What an amazing, heartbreaking story, I was utterly captivated by this book all the way through, it was simply amazing.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

My Life for Yours, is an exceptionally moving story about love, loss, and the things we do for the people we love.

Readers, I feel will enjoy this book because it is genuinely a portrayal of life, love, grief, heartache, joy, happiness, fears, dreams, and everything in between.

I cried whilst reading this book and felt every tissue I used was worth it.

I highly recommend this book. Have tissues handy.

This book was a real roller coaster ride!
The book is written in a dual narrative switching between the two main characters in each chapter.
The characters were so real, you just couldn't help rooting for them.
This book explores one of the most difficult decisions anyone could face.
Paige desperately wants a baby, she loses her baby late on in her pregnancy due to an undiagnosed medical condition - she is told if she gets pregnant again, she is unlikely to survive the pregnancy.
Her husband Nick, doesn't want to risk Paige's life - and then she falls pregnant.
The couple then face the ultimate decision - the much wanted baby, or Paige.

My Life For Yours by Vanessa Carnevale is a book worthy of a 5 star rating from me.


The letter that opens up the book is so heart wrenching. It is a grieving mother writing to the baby she lost . I wanted to hug her through the pages.

This book is so emotional, you might shed tears while reading it.



You can’t seem to drop this book down. I got teary when Paige was excited over her pregnancy to Nick. I wanted to cheer for them and hug them.


This is a book that touches the heart. Grab a roll of tissues, you might cry but still enjoy the book.


I smiled and laughed while reading this book. I love Nick and Paige. This book is divided into chapters where Nick and Paige tells their stories from their points of view.


I finished this book in one sitting and I love the final pages. A mother’s love is always great and a father’s support is the best.


Vanessa Carnevale writes well.

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

"Sometimes matters of the heart don't necessarily always lead to the best decisions."
Paige and Nick have always dreamt of being parents. They are ready to expand their family.
However, things unfortunately, do not always turn out as we wish.
When Paige almost loses her life, with her first pregnancy, a decision following that devastating, tragic time; is not welcome news and may not have been made wisely. Everyone is more than distressed at this choice and most especially Nick.
Paige is determined to have a child, no matter what is recommended!
I cried while reading this novel and easily felt as if I was a family member and debating what I would do in this scenario as the parent and siblings of Paige, all the while praying for the most perfect outcome!
Wonderful, touching, emotional story!

Paige and Nick are soon to become parents.
Paige's character tells of the deep pain and distress of having a stillborn child; she blames herself for the failure to carry a healthy baby.
Paige is desperate to try for another child, even though a second pregnancy could risk her life and the life of her unborn baby. When she gets pregnant, she finds it hard to tell Nick, as she knows Nick is afraid he could lose her and the baby second time around. Other members of their families have opposing opinions too.
This story is an emotional rollercoaster full of love, courage, loss, fear, heartbreak and happiness.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Vanessa Carnevale for a pre-publication copy to review.

Paige Hutton and Nick Bellbrae can’t wait to welcome their baby into the world. They’ve been happily married for seven years and still so in love. But tragedy strikes when at 34 weeks, they learn Paige suffers a rare and life-threatening condition which ultimately claims their son’s life and nearly costs Paige hers too. . .

As Paige and Nick grieve the loss of their baby, their marriage is tested. Just when they’re beginning to come to terms with what’s happened and find each other again, a surprise pregnancy throws their lives into turmoil once more, forcing them to make a terrible choice. They must decide whether they can risk Paige’s life for the sake of their unborn child.

Vanessa takes us on heartbreaking roller-coaster ride, exploring love, grief and what it means to be a family, as Nick and Paige struggle with the terrible dilemma they face.

Meticulously researched, intelligent and gripping, this book had all the feels. Its climatic conclusion will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.

To say that I enjoyed Vanessa Carnevale’s latest offering would be an understatement.

Definitely a five-star read!

A word of warning, though: keep the tissues handy!

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC.

Another heart-wrenching story by the delightful, Vanessa Carnevale. My Life for Yours tackles the difficult subject of motherhood and birth — and the decisions that must be faced when a woman’s health and ultimately, her life, is threatened by her pregnancy.
While the subject matter is highly emotive and may be difficult for some, the enjoyment of this novel is immense. It’s an easy read, free and clear in its address. Told in alternating chapters by the main characters, young couple Paige and Nick, it’s really a story about hope and faith, trust and honesty, love, family and forgiveness.
Beautifully refreshing in inimitable Carnevale style, main character, Paige is almost too sweet to be true. Dealing with a third trimester complication, Paige’s unusual congenital heart disease places restrictions on the loving couple and crushes their dream to be parents. But Paige is kind, loving and slightly kooky —she is desperate to be a mother like her perfect sister Caitlin.
It was refreshing to hear from the perspective of her husband Nick — who is just the type of sensitive paediatric surgeon you would want on your side and in charge of your child’s medical needs. As a couple they are gorgeous.
But they are faced with a harrowing experience that results in a medical issue for Paige and the death of their infant son. We mourn along with them and cheer them on as they search to find their way out of the depths of their grief.
Each deals with the tragedy differently. Nick faces death in his job, but we discover he takes the deaths of patents personally, and he retains part of this grief. It all rises to the surface when Paige’s medical condition brings on their much longed-for child’s early birth.
Paige grieves in a way that as a woman, I hope never to experience. The writing is raw, but honest, her thoughts and feelings visceral on the page. It is hard reading but Vanessa does it so well — she is truly an inspiration for bringing her characters to life. We find ourselves cheering on the couple as they drift apart, each coming to terms with the tragedy — and the fact that a pregnancy will be tantamount to a death sentence for Paige. They are both are desperate to be parents.
But all the way through this is a story of hope — not death. That’s what inspires you to push through to the finish. Snappy dialogue, great interactions between the characters; this is the masterful way that Vanessa proves throughout. It is beautiful reading.
Paige’s constant faith and plans for the future is a huge positive. She is a stand out character for me. But the cast of secondary characters are wonderful too – they retreat from the background to come alive through their interactions with Paige and Nick. Paige’s parents are terrific, her sister and brother-in-law, her friend Hope and Nick’s colleagues — even Miranda. This story is a celebration of sensitivity and love.

Really enjoyed this book, loved how it switched characters between paige and nick. Very well written book. Beautiful story.

This was the first book I have read by Vanessa Carnevale and I will read her others. The storyline was a difficult one. A couple in love desperately wanting children having to make a difficult choice. Or was it? The story started as I expected took a nice unexpected turn during the first third of the book. It was difficult at times to follow who was saying what during heavy dialogue but it didn’t distract too much from the overall experience. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Vanessa Carnevale for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Heartwarming with characters that are real and just a beautifully written book. I enjoyed it and found it difficult to put down. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Such a heartbreaking read. The compassion and kindness that shows through from the author with this story is heartwarming. Will need tissues for this one.

This book was heartbreaking but beautiful. So brilliantly written With so much passion and feeling. Vanessa carnevale takes you on the journey with nick and Paige to parenthood. A journey that is looked forward to with such hope for the future but also with the fear of what this could actually mean. The courage and strength of Paige to put the life of her unborn baby ahead of herself. So delicately and beautiful seen through the eyes of Paige and nick and also the close knit family and friends.

This book broke my heart. It reduced me to tears a quarter of the way in and I don’t think I stopped crying until the end. I also read it in one sitting.
Paige and her husband Nick are that perfect couple and when they get pregnant there happiness seems to be confirmed. Paige then develops a heart condition and their baby dies. Grief almost tears them apart but suddenly Paige falls pregnant again and they are a left with a heartbreaking decision.
The book is written in alternating chapters from both Paige and Nick’s POV. I loved the characters including all of Paige’s extended family. This is a great read but on a sad topic so I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to read it but it’s definitely worth reading.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#MyLifeforYours #NetGalley

All the feels. This book draws you right into the story. Heartfelt and just a wonderful read. Be sure to pick this one up.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release if this book.

#MyLifeForYours#HerBalist
A great read which brought me to tears many times. Paige and Nick are a wonderful couple who are soon to become parents. Paige's character will show you the pain and anguish of having a stillborn child. Not only that but she blames herself for the loss. She has a heart condition that caused the miscarriage but she still wants another child. even though another pregnancy will possibly risk her life and the life of her baby. When she gets pregnant again she doesn't want to tell Nick because Nich is afraid he will loose her. Paige loves her baby from the minute she knows about it. Nick tries to talk to her about ending the pregnancy. This story is about love, fear, sadness, and joy. It will make you question who has the right answer. It will show you a mother who will do anything to protect her baby. It will make you stay up past your bedtime to find out the answers. I will read more books from this author. Thank you Net Galley for letting me read and review this book.

This was a beautiful and heartfelt novel. The characters were depicted in a believable manner, and the story kept me on my toes. Highly recommended.

Wow loved this book it just blew me away. An emotional rollercoaster. Paige and Nick have it all. A totally likeable couple, surrounded by family and friends they decide it's time to start a family. Nick is a paediatric surgeon who is devoted to his wife. Their world comes tumbling down when paige develops heart complications in the later part of her pregnancy and loses their precious son. What will happen when Paige falls accidentally pregnant again and refuses to terminate the pregnancy. I can't recommend this book enough. I fell in love with all characters and could see all points of view. Brilliantly written.

My Life for Yours, by Vanessa Carnevale, is an exceptionally moving story about love, loss, and the things we do for the people we love. I think readers would enjoy this book because it is a genuine portrayal of life, love, grief, heartache, joy, happiness, fears, dreams, and everything in between. It is a beautiful story, and Vanessa Carnevale was spot on with the way she wrote about the characters, their emotions, situations, actions and reactions, and family dynamics. Obviously when you read the cover information you know it will most likely be a tear jerker. It certainly is; however, every tear I cried and every tissue I used was worth it! I highly recommend this book! Where do you draw the line at what is an acceptable sacrifice compared to an unacceptable sacrifice, when no matter what choice you make, people are going to be shattered by your decision, and may never recover? Are there any limits to what a mother would sacrifice for her child?

Plot: It was an incredible journey into the lives of a man and woman (Nick and Paige) hoping to have a baby. Nick has worked hard to complete medical school and to finally get to a point where he feels secure in starting a family. His wife, Paige, is overjoyed, and starts imagining herself holding her newborn son or daughter nestled against her, rocking him or her in a rocking chair, and all the other dreams that are the blessings of motherhood. They are both eager and excited to move into this next chapter in their lives. Unbeknownst to them at the time, Paige giving birth would undoubtably pose catastrophic circumstances to her and the baby.. Their world is upended when Drs discover that the odds of Paige’s and the baby’s survival are staggeringly low, with highly probable tragic and fatal results. Initially Paige had gone to the hospital for an emergency situation, and left with the knowledge that having a baby could kill her, her baby, or both. Paige and Nick strongly disagree with how to handle the prospect of Paige having a baby, and they retreat into themselves and become distanced from one another. Their once solid marriage starts to crumble and neither of them seems to know how to get back to the place they once were. When someone you love feels compelled to make a decision that would emotionally shatter everyone else in their world, how do you survive and cope with that possibility? The turmoil Nick and Paige feel is also compounded by the deepest and most sincere feelings of those closest to them. Each character made an excellent point about what to do if they were in the Nick’s or Paige’s position, so even though you may have your own personal feelings about what you would do if it was you, the different points made in this book will tug at your heart strings and you’ll be able to see things the way others do.

Paige’s mother has one opinion as to what she should do, however her father disagrees. Her sister, Caitlin, has her own opinion, which Paige feels offended by considering she already has children of her own. Her brother travels a long distance to spend a few weeks with Paige so that he can say goodbye and spend time with her considering that her death is most likely inevitable. Hope, Paige’s best friend, is a solid sounding board for Paige to tell everything too, and she’s also an attorney. Are there any legal circumstances where a husband and wife can legally oppose one another due to extreme medical conditions? An extended family that was once so close is torn apart as tensions rise and their pain and conflicting opinions become more obvious. Every comment about how to move forward in an unstable and shaky future is a gut wrenching reminder of the unknown - where impending death is the most probable outcome. As desperately as Nick wants a baby, he knows there are other ways they can become parents. He loves his wife more than anything in the world. She is his heart and soulmate, and he cant imagine a single day without her. One by one they are all compelled to say their goodbyes because no one wants to leave anything left unsaid.

Imagine if your daughter was pregnant and wanted a baby, but you knew that the odds of her survival were minimal? What advice would you give her, and how would you feel about the situation? Same scenario if you were the father, brother, sister, best friend and your loved one was willing to sacrifice her life to have a baby. Would you support her if she chose to have a baby, knowing that the pregnancy and birth could kill her? Would you urge her to try surrogacy or adoption, even though she makes it clear how desperate she is to have a baby? There is a fine line between supporting a loved one and attempting to dissuade them from a personal choice, so how do you know when enough is enough? At that point, are you able to 100% support their wishes, even if they are life staking?
Thank you Vanessa Carnevale, Bookouture, and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of reading this copy for review. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion about the book.

‘I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy. The things we keep, the things we let go of, the things we remember about those who’ve left us...’

Paige and Nick have a wonderful life together - they have a happy marriage, a beautiful home, and soon their family will be complete with the birth of their child. But when a devastating stillbirth leads to the discovery that Paige has a serious heart condition, it seems that their dreams of a happy family will never come true. Until Paige becomes pregnant again. But this time, everything is different - with her condition, carrying her child to term could kill her. Now, the couple face an impossible decision - should Paige give her life for her child’s?

Wow, what a book! I absolutely adore these kinds of books, ones that have a complex multi-faceted dilemma at the heart of them, and that really make you question your own ideas and assumptions about what you would do in that situation... So the question at the heart of the book is simple: should a mother give her life to save that of her unborn child? Now I will admit that I have very strong views on this (don't worry, I won't say which side my opinions falls on!) and so I went into reading this thinking that my perspective wouldn't change at all. However, that's what's great about the fact that you read chapters from the POV of both Nick and Paige - you get a real insight into both arguments, in a way that feels very authentic and considered. And getting this insight meant that I was forced to question my own perspective on this issue, which surprised me, and was something I found really interesting and thought-provoking.

Now, I'm not going to comment on the plot for fear of spoilers. What I will say is that yes, it is heart-breaking. Especially the early section when Paige and Nick lose their son - I somehow skipped that part of the synopsis before I requested the book, so it was completely out of the blue to me, which made it even more devastating! But seeing how they coped with it as a couple made for a really beautiful reading experience. I also loved getting the insight into what parents might need at a time like that - there's a section where Nick acknowledges that many people try and skip over their son's existence, rather than asking about him and respecting the fact that he lived. Definitely a lesson I have learned from and will take with me.

All in all, I thought this was a really great book, covering a complex topic in a sensitive and thought-provoking manner. A real strength of this book is the fact that the author didn't shy away from dealing with such a challenging subject, and instead wrote about it in a very respectful way. I absolutely loved Paige and Nick's relationship, and also really enjoyed how the author made Paige's family such a bit part of the book - this worked really well to show how a trauma doesn't just affect an individual, but also affects everyone around them. Yes, this is a book with moments of heartbreak, but it also has so many moments of happiness - definitely one to read if you enjoy a complex family drama with a challenging dilemma at its heart.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reading copy from NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.