The Making of Her takes us into a world where women were shunned for having children out of wedlock. The author takes us to Dublin of 1960's and into Joan's world where she had to make a choice which changes her life forever.
The story alternates between timelines and these timelines gives us a glimpse of the life of Joan and Martin both in 1960's and 1990's. This story is not an easy one but predictable. Important issues like class, women opression, stigma around pregnancy before marriage, culture pressures, post partum depression, alcoholism, adoption and reconnecting with birth parents are covered in this book.

An emotional dual time novel set in Dublin. Part of the book takes place in 1966 while the majority is in 1996 involving a couple past has come back to bite them. In the form of the daughter they gave up. And kept secret. And we all know that secrets have a way of coming to light when we least want them to.

Secrets From the Past

This is a story of romance and class differences. In the 1960s Joan and Michael were young and naive. Their romance resulted in Joan becoming pregnant. Michael, the scion of a wealthy family, had gone to England to study accounting. Joan joined himd, hoping to be married, but Michael couldn’t face the objections his class conscious parents would have to a baby born out of wedlock.

When the baby was born, he convinced Joan to give the girl up for adoption in England. Joan reluctantly agreed, and they were married, but her daughter’s fate haunted her. In the 90s, Joan and Michael have been married for a long time, but there are stresses. They live with Michael’s mother who can’t help reminding Joan that she’s not of their class. Then their first daughter surfaces, and she needs help.

The story is somewhat predictable, but well worth reading. It’s a story of loss and coming to terms with who you are and how your life developed. I thought the author did a good job moving between time periods to show Joan and Michael’s background. It made the story much more realistic. Today, particularly in the US, we’re not as class conscious as the Irish were during the 60s. The time period is why the story works.

I found the characters hard to like. Michael seemed to be a weak mama’s boy. Joan wasn’t much better. She was obviously unhappy but couldn’t seem to do anything about it. However, the setting in Dublin was wonderful. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in a setting that is quite different from today’s world.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

This book takes place in both the 1960s and the 1990s in Ireland and you get a real window into how classist and rigid things were back int he 1960s and how much the Catholic faith ruled over people’s lives. Joan and Martin are a long-married couple in the 1990s, with one grown daughter, Carmel. But they’ve been carrying a secret and it has broken Joan.

Back before they were married, Joan was a very poor working class girl and Martin’s family was much more prosperous, with their own thriving business. Then Joan got pregnant. With Martin in England for business training, she moved there in the hope that they would get married and raise the child together in England. But Martin convinced Joan that they should return to Ireland and that it would be best if they gave up that daughter for adoption in England, fearing the reaction of their Dublin social set. Fast-forward to the mid-1990s and the daughter they gave away contacts them, setting off wide-ranging effects.

I was really drawn into this family story, and while I guessed at some of the outcome, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the drama at all. We gradually learn Joan’s backstory and why she has behaved the way she has. My heart went out to her faith in Martin’s love, when she was a teenager and naive. That’s the only excuse I could think of for her not having discussed their future plans with Martin in more concrete terms. I grew to despise Martin. Joan found herself living in Martin’s childhood home with his domineering and nasty mother. I’m sure I would have walked out many years before!

This is a terrific debut novel. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Congratulations to Bernadette Jiwa for publishing her debut novel, The Making of Her. Primarily set in Dublin, this character-driven novel explores themes of family, motherhood, and marriage within an intimate cast of characters.

Joan Egan appears to have it all - a loving husband who runs the successful family business, a caring daughter, and a beautiful home. But things are seldom as they seem, and Joan's life is actually filled with secrets, grief, and bitter frustration. The story explores key decisions she makes and the ways they impact the balance of her life.

The plot shifts from current events in Joan's midlife to her childhood filled with loss and poverty to the joys and sorrows of her early adulthood and marriage. She and her husband have kept a massive secret for decades, and their lives unravel when it can no longer be hidden.

I was deeply moved by this novel that's a deep dive into one woman's life. Even though I'm not a mother, I felt a strong connection to Joan and the many heartaches she endures. I cheered for the people who supported her, and hissed at those who didn't. I was satisfied with the ending and would love a sequel to learn about the next chapter of Joan's new life.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the review copy of this emotional novel.

I love good historical fiction and this one is great! I cannot believe this is Bernadette Jiwa's debut novel. I'm definitely looking forward to more from her! This is a story of female empowerment, the expectations of motherhood, and the guilt we often place on ourselves as women and mothers. Powerful read that I highly recommend for any fans of women's literature, feminist reads, and / or historical fiction.

Secrets when locked away restrict their keepers from fully moving forward from the past. When Joan realizes Martin is from a high-fluent family, she feels ashamed of her upbringing. Feeling that she'll lose him, she hatches a plan that forever bond them. Unknowingly she's shackled herself to his family and society's expectations. Forced to give up her child, the price seems too high to pay.

Retreating into her new life, Joan is unable to connect with her second daughter. Joan and Carmel's already precarious relationship threaten to topple when the past comes back to haunt Martin. Will he risk putting his family's name at risk to save a child?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheMakingofHer in exchange for an honest review. Living in London and falling in love with Dublin on my trips there, I was immediately swept away by the surroundings. Armchair traveling through the past as well as remember fondly my time abroad made the story even more special.

I've lived with a secret that I was forced to lock away and it's haunted me. Never knowing whom I could trust, created a wall between relationships that I've struggled to overcome. Reading novels where you discover a piece of yourself creates a deeper connection to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I do not often get to work in some day reading, but this one required it. The building of the characters and their stories was beautifully done. Following them through some major changes and not giving you the ending you expect from so many books these days. Not tied up in a neat little bow, but satisfying all the same.
I liked how the story went back and forth from Joan and Martin's early days and up to present day. The older days felt almost as if you were reading Joan's memories. Even the title of this book can be applied a few different ways.

Nicely done.
I was asked to read this one for my honest review, which you have. I was truly ensconced in these pages and would highly recommend it as a good read.

Thirty years ago, Joan was working in a candy factory, keeping house for her alcoholic father and younger sister, when she fell for Martin, a delivery boy. But it turned out Martin was delivery boy for his family’s successful business. His mother was not supportive of his relationship with Joan and shipped him off to London.

What she and nobody else knew was that Joan was pregnant by Martin. Thirty years later, Joan and Martin are married with a daughter, Carmel, and still living in Martin’s family home where his mother rules the roost. But when the baby they gave up for adoption 30 years ago contacts them, the fissures in their marriage begin to widen. Joan wants to see their first child and tell Carmel she has a sister. All these years later, Martin is still worried about a perceived scandal and ruin caused by the revelation he had premarital sex thirty years ago. Gasp!

This book really is a page turner. The reader grows to care about Joan, Carmel, and Emma, even as Martin transforms from a handsome savior to middle-aged oppressor. But it brings to life the ridiculous social mores and actual laws of the 1960s—really not that long ago. #TheMakingofHer #NetGalley

People in Joan Egan's Dublin neighborhood are always saying how fortunate she is to have married so well. As the story opens with the 27th birthday celebration for her daughter Carmel, it becomes evident that Joan's life leaves much to be desired, When she receives a letter from the daughter she and her husband Martin gave up thirty years ago, the story flashes back to Joan's earlier life and the start of her relationship with Martin. Joan begins to realize the impact of giving up her child has had not only on her marriage but also on her relationship with Carmel. As she attempts to connect with both daughters. Joan must decide what she wants in life. A lovely story of motherhood and the impact of choices made.
#TheMakingofHer #NetGalley

#FirstLine ~ Prologue - People were forever telling her how lucky she was.

This book is set in Ireland. I love that magical and beautiful country. I loved traveling there, so THE MAKING OF HER being set there was win number one. It was an equally beautiful story with very compelling characters. This story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, with a triumphant ending that was not perfect (in the best way) and so very satisfying.

The Making of Her is a deeply moving debut novel about family and the stigma of a young woman being pregnant "out of wedlock" during the mid 1960's in Ireland. Joan Egan is from a poor struggling family and meets Martin Egan who is heir to the family business. She becomes involved with Martin and winds up pregnant and is forced to give her baby up for adoption. Martin and Joan get married, but keep the child a secret. Flash forward 30 years and they have a grown daughter, Carmel. One day, Joan receives a letter from the child she gave up. The tale that ensues is touching and thought provoking. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

A captivating and tragic story...beautifully told! A truly gorgeous debut. Get set to be HOOKED!"

Bernadette Jiwa's THE MAKING OF HER is a poignant love story for mothers and daughters worldwide. I LOVED it so much—I did not want it to end. Saturday afternoons were invented to read "heart-tugging" novels like this.

From Dublin 1965 to Dublin 1996, we meet Joan Eagan. Told from the POV of Joan and her daughter, Emma (April).

Joan grew up on the poor side of town and worked in a factory. When she met Martin, she thought her dreams had come true. He was from a wealthy and prominent family-owned business. However, things did not work out as planned. There was an unplanned pregnancy which was taboo back in the day.

The two escaped to London while she was pregnant and lived in a boarding house. However, Martin needed to return to Dublin, Ireland, due to the family business. His mother, Molly— was quite controlling (and mean) and handled the purse strings. She would kick him out if he had a baby out of wedlock. Martin planned on marrying Joan, but he stated they would have to give up the baby for adoption. No way around it.

Joan was devastated. She had no money, a deadbeat drunk dad and sister she loved back in Dublin, but no means to take care of herself and her unborn child. She had few choices, and Martin made her feel he was doing her a favor by marrying her.

Martin eventually wore her down, and they gave up the baby, but Joan never was the same. They moved back to Ireland into the house with Molly (her horrible mother-in-law), which always treated her like a second-class citizen their entire marriage. They had a lovely home, money, and status, but that mattered little to Joan.

Joan was miserable. Martin promised that if the little girl they named April came to find them at age 18, he would accept her. Joan even purchased her a diamond pendant necklace, but she never contacted them at the time.

Joan and Martin went on to have another daughter, Carmel. However, Joan became nostalgic about the birthdays she missed with her first daughter every year. She was saddened and heartbroken and could not talk about it with anyone. She could not believe Martin had washed his hands of their past. Their daughter.

Due to this, she was never close to her daughter, Carmel. Carmel and Martin worked in the business together. That was all her husband cared about the family name, money, greed, and position.

Joan felt like an outcast. Until she received a letter postmarked from England in Sept of 1996.

Unfortunately, this scenario rings true for many couples in the 50s and 60s, when women were controlled by men and had little or no choices. When people worried about social status and what people thought.

I picked up this book and could not put it down! It grabs you immediately and does not let go.

A story that reveals heartbreak, tragedy, and loss...yet hope and love for second chances. One that will stay with you for a long time. An uplifting book for all women, no matter the age.

An impressive debut, well written, and engaging! An author to watch. I cannot wait for her next book! For fans of author Kathryn Hughes.

Thank you to #DuttonBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, enjoy, and review.

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Pub Date: Aug 9, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars ++ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022

A Dual-Timeline Journey to Dublin Ireland.

The Making of Her
by: Bernadette Jiwa
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton
Pub Date: 8/9/22
General Fiction (Adult)

In her debut novel, Jiwa establishes her skills in superb storytelling and compelling character development. Jiwa's dual time-lime narrative flows seamlessly, taking readers to 1960s and 1990s Dublin Ireland.

I was immediately invested in an engrossing plot surrounding an unplanned pregnancy and adoption. The roles of cultural influences and social class are woven into decisions and future turn of events for Joan and Martin. As relationships of marriage, mother, child, and sisterhood evolve in each page, I quickly realized that this exceptional novel will be at the top of my best reads of 2022 list. The unforgettable characters and emotionally moving story will stay with me for a long while.

Thank you to Net Galley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton for the advance reader's copy. I am happy to share my personal review.

This was such a beautiful book. I feel like someone Will be able to get some thing out of this book, no matter who they are or what their family dynamic is like. It was beautifully written and flowed so wonderfully.

The Making of Her by Bernadette Jiwa is an emotional and riveting historical fiction that takes place in Ireland the latter 20th century.

This is a poignant and fundamental look at family, society, love, loss, sacrifices, and expectations (perceived and real) that affected many within Ireland during the latter decades of the 20th century.

Told within different timeframes and points of view, we see the life of Joan, Carmel, Martin, and Emma…we see how society, religion, family, and our own selves can create barriers, corners, ultimatums, consequences, pain, and also second chances.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Dutton for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/9/22.

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Joan and Martin share a history. Their life together appears very blessed, but there is a huge secret no one knows. This secret will push their relationship, and Joan’s emotions, to the brink. I absolutely loved this story and the author’s style of writing!

This is a story about family and how secrets can tear them apart. It’s a story about mother’s and a story about women finding themselves in a predicament and being forced by societal norms to give up her child.

Joan Egan has spent her life regretting giving up her first child and it effected her ability to be a good mother to her second child, Carmel. Her whole life has been decided by the wishes of her husband and his mother. Joan can’t go on like this and is forced to make a life changing decision when the daughter she gave up all those years ago, calls asking for a really big favour.

This book was ok for me. I didn’t find it particularly compelling and the characters didn’t have much depth to me. The story was also very predictable and the backstory flat. Still, a solid debut for the author. 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Penguin Dutton Group for asking me to inviting me to review The Making of Her (ebook via NetGalley). The opinions are mine!

I want to acknowledge the value of this story and a publisher willing to examine complicated themes about unplanned pregnancy in previous decades, themes on placing an infant for adoption, and how the lack of open communication about the child placed for adoption has an enduring impact on many. This book captures the very real feeling that placing a child for adoption does not end the mother/child connection nor does it mean the birth mother does not have feelings that stop once an adoption plan is finalized. I appreciate the awareness this narrative brings to this feeling.

I also valued the examination of reconnection, a child seeking to connect with a birth family for medical support. I loved how once this was in progress that there was movement towards allowing Joan to talk more about her decision and how it impacted her marriage and her parenting later on. This points to the need for openness, not shame, around adoption plans and placements and all involved when possible.

Personal note: A lot of times people use the phrasing giving up a child for adoption, this is just phrasing that has been around a long time and will take time to undo but here is a chance to me to share why this is unhelpful for many: birth mothers and birth parents are not giving up, they are loving and hoping and believing that the child can have a wonderful life with adoptive parents. This isn't giving up on themselves or a child, it is such an act of love and hope. Many adoptions today are open and allow for access to birth parents when requested as well. Adoption has changed. This is not a comment on this book at all, this book captures so many honest feelings that birth mothers experience and also reflects the complexities of previous decades and moods around unplanned pregnancies and adoption. I am honored to be connected to adoption in many ways .

The Making of Her had me at "for fans of Maeve Binchy". Jiwa said those were big shoes to fill, but I think she filled them quite nicely. A lovely Binchy-esque Irish story and the title "making of her" was perfect. This is a story of a mother having to give up, with great reluctance, her first born daughter. The impact this has on her life and her relationship with her second daughter, the one she is allowed to claim is significant. When her first-born daughter is facing a crisis and reaches out to her birth mother, does Joan fully realize she needs to claim agency, for herself, and for her two daughters.

Thank you to Penguin Random House, Dutton Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Making of Her. It's out now for your reading enjoyment as well!