This is a beautifully written novel that covers many difficult topics in a sensitive and engaging way. When she is 13, Olivia’s mum takes her own life and she is taken in by her mums friend Cathie. She becomes a close friend to Cathie’s daughter Cassandra and embarks on a lifelong relationship with the whole family. We follow Olivia as a university student in Cambridge and her life back in Australia with her husband Ben as she reconnects with Cassandra and her husband and children.
This is a saga of a novel moving through heartbreaking episodes and looking back to Cathie’s relationship with Olivia’s mum. Highly recommended and I’m sad to leave the characters behind.

This was a beautiful and poignant read. There was so much to the story but all along the way I felt connected and part of the story itself. There were times where it was so sad but others where it was so heartwarming. A beautiful mix of love and loss.

Highly recommended and definitely deserves the 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley.

Absolutely loved this book!

The writing style was really good and I look forward to reading any other books from this author in the future :)

A hopeful and heartbreaking novel. A page turner to find out what happens, not as a love story, a complicated look at real life.

A really good family saga that had just about everything in it from single parenting, fostering, abuse to euthanasia and everything in betwee . Some bits were hard to read at times, but a very well written book that I would recommend to my book club.

I enjoyed this novel, the characters really came to life, it was hopeful and heartbreaking. I loved that it wasn’t a book that made love (of any form) easy, as it is much more complicated in real life. Very readable and emotionally compelling.

I was so excited when I got the OK for the early audiobook of this novel. The description was so compelling, and it alluded to fine writing like I'd read in other novels by Jenni Ogden. As good as it sounded, the audiobook fell short of the mark. The novel is about two women and their friendship, resilience and ability to cope with trauma. The narrator's voice failed to pick up on characters' nuances or depth, leaving the story unfulfilled.

The story line covers quite a lot of sensitive topics in descriptive detail. The topics, such as abortion, stillbirth and euthanasia, may be triggers for some.

There are so many layers within the characters' relationships that the narrator fails to convey. Instead of "listening" to this story, it seems to be one best read. I look forward to following up with the written words. As a note, I went back and "read" the book. Much better, and it deserves all the rave reviews it has received.

NetGalley provided an audiobook file in exchange for my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book. I loved the storyline and the main character. The topic was heavy at times but so good, I couldn't put it down. Would definitely recommend this book!

This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Narrated by the main character (Olivia), it spans three decades and the enduring friendship/sisterhood of her and her foster sister (Cassndra). The book covers many different issues, At times, I thought it was too many, but the author does an impressive job of tying them all together and telling the story of these women and their families. The characters are wonderfully developed and I found myself loving all of them. This is a story about friendship, marriage, motherhood and so much more. The Australian setting was beautifully depicted. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful family saga.

A beautiful, emotional story that was hard to put down! I really enjoyed reading about life in the different decades in Australia. I also loved the friendship between the girls.

This was a deep and thought provoking story. At some points I wanted to stop and dig myself deeper into the situation and contemplate further. It is a story that will stay with me.
Many thanks to Sea Dragon Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed parts of this book, but as a whole I found it very long and disappointing. I read this book with a break in the middle and Im glad I did or i might not bave finished it. I really had a hard time getting into the story at the beginning, it wasn't captivating and I felt like I had no idea where the story was going.

I really did enjoy parts of getting to know Olivia and Ben & Cassandra and Sebastien, I read about their entire adult lives, I would have rather narrowing down the story or making it into a sequel. It was just too much for one novel and the ending was very abrupt for me.

It’s hard to sum up a book like this as the author tackled a lot of issues that can be both triggering and yet relatable to many readers. You have the complex nature of a mother-daughter but then there’s also the foster-found family complexities as both women grew up together due to Olivia’s mother dying.

It was a lot to read. And I’ll mention triggers below for readers just because I really believe that there are readers who need it with the topics explored.

Truth is, I am a big lover of fiction that tackle real life issues and problems and the complexity of family relationships. But…. Even I struggle when it feels like it’s a lot to digest. The book opens with a raw moment and ends abruptly. Both of those are tough on a reader.

That said, I think the writing was well done. And I say kudos for the author for getting the emotional parts realistic. I landed with a 3.5-4 ⭐️ on it because I needed less book and more of an ending. It felt especially needed after such an emotionally charged book




Triggers: abortion, death of a baby during birth, surrogacy, euthanasia,

I really enjoyed this book. I read it a couple of months ago and the storyline has not left me. It seems like there were things that happened in this story that needed more time to simmer. If I had a paper copy I am sure I would be rereading parts of this book again. The storyline was heartbreaking but captivating. There were so many great life celebrations to this story but the heartache and tragedy was also very present. Overall a great read but I definitely went for something lighthearted to read after this.

There isn't much more I can add to the raving 5 star reviews that are out there. This is stunning. It is heartfelt, it is deep, it is emotional, it is moving. The writing is beautiful. The story is gritty and real and ugly and beautiful. I highly recommend when you need something that will grab you and make you feel.

This story follows two women throughout much of their lives. Olivia comes to live with the Tulloch family after her mother dies. There she meets Cassandra Tulloch, an outgoing, generous, and controlling girl the same age as Olivia. Cassandra and Olivia, although very different, become best friends. The story follows their friendship and the trials it goes through with life challenges. The book covers many tough topics - abortion, substance abuse, the Vietnam War, prison camps, adoption, surrogacy, stillbirth, and death. I enjoyed the story, but felt like the ending was too abrupt. An epilogue would have been great to sum up what happened next to the characters after following them for 30 years of their lives.

This story is about two women in Australia, they meet as teens when Olivia's mother dies of a drug overdose. Cassandra's mother knew Olivia's mother when they were both prisoners in a Japanese POW camp, and she invites Olivia to live with her family. Cassandra and Olivia have an instant bond, and the novel follows their friendship from the 1960's to the 1990's. Cassandra's family becomes Olivia's family, and they grow up, marry, have children. There is a lot covered here; drug addiction, miscarriage, death of children, ALS, surrogacy are just some of them. I got this through @netgalley and did not know anything about it prior to reading. I really enjoyed it, it's a great family and friendship read. #callmyname #jenniogden #bookstagram #reader #familystory #friendshipstory #bookblog #lovetoread #booksbooksbooks #readallthebooks #readersofinstagram #booklover #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #netgalley #book

Wow!!

What a heart rendering book. It has everything, love, loss and laughter.

This book has really made an impact on me. I feel like I lived Olivia’s life.

Call My Name by Jenni Ogden narrated by Naomi Barton is a book is about a deep friendship and lovely bond which was shared by Olivia and Cassandra, However, this was not a book for everyone and I was one of them. (Sorry) This latest book touched on some very sensitive subjects within my life past and now.......and I could not listen past the third chapter. I did try a few times. But, it just bought up feelings of never having a period, never being able to have children etc this book was too raw for me. I just wish I was strong enough to carry on with this book........Call my name starts with Bang and discusses whether or not she is on her period, and then if she could have sex with her new partner! if she is on her period. Blimey I so would love to be a normal woman!!! But still, I am alive!

Warning This book has topics such as abortion, loosing a child during birth resulting in a hysterectomy, overseas adoption along with surrogacy and then euthanasia. I think this should be written at the beginning to warn people who may have a problem with this topics.

The narrator Naomi Barton was lovely and her voice was so smoothing and suited this book 5 stars for her.

Warning Personal Review. Sorry.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sea Dragon Press for my advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Call My Name, by Jenni Ogden, is a heartbreaking novel that will haunt you long past the time you turn the final page. At one point I did put it down because it was so heavy, but I didn't leave it long. I had to know what happened next. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.