my heartstrings and I enjoyed the journey. It was current and thought provoking.
Thanks to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 great stars.

I am a fan of the author, so couldn’t wait to read this newest book. I want disappointed.

The writing style is easy to read, hooks you in and makes you feel like you know the characters.

Sad in places, uplifting in others, a tad implausible in parts too but I can forgive those as the piece together in a heart wrenching story of friendship.

OMG.. This book has me feeling every kind of emotion. Once I sat down to read this book I could not get up until it was finished. I loved the writing style. I like how every chapter is each one of the main characters. I was honestly not ready for the emotions that I felt but when it’s involving a complex situation and a child it’s hard not to get emotional.. Have a box of tissues ready for this one. This book is truly beautiful.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy read when I picked it up. Not in the sense that it wouldn’t grip me as it did. I read it in one afternoon as it was so compelling. It is more in the sense that I knew that it was going to be emotional, and boy was it that.

The story alternates between Milly and Anna who have been close friends since they were children. I’m sure many of us would do anything for their best friend. Like Anna, I think if I could give my best friend the chance of motherhood, I would do it in a heart beat. I don’t think either friend realises though how much heartbreak this would bring.

My heart went out to both of these women. More so for Milly and Matt though when they get the diagnosis on what’s wrong with their daughter and that’s when the tears started. I’m an emotional person anyway but boy did this story grab me by the heart and put it through the wringer. I’m not sure if I have ever been in such floods of tears reading a story before but this one really got under my skin. You don’t have to be a parent to feel the characters anguish and pain.

This is a story that covers so many different issues that no doubt affects more than a few of us. It’s also about how we face up to them.

Not My Daughter is an emotive roller coaster of a read. I’m sure I felt my heart literally break a couple of times in the story. Definitely one that will stay with me for a long time to come as Milly, Anna and Alice made a huge impact on me and that is thanks to the authors wonderful writing. Make sure to have a box of tissues on stand by!

A beautifully written heart wrenching book.I was drawn in from the opening pages drawn into this emotional page turner tissues are needed.Highly recommend.#netgalley #bookouture

From the prologue you knew this book was going to be sad. It’s a book full of sadness, happiness, despair and hope. Hard reading at times. Keep the tissues handy!

This is a truly enthralling and captivating book from start to finish! The unexpected twists and turns resulted in many late night reading sessions as I just couldn't put the book down! I would highly recommend it.