Another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors, she never disappoints me. This is a sad, thought provoking read, brilliantly written I just couldn't stop reading and all the characters were so well described.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending, well done Emma Robinson.

I’ve read several books by this author and this one did not disappoint. I love the way Emma writes not too descriptive but to the point and pulls you into the storyline quite easily. I am not a fan of rewriting the book as a review - synopsis are for that but I have to say I enjoyed this book which had quite a few twists and turns and was emotionally charged, Thanks for opportunity Net Galley I highly recommend.

Another amazing read from Emma Robinson. Within the first chapter I was hooked and found it hard to put down. David loses his first wife Katherine when she dies in a tragic accident. He slowly moves on and meets Hannah and when they struggle to conceive they consider using frozen embryos left over from when David and his first wife went through IVF. David is somewhat haunted by the past and soon Hannah is fixated with Katherine and their relationship. This book is one to read with lots of twists and page turners to keep you reading for hours. Loved it. A book that focuses on the gift of motherhood, in all its forms. ,

To Be A Mother is a beautifully written, emotional, family drama. I would suggest you have your tissues at the ready for this one! Emma Robinson certainly knows how to tug at her readers heartstrings! David and Hannah are deeply in love and want to start a family, but Hannah’s has fertility issues. They have options, including using embryos that were previously frozen by David and his first wife, Katherine. For most Women the thought of carrying your husband's first wife’s embryos would be off-putting. But in Hannah’s case, she is desperate for a baby. It’s all she can think about. Does Hannah use the embryos and risk her potential child being a daily reminder of Katherine or risk not having a child at all? Fertility is a sensitive issue and the need to become a mother can be all consuming. Emma Robinson captures Hannah’s every emotion perfectly.

Poor Hannah has to live in the shadow of Katherine, the ‘Perfect wife, mother and daughter. I liked the way Emma Robinson incorporated a mystery element into the story. You learn what happened in the weeks leading up to Katherine’s death. It’s these chapters that reveal a different side to Katherine’s character. From the start, the author creates characters you invest in. I hoped David and Hannah would get their ‘happy ever after’. The complexities of infertility, Hannah’s own doubts, and family secrets emerging ensure that her path to motherhood is a turbulent one. I found To Be A Mother a powerfully uplifting story that I really enjoyed.

I absolutely love this authors books and knew that everything would have to stop once I had started reading this as knew that I would get absorbed into it.

As always with this author this was an emotional rollercoaster of a read and required tissues and left me with a book hangover.

This author has a clever way of writing about human emotion and of sensitive issues that really draw the reader in and make them feel that they are part of the situation and going through it with the characters I am sure a lot of readers will be able to relate to this story with personal experiences and that it will resonate with them. I am sure this book will also help to provoke discussions and bring out into the open the issues raised.

I am now eagerly waiting in anticipation of this authors next book.

David lost his first wife Katherine in tragic circumstances; she had told him she was having an affair and wanted to leave him. He was upset and very angry and told her to leave immediately and collect her belongings when he was at work, which is what she had done. Soon afterwards she had died in a car crash. He felt guilty because they had argued before she left and that made it his fault in his eyes.
Two years later David meets Hannah and they are married three months later. They are deeply in love and are very keen to start a family. Both in their forties, this is the ideal time for them. They both wanted children and they had talked about it even before they married. The only fly in the ointment is that David never talks about Katherine. Hannah can understand it is emotional for him but she knows almost nothing about Katherine. When she is told by her gynaecologist that it is unlikely that she will ever be able to have a baby of her own, David tells her that he and Katherine had similar fertility problems and that they had stored embryos that they could use. Hannah is shocked and horrified at first. She couldn’t imagine having David and Katherine’s baby. The baby may look like Katherine and that thought is just too weird.
Hannah has always wondered whether she matches up to Katherine. At times she feels she is not good enough because Katherine was so dynamic, successful and bright. But truly what other choices does she have if she wants to become a mother? The options they could use were a donor egg fertilized with David’s sperm, with her giving birth to the child, or they could even adopt a child together. The trouble with those two methods is that it would both take time to arrange, with them getting older and older all of the time. She also didn’t like the feeling that the biological parents could become involved in their child’s life. That could open any amount of worms and insecurity for them in the future. David and Hannah have choices to make, and quickly too. A near tragic event forces them to take action.
Emma Robinson has oodles of talent. I know when I pick up my Kindle I am in for an emotional, riveting and poignant read. I was not disappointed and this story was well up with my favourite novels. Her storytelling is exemplary, her research meticulous and her storyboard bulging with unique and interesting ideas. She loves to write about families who are facing thorny issues. The characters she creates with empathy and wisdom, soon become the centre of your attention. It feels as though you are with them, cheering them on. She plans her story to be even in pace and arresting in content. I recommend this current story as an excellent reading experience.
I have always been a fan of this author and I was so happy when I requested to read this book for review and was accepted. I couldn’t wait to start reading it. I received it through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you for my copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions. It’s a gem of a read.

To Be A Mother by Emma Robinson took me by the heart and squeezed. As I’ve come to expect from Robinson, the story centres on a vital dilemma. The plot is compelling because the reader is led through the decision-making processes of the characters like a maze. She makes us believe one way is right, then turns a corner we didn’t even see coming.
What makes To Be A Mother so special is the feelings it evokes. Robinson deals with the issue of infertility with compassion and sensitivity, and since her characters are expertly drawn, we feel every one of their emotions along with them.
I’ve been trying to work out how Robinson makes me so invested in her stories and why I keep turning the pages. I’ve concluded that one factor is the skill of the writing. There isn’t a word out of place. The prose flows effortlessly so the reader stays suctioned in the story.
Anyway, that’s enough analysis from me. The simple fact is, this is an emotional and uplifting read by an exceptionally talented author. Read it and see.

To be a mother is a heartwarming read that sensitively tackles the subject of infertility and the roller coaster of emotions that are associated with it,along with the ethical dilemmas and personal struggles that couples experience.
Hannah and David a newly wed couple are desperate to start a family, however Hannah is unable to have children of her own, her husband David and his first wife now sadly deceased had experienced similar problems and have four frozen embryos in storage could this be a solution ?
As David and Hannah run the gauntlet of emotions associated with their choices we find out more about David’s first wife Katherine and why she had ended their marriage and made other drastic decisions, this new knowledge helps the couple make a decision and in doing so helps heal, rejuvenate and bring peace and understanding to them and their friends and families.
Such a heartfelt emotional read.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

“To Be a Mother” by Emma Robinson asks a key question - what does being a parent mean? I liked the alternating POVs between Hannah, David’s current wife, and Katherine, David’s deceased wife. I thought getting Katherine’s “side of the story” enriched the entire story. What I wasn’t too thrilled about was Katherine’s decision to hide information from David - even if she (and later he) agreed that it was necessary for David’s mental health. I also greatly believe that David needs to stop hanging out with Katherine’s work friends - David, get some new friends, please - Hannah will thank you for it in the end. What made this story richer, I felt, was the discussions about IVF and the available options when that’s not an option - and, of course, some of the emotional issues want-to-be parents may go through when presented with a number of options. This book, for me, sometimes tipped a bit too closely into emotional angst - but I also think it fit for the character of Hannah, even if I didn’t always like reading it.

I decided to take a break from thrillers and when I saw this tile available on NetGalley I immediately requested it.

I was very intrigued with the storyline. Hannah meets David, a widower and they fall in love fast and marry. David lost his wife Katherine in a tragic accident a few years prior. David and Hannah want nothing more than to become parents. Hannah soon finds out she is not able to have children of her own and learns David’s previous wife, Katherine had undergone fertility treatments and the frozen embryos legally belong to David. Could Hannah carry his first wife’s baby?

This was a heart-wrenching and emotional story, and I was very invested from the beginning until the end. The need to become a mother can be all consuming and the author captures this beautifully. There was a little bit of mystery sprinkled throughout the story as you learn what happens in the weeks leading up to Katherine’s death. Overall, this was a gripping and emotional read so make sure you have a box of tissues next to you, you will need it!

To Be a Mother by Emma Robinson is a gripping book gracefully written about the struggle of infertility. Robinson is a master at approaching sensitive subjects with compassionate honesty. Emma Robinson is the best-selling author of sixty books.

Synopsis:
Hannah is David's second wife. David and Hannah are deeply in love and want to start a family, but Hannah's eggs are not viable. They have three options: adoption, using donor eggs, or using embryos that were previously frozen by David and his first wife Katherine before she tragically passed away. Hannah desperately wants a child and David owns the embryos legally, but how does Hannah feel about giving birth to David's first wife's child?

The novel To Be a Mother is women's fiction that feels like a true story. You are pulled into the book on a deep emotional level through the author's poignant writing. The struggle with infertility is a real and gut wrenching subject addressed openly in this beautifully written book. Emma Robinson reached down deep and touched my soul.

To Be a Mother by Emma Robinson is available on October 11th.
(5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this outstanding novel with me. Your kindness is appreciated!

What an emotional journey to go on with Hannah and David. The decision to become parents is not one to make lightly and when you throw in everything they had to face it makes it so complicated. I was routing for Hannah and David right from the start. The touch of getting to know Katherine was well done. What a beautifully written emtionally touching book.

Two years ago, Hannah finally met the man of her dreams. David checked almost all of her boxes, and at her age, she wasted no time deciding he was her forever. A handsome and honest widower was perfect for Hannah-or so she thought. Infertility can bring out the ugly truths in the difficult journey to becoming a parent-and the reminder that not everyone knows the real story of how exactly David became a widower in the first place. This enticing story of fertility struggles and the depths of love was a beautiful quick read that included ups and downs while sweet Hannah tried to see her position from many different angles and discovers she is unsure of who’s angle is the right one to use. Her own friends? Her mother? Katherine’s friends? Every page changes the outcome-so keep turning!


I thought this was a well written novel. I liked the original story, and all of the angles that came with it. Charlotte initially was not my favorite-but I can definitely see why her angle was important! I love how she came around and was just being a good friend from the start! Lauren and Priya though-they can kick rocks. I liked the slight mystery aspect of the plot and the dual POV! It being an unedited version I can see where corrections need to be made-per cent vs percent and some small things that will be caught while editing. Overall a nice change of pace from so many mainstream books!

In society, it's assumed that every woman will become a mother and statistics show that under 30's have a 25% chance of falling pregnant but for many women it is not a simple easy process.
This is the story of Hannah and David who find themselves at the fertility clinic debating their options. But unlike many women, Hannah finds that David's late wife Katherine had also had fertility problems and had had embryos frozen. The dilemma follows, does Hannah use the embryos and risk her potential child looking like Katherine or risk not having a child at all. But is David telling the truth about their relationship as Katherine's friends tell a different story of their marriage.
As someone who has experience of infertility I expected this to be a very difficult and personal read for me, and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't the case at times, and a few times I had to take a deep breath before reading on, but Emma has written this novel in an empathetic and sensitive way, it's heartwarming and thought provoking. Yes, you may need tissues but that's par for the course for Emma's books, she certainly knows how to tug at her readers heartstrings and that's why we love her books, they're true to real life. Long may she continue writing

To be a mother… That would be a dream come true for a lot women. Mother Nature is not always helpful though. Some are lucky enough to conceive easily, have a dream pregnancy and a delivery from heaven. Some have a more difficult 9 months and the delivery is one from hell. But both category of women have what they wished for: a bundle of joy.

Then there is the third group: women who are disappointed month after month. And while their despair grows each time, their longing grows even faster.

Thank God the medical help the couples can receive is getting better and better, but it still is paired with a lot of pain and heartache before the test comes back with those long longed for 2 lines.

When all the above fails, there is still adoption as a last resort.

What comes as easy as one, two, three to some people, really takes a uphill drive for others…

Hannah and David desperately want to become parents. Unfortunately they are also involved in a fierce struggle with nature. They have to make a decision. They have to choose between using donor eggs, adoption or … David and Katherine’s (David’s first wife) embryos. It goes without a doubt it’s Hannah who struggles the most… But what is primordial? It’s holding a baby in her arms and the biological clock is ticking…

Which option would you pick?

A very beautiful and emotional story about love, putting other people’s happiness before your own and friendship. I will always remember this: family has nothing to do with blood.

You sometimes think you know where the author will take you, but it seems like you knew nothing at all. 😉 5 stars

Thank you

I will definitely be recommending this one! A gripping read and easy five stars. The story was fascinating and totally kept my interest. Thank you so much for a great read. I will be looking out for future books by this author.

Emma Robinson certainly writes the type of book that tugs at the heart even one as hard as mine and also makes this reader torn between wanting to finish the book to see what happens but not wanting to say goodbye to the characters, there are books and characters that stay with me for ages after I’m finished reading and this one will now join that list. A emotional but uplifting in places 5 star read for me.

When Hannah was unfit to have a child, David and Hannah consider many options to have a baby to raise. Hannah talk over with her friends and she was confused to proceed with one option. David reveals about 4 embryos of Katherine( his first wife who died in a car accident) and his in cold storage. Hannah got surprised and upset with David for not telling them this before. She started asking more about Katherine and David reveals about himself and his relationship with Katherine.
The story swings between past and present situations of Davids's life, which is narrated by Hannah and Katherine pov.
The author @emmarobinson justified every character's emotions whether it's David or Hannah or Katherine or her friend Heley .
When you are planning to have a child which is not your own is a great stressful and emotional situation. Plenty of questions emerge about whether will you be able to love the child when it's not your blood when you explain to your child that you are not his/her biological mother, moreover the egg is from your husband’s first wife.
I thank #NetGalley @bookouture to have this opportunity to read this Addictive, fast-paced, suspenseful full and very emotional book. The author made me so hooked on the book and finished it within a day.
Interesting quote:
“Another piece of advice her father had been known for was to find out all your options before you make a decision. “

When Hannah met David, it was love at first sight. They were married quickly, but she knew it was the right choice. They were always laughing, the passion was unmatched, and they wanted the same things. Most of all, they wanted a family.
For David, it was doubly important. He’d tragically lost his first wife, Katherine, several years before. Hannah was, he said, the person who saved him from his grief. Though his friends had been worried he was moving on too fast, and Hannah sometimes still felt a strange jealousy towards his first wife, deep down she knew she was meant to be his happy ever after.
Even so, when Hannah discovers she can’t have children, she’s worried it will fracture their relationship. Family is so important to both of them. Surely, she reasons, there must be a way.
And then David tells her there is. He’s never told Hannah because he had hoped they’d have a child of their own. But just before Katherine died, she had gone through fertility treatment and her eggs now frozen in a clinic legally belong to David.
Hannah wants nothing more than to be a mother. But if it meant you and your husband could have the child you’ve always dreamed of could you really carry his first wife’s baby?
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture
I just reviewed To Be a Mother by Emma Robinson. #ToBeaMother #NetGalley

Great book! I have read Emma's book in the past and this was by far her best! David was undergoing IVF with his first wife who died in a car accident. He is now undergoing IVF with his second wife, Hannah. David reveals there are frozen embryos from his first wife they can use. That starts the process of gossip, secrets being unveiled, lies etc. What really happened to David's first wife? Why is his story not matching up with her friends? Such a good book!