An adopted seventeen year old daughter is on a disastrous course which leads to an incident that changes the course of several lives. Her adopted mother and birth mother wrangle with their deep set emotions as the past and the present collide.
There is so much emotion on the pages of a heartfelt nature in this absorbing novel. You want to shake the characters in one moment, hug them in the next. The path set before them is the one they have to follow.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Your last chance to be a mother. Her last chance to be saved.

If you had to make an impossible choice to save your long-lost daughter, you would… wouldn’t you?

Totally gripping emotional women’s fiction from the author guaranteed to make readers cry. Kate Hewitt’s story will grab you by the heartstrings and never let you go. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Jojo Moyes.

Kate Hewitt is one of my favorite authors and I always know that I will love any book she writes. She has a talent at writing about amazing characters that you can relate to and topics that tug at your heart and really make you search your soul, heart, and mind wondering how you would react in the situations she creates and focuses on. I always feel incredibly emotional when reading her books, including this one. Adoption can be such a beautiful and rewarding experience, but can also pose precarious and controversial effects as well, especially when it is an open adoption. Two mothers to the same precious little girl grapple with their own emotions fighting over what they want, what they think is right, and what they think is right for their daughter. Captivating, intriguing, and emotional - such a wonderful novel, I loved it! So excited to be part of this blog tour!

This is a really comprehensive look at open adoption through the eyes of the child, Daisy, the adoptive mother, Suzanne, and the birth mother Mia. Different events in their lives are seen from the point of view of each of them. Suzanne holds nagging fear that her daughter will leave her. Mia feels guilt over not staying in touch with Daisy as much as she should. And Daisy is angry at everyone. When Daisy abruptly leaves and goes to find Mia, everything comes to a head.

The story is compelling and keeps you turning the page. The characters are well developed and interesting, and the plot is complex, with a surprise at the end. There were many flashbacks, which I felt were overdone. Other than that, this was a captivating read.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

An absolutely dramatic and heartbreaking story of two mothers and the child between them. I had a hard time choosing sides with this one, since every character had their own truth, which made this tale even more emotional for me.

This is the first novel I have read by Kate Hewitt. I was drawn to this title because the premise was intriguing - a teenager showing up at her birth mothers doorstep needing her help.

I was easily drawn to the characters and became vested in the book early on. I enjoyed the way that Suzanne’s (adoptive mother) and Mia’s (birth mother) stories were woven together over time. However, I felt that the flashbacks became repetitive and took away from the story that was happening in real time. Some of them could have been omitted with more focus on later events. I also would have loved to have read more chapters that focused on Mia’s life with Sophie, Avery, and Ella.

I thought the twists were well done and added to the plot and character development. I enjoyed this novel and will be reading more by this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #TheChildINeverHad by #KateHewitt in exchange for an honest review.

Mia is a young mother and she knows that she can’t provide for her baby daughter Daisy. Daisy deserves a chance at the best future possible, and so Mia makes the hardest decision, to give Daisy up for adoption. Mia knows that Suzanne seems to be a wise choice as Daisy’s adoptive mother. Mia and Suzanne agree that Mia will always be a part of Daisy’s life. Mia eventually moves away and as time passes, her relationship with Daisy slowly fades away. But Mia thinks about Daisy every single day. Then seventeen years later Daisy arrives at Mia’s door, needing her help. Daisy feels as if Mia is the only one that can help her. This emotional story was about the bonds of mothers and daughters, and their unconditional love. I loved how the author explained the storyline with the flashback memories because it tied the story together. I also enjoyed how the past secrets came to fruition in order for things to get resolved. This beautifully written story was engaging, emotional and captivating. I enjoyed it very much and is without a doubt a must read.

Thank you Kate Hewitt for such a wonderful story. The story was so emotional and captivating. This one definitely hits all the emotions. I highly recommend it.

"At the heart of every adoption is loss". Kate Hewitt has done a masterful job of telling a story about adoption from the views of all involved: the child, the adoptive and biological parents. It is heartfelt and full of emotion that explores all the complexities, insecurities with some surprises along the way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

4.5★s

Suzanne and Mark wanted to adopt and when they met twenty-year-old Mia, pregnant, frightened and uncertain, they decided this was right. Suzanne was there with Mia when she gave birth to the little girl they called Daisy. Mia suggested an open adoption to Suzanne and Mark, which meant Mia would always be in Daisy’s life, even though her parents were Suzanne and Mark, and while Daisy was young, it worked well. But when Mia met, then married Tom and moved to North Carolina from New York, the visits were less, and Daisy started to withdraw from her mother.

When Daisy was seventeen and her parents’ excuses for her behaviour were – “she’s a teenager” – Suzanne could feel her heart breaking more each day. She and Mark had divorced two years prior, so it was just Suzanne and Daisy living in the apartment. But Daisy kept to herself, rarely talking and snapping at her mother when talking was necessary. But it was when Daisy told Suzanne that she was going to live with Mia and their family for her final year of school that events took a turn – maybe for the worst; maybe for the best…

The Child I Never Had is another exceptional read by Kate Hewitt, although it’s different to all I’ve read in the past, which were historical. This one is contemporary family drama and is emotional, poignant, heartbreaking, full of secrets and surprises. I was sympathetic with Mia and Suzanne, and also Daisy. Daisy was confused and hurt, hiding it under the aggression and anger she displayed regularly. An excellent read, The Child I Never Had is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

It's really easy to think that once a child is adopted into a loving family, then everyone lives happily ever after and all is right with the world. The Child I Never Had is a story about the way that adoption affects everyone who is involved in it.

The story is told from the point of view of Mia, the young woman who gave up her baby and Suzanne the woman who adopted her. There is also a little bit from Daisy, the girl who was adopted. Each of them is struggling with their role in life and each other's life when they come to terms with the reality of the adoption. While some chapters here do focus on various stages from Daisy's life, most of the action takes place when Daisy is almost 18, on the cusp of becoming an adult herself. The fact that the trauma of the adoption exists for all of the three women, then it really helps to show what an impact it has.

This was an interesting and gripping read. I wasn't entirely sure how it was going to play out or in what way the various characters might come to terms with their experience and place in life. I really enjoyed this read and I think if you want a story that really explores human emotions, then you'll really enjoy this.

Take a moody teenager, a biological mother who felt she couldn’t keep er baby and an adoptive mother who tries almost too hard and you have the jest of The Child I Never Had by Kate Hewitt. Emotional family drama is big within this woman’s fiction story.

A gripping story that has secrets and a twist that I never saw coming. Then before the story comes to a conclusion there is another major event in the story, making for a gripping read. A close look at growing up in the world today through the eyes of the teenage, Daisy, and her two mothers. Makes you want to hug your child, your mother, and your father all at once.

4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Child I Never Had by Kate Hewitt is a story of the two families affected by an "open" adoption. Daisy was now 16 years old. Her adoptive parents, Suzanne and Mark had been divorced for several years. Her birth mother, Mia, lived in South Carolina, miles away from New York, with her husband, Tom, and her three daughters. Daisy didn't fit in. She felt like her mother (Suzanne) didn't understand her or even care to. It all hurt too much so she took off to see her birth mother, arriving with no prior notice. The little girls wanted to know who she was, so their mother sat down and explained it to them. That hurt Daisy more: she had never been important enough to tell them about her.

The Child I Never had is full of introspection, primarily of the two mothers; the reliving of past days and now they could have been lived better. It was sad and difficult, and maybe a little redundant. Much of what Daisy was going through could be chalked up to being 16. The adults felt guilt; they had their reasons. It was a lovely story in many ways, but I am not attracted to pages of rambling inner thoughts. The three women's characters were pretty well developed, much of it through relived memories. It puts a microscope to the strength needed to adopt, be adopted, and to give up a child to adoption. There is not a mother in the world that doesn't think she could have been a better mother; these two are no exception. People can learn to get along if they care to. Interesting book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Child I Never Had by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre #katehewitt #thechildineverhad

The Child I Never Had is a very emotional read: I found myself on the verge of tears a few times. The story explores adoption, and in particular open adoption, from 3 different points of view: the birth mother (Mia), the adopting mother (Suzanne) and the adoptee (Daisy), They all give a different perspective to the story and each of them brings a distinct nuance to it. Here the author makes a brilliant job of letting all their voices heard.
And even though the theme might seem quite specific, everyone with adolescent children can relate to the strained relationships between the characters in my opinion. Also, there are secrets and twists in the story that will make it difficult to stop reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found The Child I Never Had a very emotional read and as the mother of an adopted child I thought it was written in a very sensitive and true way. It had me reading it long after I should have gone to sleep as I just could not put it down. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This is an emotional family story that has so much love, hurt and necessary healing that can only be completed by honesty and moving forward day by day.
It is such a wonderful, heartfelt novel that I truly enjoyed and read in a day!
There are some twists that will leave you gasping as secrets are revealed!
Well done!

The Child I Never Had by Kate Hewitt is a very compelling book. It takes you places that you aren't anticipating with an unexpected twist.

The Adoption

Raising a daughter is never an easy job, but in an open adoption it is much more difficult. Two different mother's both vying for the attention of one beautiful girl called Daisy.

Mia knew she could not keep the child she carried, adoption was the only option for a young girl in her second year of university. She picked Suzanne from a list of those wishing to adopt a child. It was good in the open adoption where Mia still had visits with Daisy. Then it became harder, a competition between the two women for the child's affection. Mia tried to distance herself from Daisy but she couldn't stay away, even though she was hiding a secret that both her adopted daughter and her new husband and family did not know. A secret she could not find a way to tell them.

Suzanne worries that she will lose Daisy to Mia, especially since her divorce from Mark. Then the teenage years come and Suzanne is having a hard time communicating with Daisy. With the pink hair and the piercing, she tries to understand but they become farther apart. Then an event happens and Daisy goes running to Mia.

This is a story of two women striving to work together for the love of a child. It is a story of adoption and the challenges that come from it. Secrets long held and finally to the surface and such hurt which can only be overcome with love and understanding.

A story of Mark and Suzanne and Tom and Mia. Two families, each with their own challenges, both loving one young girl and neither quite knowing how to communicate this love to her and how to work with each other to make it happen. Can they deal with their lives and also with Daisy and will there ever be a time when they can all be friends?

Somehow they all need to face their insecurities and come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to show Daisy just how much they all love her and care for her.

This is a heartwarming story of love , secrets, and the hard choices in life. How each must deal with life in their own way and find a way to help each other to do the same.
I enjoyed reading this story and I do recommend it.

Thanks to Kate Hewitt for writing a great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

Kate Hewitt has written an interesting story about open adoption, from all points of view. The characters were well described and totally believable. This is a book that I enjoyed and will definitely recommend . I look forward to more writing from this talented author.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC

The book synopsis sounded interesting and this book was so much better than I imagined! It was the point of view of a bio mom, adopted mom and their daughter. The author has a beautiful style of writing and I would love to read more by them!

Another heartbreaking read from this author, so well written and the story line just flowed all the way until the very last page and all the characters were interesting.

I can recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

This story felt like a good rollercoaster for me. Each time I felt like the story was predictable and maybe a little slow, there was a new twist or turn I did not see coming. Kate Hewitt knows how to write a story from a different perspective than you would expect to see

The book was told from three perspectives - birth mother ( Mia ), adopted mother ( Suzanne ) and the daughter ( Daisy )to both of them. It was written from the past ( then ) and present. The past really gave you insight as why and how the characters got where they are now.

I have read Kate Hewitt before and I will read her again.