Author Maren Cooper writes a novel called Finding Grace. As a child, Caroline attended a convent school, while Charlie lived with several foster parents after being abandoned at the fire station as a baby. During their biology class at college, they were lab partners. Because Caroline felt the need to be free, she appeared hesitant to get engaged to Charlie when he asked for her hand in marriage.

In September, Caroline will start her new job as an ornithologist, and Charlie will start as a high school biology teacher. They decided to start their appointments as a married couple. Even though they never discussed starting a family, Charlie was shocked when Caroline refused to have children. He tricked her into conceiving so that it would fulfill his dream of having children, which only made his marriage more difficult. It became clear from the start how communication could destroy their relationship. Charlie's dedication, commitment, and love ultimately prevailed.

It was an emotional novel, well-written and edited with a strong plot. I would recommend this book to a mature audience. My rating is five out of five stars. Congratulations.

Thank you, NetGalley and SheWritesPress, for their opportunity to review this novel.

Charlie and Caroline—two orphans that meet at Harvard, fall in love, and end up creating a family. Except…things aren’t that simple. Charlie has a dark secret he hides from Caroline. Oblivious, Caroline strives to live the life she wants, but there is one problem: her daughter, Grace. This trio forms a twisted, dark, and dysfunctional family dynamic that readers get to trek through.

It’s definitely interesting to read about a not-so-perfect family. Overall, I did like the story. I felt that Charlie never really grew from the secret he hid from everyone, and Caroline starts to fall off the map without any true resolution in the end. Grace’s story line is completely heartwarming, and it was so sweet to see her earnestly change. The deep mental health struggles that Grace faces came across as genuine, and I think Cooper’s awareness of this subject gives the story a lot more depth. I think a few more chapters would have done this story good, but I really can’t complain.

Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warning: mental health, abuse, drug use, homelessness.

This book was read as an ARC provided by the publisher. In the beginning, I was unsure if I was going to be able to get through it, but I’m glad that I stuck with it. Gracie was truly a teenager trying to find herself. All due to a lack of motherly love. I appreciated the fact that she wanted to turn her life around and show her child differently. This book was a mirror into the need to be a healthy and engaging parent, one who communicates, listens and applies whatever knowledge gained. This book also showed what happens when a community can come together and be a village to a child/family that is struggling. The greatest lesson this book aims to teach is that every child deserves to be loved, protected and nurtured no matter the situation. Every child has the potential to succeed when they have the right people behind them.

After several tries of getting into this book, I was finally able to get pass the first 40 pages and I'm glad I did. A very good story dealing with family drama and mental illness. With so many people experiencing various types of depression and mental illness due to Covid, this story hit home for what a few of them are experiencing. The strength of Grace and overcoming her issues was something that I'm hoping other's can do.

Finding Grace is a piercing chronicle of the struggles and eventual insight gained by each over the years, starting with Charles and Caroline’s courtship and continuing into Grace’s early adulthood—and a poignant coming-of-age journey for both Grace and her parents. Stunning… Loved the story and the pacing and just everything about it… A great story that I couldn't put down! I loved this book…