An interesting book. This story is about Beth, a woman who loves her son more than anything in the world. However, her life with Dylan, her son, is not as easy as she has to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices to live well. In addition to this, the emotional problems that Dylan begins to have complicated her relationship with her mother. One day a misunderstanding occurs, which causes the State to take Beth's son from her. This terrible event will not allow Beth to give up and get her beloved son back. Ally, on the other hand, has always dreamed of adopting. She finally has what she wanted. She will take care of Dylan. I liked this story because the author shows the situations that Beth and Ally are going through. Beth goes through complicated circumstances. She only thinks about her son. The author excellently describes the process Dylan goes through, especially adjusting to his new life. I think it is an important book that shows the feelings of Dylan and his mother, but also Ally. I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Beth's seven year old son, Dylan, is her world. He is non-verbal & there are various things that set him off screaming hysterically- often for hours at a time. She knows she is the only one who can care for him, can help him sleep at night so long as she is beside him, understand what he wants to say. When a tantrum at a shop results in Social Work becoming involved Beth is devastated when it is decided that Dylan needs to go into foster care.

Elly has always wanted to foster. Money is no problem. Her daughter has just gone off to Harvard & her son is nearly ready for college so this seems to be the perfect time. Although the family had gone along with this idea, no-one is prepared for the arrival of Dylan! At first he seems to do nothing but scream but gradually Elly starts to make some progress. However her own family are not coping so well & she soon feels as helpless as Beth.

This was a really tough book to read in places. I must admit that I much preferred Ally to Beth, which was probably a bit unfair of me, but at times she seemed her own worse enemy. I liked the way the social services were not presented as the villains of the piece, but that everyone was genuinely trying to do their best for this poor misunderstood lad.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. It will be a while before I forget it.

Such a deep and heartfelt book. I felt so saddened reading this, since I have a young daughter of my own. But I am so glad I had accessed this book. Its well written and enjoyed every page.

I don’t often read books like this that are about children being taken into the foster care system because I work in that field and I pull myself out of the story thinking it wouldn’t happen like this or it starts to feel too much like work. While I did have moments like that with this story I’m still glad I read it. I loved the relationship and how it developed between the biological mother and the foster family. This was a well written story and I enjoyed getting to see the same thing from different perspectives. There were a couple of continuity errors ((saying something took place on a Sunday and then saying right after was Saturday night for example_ but they weren’t too distracting from the story.

Having experienced how difficult it can be to raise a child with special needs, I really wanted to read this book. In the beginning I was outraged on behalf of Dylan's mom Beth. There are kids, having meltdowns and screaming in public. More often than not, as a parent you can't do a thing to make these meltdowns stop. The eyebrow raising people, always knowing how to do a better job, are not helping. So, when DCF swoops in and places Dylan with foster parents, I thought, that was wrong. Still think that, actually.
But then the story starts to change and became something else. I don't know how to feel about this change. Of course, I understand that there are two sides to a story, but here everything going wrong with Dylan being "blamed" on the mom? Too much. I did like the story and I read it in one go.

The story of a child in foster care told fro the perspective of the biological mother and the foster mother. Good character development.

Free from Net Galley.

A thought-provoking and well written read, that draws you in. Believable characters both of whom you want to root for, with a fitting ending.

Beth has an intense relationship with her seven year old son due to his anxiety. She has no partner, no friends and no family she can turn to for support. After a screaming tantrum in a supermarket, children's services get involved and take Dylan away, placing him in foster care. Beth is determined to get him back home where he belongs. Ally fosters Dylan but her own family begins to fall apart. Can the two women become friends and support each other...?
When You Were MIne is such a heartbreakingly emotional book. I battle with myself about being too overprotective of my children yet don't want to be so relaxed that I feel negligent. It is such a careful balance and Kate Hewitt has done an excellent job at presenting this dilemma.
Beth and Dylan are caught in a vicious circle and though it is dreadful to separate children from their parents, sometimes distance can bring about positive change.
Ally is a wonderful character. Proud of her teenagers, she imagines she has a perfect life and wants to give something back in the form of fostering. The events of the book show that opportunities and good parenting only go so far and an individual has the freedom to make their own choices in life that may not correspond to the dreams of their parents.
Beth and Ally are in contrast throughout the book and see each other as rivals, almost enemies. Both have Dylan's best interests at heart but have been placed in opposition by the justice system. Each chapter alternates between the two women and this is a really clever way to make us care and empathise with them both equally.

Book Review for When You Were Mine by Kate Hewitt
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

This is a heartbreaking story that draws you in from the beginning. It does show that no family is perfect , even if it might look like it from the outside. Another great book by Kate Hewitt . Highly recommended

A good book the story of a boy who doesn't speak and has a meltdown and child protection take him away from his mum. I liked how Beth and Allys stories swap in chapters

A very intense story
Best-selling author of well-known series such as the Hartley-by-the-Sea series and the Willoughby Close series Kate Hewitt wrote the emotionally profound, heartbreaking and intense story "You Were Mine", published by Bookouture. She takes readers into the life of Beth McBride, the single mother of the "selectively mute" Dylan who lives in a "shabby little duplex in Elmwood", who does not know if she is "good enough, strong enough, mother enough", and who loses her son to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Connecticut. On the other side there is Ally Fielding and her family who become Dylan's foster parents, a "seemingly normal" family but who have, in reality, their own struggles. There are two questions readers might ask: "Who will do the right thing for Dylan?" or even "What is the right thing for Dylan?" The outcome might not be what readers think.
I couldn't put this book down and read it in two days. The book contains realistic and great characters whose life is filled with everyday struggles and I highly recommend the book to readers who like this genre of books. The only thing lacking was a clear diagnosis of Dylan's issues - was it in the autism spectrum? What I deem important for readers to understand the story is the need of some background knowledge about the US-American child protection and foster care system otherwise they might struggle with this story.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#WhenYouWereMine #NetGalley

When You Were Mine examines family relationships, and how decisions made by ‘professionals’ can impact hugely on the lives of the different members.
Beth is a single mum to Dylan who has additional needs. After a public incident, he is taken into care and is fostered by Ali and her husband. As Beth is determined to regain custody of her son, the reader sees the points of view from both women who both love Dylan.
This is a heartbreaking novel and gives an insight into the dynamics of family life and parenting. It is written with real compassion and leads us to ask ‘Who is the best person to care for Dylan?’

This book by Kate Hewitt explores the complexities and dynamics of family relationships.

When you Were Mine really packed an emotional punch with its heart-wrenching moments and reality checks. Foster carer Ally, mum to teenagers Josh and Emma, finds herself struggling when Dylan joins their family. Ally is having trouble balancing Dylan's needs with those of her own children and husband. Dylan's mother, Beth, loves her seven-year-old son with all her heart but Dylan has emotional issues and Beth is pushed to her limits. When a misunderstanding leads Dylan to be taken into foster care, she is determined to do whatever she can to get him back.

In alternating chapters between Beth and Ally, Kate Hewitt does a superb job portraying the best and worst of parenting. I could feel the characters' despair and anxiety as I pondered over who was the best person to care for Dylan. Both mums had very different problems to tackle and each had their flaws, making them credible characters to me.

Kate Hewitt's writing is so heartfelt and realistic, making this novel a remarkable reading experience and I continue to be impressed by her. When You Were Mine is my second book by this immensely talented author and I will be reading more from her. An emotionally powerful read that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Beth is a single mother. Her son Dylan, is 7 years old and has been struggling with severe meltdowns for some time. Somehow, Beth manages to get the situation under control, until one day at CVS, someone calls DCF. And then the nightmare begins.
Ally and Nick are happily married, they have two children, both of them bright and successful. When Emma goes to Harvard and Josh is for sure leaving soon, Ally convinces her husband to join her in the experience of being foster parents.
And it's then, when Beth and Dylan and Ally and Nick cross paths. And their journey begins.
And what a journey it was!
I knew I was going to love this book right at the moment I finished the Prologue. I was already in love with the characters introduced by then. What I was not expecting was how real, how lovable, how intrinsically human all and every one of the characters, would end up being. Perhaps they were well developed, perhaps the story is well shaped, perhaps the subject was worked with such respect and with such care at the same time. All I know is that the result is a masterpiece. I tried to keep the tears away a few times just to keep up going, because urgency it was more intense than the emotions. And in my experience, when you feel urgency while reading a story, it's because the author just nailed it in the perfect outcome.
I believe the words that summon up this story are "introspective and fullfilling".
I recommend this book with all my heart, and I'm sure I will be reading more from this author sooner rather than later.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Kate Hewitt has wrecked me with her newest book, When You Were Mine. Hewitt just has this quality to her writing that immerses you fully and thoroughly, bringing forth every emotion possible. There is a reason why I say Kate Hewitt is an auto-buy author for me. I don’t need to read a synopsis, I don’t need to know what the book is about as long as her name is on it, I am going to NEED to read it.

Beth is a single mother to her seven year old son Dylan. Dylan is not the easiest kid to raise and has some emotional and developmental delays not yet diagnosed by a doctor. He is non verbal and has meltdowns. One particular meltdown in a store leads Beth to losing her child when the Department of Children and Family Services steps in placing young Dylan in a foster home for the time being.

Ally is a happily married woman with a loving husband and two teenage children. She opens up her home and her family to foster children in need. Her first foster child, Dylan, isn’t exactly what she expected, but in a way she can also relate to him and she is determined to do right by him much to her family’s dismay.

What exactly is going on with Dylan and which home is the best for him where he can thrive and be a happy child? Is it with Beth or Ally?

This story really pulls you in with the opening scene in the court house. I found this to be a really good starting point and it lent a sense of dread for me not knowing what direction the story was going to go. It is such a heartbreaking story and any time I read something about a child thrust into a situation like this it just breaks my heart. What is best for a child? Their parents of course, but what if that parent is holding their child back or not giving him or her the care he needs. A lot of these points were touched on in this story and your emotions can swing either way between empathy and compassion. I know that DCFS is needed, but I also think the system needs an overhaul and more caring and understanding needs to be shown to everyone – parents, foster families and the child/children. I commend anyone who fosters a child. It is not an easy task and many children have come from horrible situations or may not have had the best life and it can be a lot for a family to take on. Hewitt did such an amazing job showing both sides with a parent’s anguish over losing her child and how a family fostering oftentimes is left dealing with any emotional baggage which can put a strain on any family.

I felt a lot of empathy for Beth especially being a single mom and raising a son with pretty much no help from anyone. It can be stressful in the best of times, but topple it with a child who is nonverbal and throws tantrums can take its toll. I can also understand the frustration Beth feels and how easily it can be to lose your temper. Beth may not be the easiest person to warm up to, but you can clearly see how much she loves her child and wants what is best for him. Ally on the other hand I did really like, but once she begins fostering you can see the cracks in her relationship and how she deals with everything and again Hewitt shows us the reality and doesn’t sugarcoat anything which makes the story all the more real. I can also see the growth of each character with everything centered around one little boy.

Simply put, I cannot recommend this book any harder if I tried. Kate Hewitt is an amazing and talented writer and she captures the meaning of being a parent, setbacks as well as accomplishments and through it all finding yourself amidst a heartbreaking scenario. Another definite five star read from me. Like I really had any doubts it would be anything less than five stars anyway.

This novel gives readers a closer look into the family services' system when 7 year old Dylan is taken away from his mother and put into foster care. I liked the way the author allowed readers to see the emotional sides of both Beth, the single mother of Dylan and Ally, the foster mother. This is a hard subject to write about but so important. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of When You Were Mine by Kate Hewitt in exchange for an honest review.⠀
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This is one of those books where you really don’t know whose perspective to trust at first. Is the DCF worker overstepping? Or has Beth just been struggling for so long that she doesn’t realize she and her son need the intervention? ⠀
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My heart really went out to Beth. And though I’m not a mother, I really related to her struggles. Ally frustrated me because even though she was trying not to judge, she spent a good amount of the book doing just that. And her husband, Nick, frustrated me too because, for so long, he wasn’t being a good partner to Ally. But each of the characters grew because of the relationships they formed with each other and in the end, I liked them all.
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You never really know what someone is going through and it’s so important not to judge. And even when your worlds seem so different, your issues may not be too far off. ⠀
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Grab your tissues and get cozy, because you will not want to put this one down! ⠀
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Also, get yourself a friend like Mike! He’s supportive, caring, and nonjudgmental. ⠀
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3.5 out of 5 (rounded up to 4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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I was going to rate this four stars, until I read the ending. And it’s not that I didn’t like the way the story turned out, but more how we got there. It ends right before the decision on Dylan’s placement is made. And then we get an epilogue that includes the results and how everything played out.⠀
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I feel like the events after the court date are such an important part of the story and should have been explored a little more before going forward eighteen months into the future with just an overview.

I’ve long been in awe of Kate Hewitt’s storytelling prowess, so whenever I pick up a new book of hers, my expectations are always sky high and yet she manages to exceed them time and time again. This outstanding storyteller will wow her readers once more with her heart-breaking new novel, When You Were Mine. Make sure you keep a box of tissues handy because this book will put you through the wringer and it’s so moving it could sever heartstrings.

Beth’s seven year old son Dylan is her entire world. She loves her child with her whole heart and would do absolutely anything for him. But being a mother is not easy and regardless of how many sacrifices Beth makes, it never seems to be enough. Beth never imagined that Dylan would be taken from her, but when a series of unfortunate events compels her to put her son into foster care, Beth is absolutely heartbroken. But she will not give up. She vows that this is a temporary setback and that her son will be back in her arms before long. Yet, could this be the chance Dylan needs to forge a better life for himself? A child’s place is with his mother. But what if his mother cannot give him what he needs?

Ally counts her blessings every day. She has always been lucky yet she has never taken her good fortune for granted. Determined to give something back, Ally has always harboured a desire to foster a child and when the opportunity presents itself to foster seven year old Dylan, Ally jumps at this chance. However, fostering a child presents plenty of difficulties and challenges as she discovers when she finds herself having to juggle the needs of her family with those of the child she has welcomed into her home.

Out of sight definitely does not mean out of mind for Beth. With each passing day, her yearning to have her son back home grows stronger, but as Dylan starts to bond with Ally, she cannot help but wonder whether Dylan’s rightful place is with his mother…or whether her son will have a better life if he becomes a permanent part of Ally’s family.

Will Dylan ever be reunited with his mother? Will he become a permanent fixture at Beth’s? Where does Dylan belong? Mothers always knows best – even if it means getting their hearts broken in the process.

Written with great understanding, sensitivity and compassion, Kate Hewitt’s When You Were Mine is a searingly emotional tale from a writer who is at the top of her game. A beautifully written tale of survival, clemency and resilience, When You Were Mine is a captivating read full of hope, honesty and heart that tells the story of two different women wanting to do their best for a child they both love and care about.

A superb page-turner Diane Chamberlain fans will not want to miss, Kate Hewitt’s When You Were Mine is another stellar novel by this immensely gifted writer.

I was totally consumed by this beautiful book. Straight away I was pulled into the story.

The story alternates between Ally and Beth’s perspectives. This approach works so well, as it gives us an insight into both women’s experiences of motherhood, and of their preconceived views of each other’s lives.

I found myself liking both women, and really wanting the best for them, and their families. It’s quite complex, as each of them has Dylan’s welfare at heart, but with different approaches.

The central theme running through this novel is that of motherhood, and a mother’s love for her child. Above all else though, it’s a beautiful and totally absorbing read. I really couldn’t put it down.

Both heart-rending and full of hope, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a wonderful and human story.