Second novels are hard and although I tried, I just could not get in to this one. It needed something but no clue what. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

Overall, I thought this was a powerful and thought-provoking book and something that would be perfect for a book club discussion. Obviously the main theme this book covers is racism, but it also delves into other topics like the foster care system and marriage.

I do wish the chapters had been a little shorter, especially since sometimes they felt a little meandering and made me lose interest. The ending was a little anti-climatic and wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, but this is definitely a book I'd recommend.

DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn't harm my %. I haven't chose to pick the title back up.

You Were Always Mine explores complex themes of motherhood, race, and belonging in a heartfelt and nuanced way. The story follows the journey of two women—Cinnamon, a Black woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, and Daisy, a white woman who is grieving the loss of her own child—who find themselves drawn together through the most unexpected of circumstances. I thought the authors handled the topics well and the character's journeys felt authentic. The writing drew me into the story and allowed me to reflect on larger societal issues.
Thank you Atria Books for the copy through NetGalley.

I adored the authors' previous book We Are Not Like Them, so I was excited to read this one. The story is largely about Cinnamon, a married black woman in her thirties who finds a white baby in a park with a note saying that the young mother (Daisy) requesting Cinnamon take care of her. The story alternates between Cinnamon and Daisy's perspectives. It took me a little while to get into this book. I was expecting more from both perspectives, but it was mostly Cinnamon's story. Daisy's sections are pretty short.

It takes a while for the plot to start moving. We're deep into Cinnamon's head. She could be frustrating at times, but she was realistic in her perspective. She had a rough upbringing and was often in foster care during her childhood. Cinnamon has built a life that looks nice from the outside, attractive and ambitious husband and good, stable job at a local college. However, she has hidden parts of herself and lets things happen to her. Her own husband and best friend, Lucia, have no idea about her upbringing.

The story focuses on trauma and healing. Both Cinnamon and Daisy were orphaned at a young age and experienced a lot of heartache. They each try to make the right decisions, but make mistakes. I loved seeing Cinnamon come into her own in the second half of the novel. Caring for Daisy's baby gives Cinnamon a purpose and drive she didn't have before.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ebook. All thoughts are my own.

US pub date: 6/13/23
Genre: family drama, contemporary fiction
Quick summary: Middle-aged Black woman Cinnamon and young white girl Daisy become fast, unlikely friends at the local park. Then, Daisy disappears, leaving a young baby girl near their favorite bench - with a note requesting that Cinnamon care for the baby.

This book surprised me in the best way! I didn't love Pride and Piazza's last book, so I was reluctant to start this one, but the beautiful story captivated me. I loved Cinnamon and Daisy - two women who look very different at first but find they have a lot in common. Cinnamon's devotion to baby Bluebell was inspiring and kept me reading as I waited to find out what their fate would be. I ended up pairing the text with a library audiobook, and the audio performance made me feel like I was right there with Cinnamon. I read it in 2 days and would have read it faster if I could have ignored my responsibilities.

If you enjoy books about family, I definitely recommend this one. Just be sure to keep tissue handy.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In their latest work, Christine Pride and Jo Piazza delve into the complexities of race, motherhood, and the weight of hidden truths.

Cinnamon Haynes, a 34-year-old community college counselor, harbors a painful past as a Black child navigating the foster care system. Concealing this history even from her closest confidantes, including her husband Jayson and best friend Lucia, Cinnamon's carefully constructed facade is challenged when she forms an unexpected bond with Daisy, a young White woman harboring her own secrets. As their friendship deepens, Daisy's revelation of a concealed pregnancy sets off a chain of events that forces Cinnamon to confront her past and grapple with the possibility of motherhood. Reluctant to subject another child to the traumas she endured, Cinnamon finds herself torn between her affection for the newborn and the societal pressures weighing against her adoption.

Pride and Piazza skillfully navigate the complexities of interracial adoption, exploring themes of cultural identity and the true meaning of motherhood. Through a diverse cast of characters that includes friends, family members, and social workers, the novel presents multiple perspectives on Cinnamon's journey, inviting readers to ponder difficult questions about race and parenthood.

With its thought-provoking narrative and nuanced portrayal of its characters, "You Were Always Mine" challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and consider the profound implications of identity and love.

I thought the writing was brilliant! The authors tackled some tough issues. This was emotional and heart wrenching.

I loved We Are Not Like Them, so I was very excited to read You Were Always Mine. This book covers some deep themes around foster care, adoption, and race. I really love that about Pride and Piazza's writing. That said, You Were Always Mine isn't quite as effective. I still appreciated what it did, but I felt somehow that I wanted more. I think this could've gone just a little bit deeper. I'm still a big fan and will read anything Pride and Piazza publish jointly.

I absolutely love this writing pair. What a genius idea to have two authors, each of different racial backgrounds, tell their own side of the story. Truly, truly beautiful, and I was thrilled to read this after loving their debut, "We Are Not Like Them."

This was another fantastic book that absolutely thrived being told from two different perspectives of such opposite views. It was a little harder for me to read, just because I'm a mom and my hormones are still all over the place, but I'm so glad I fought through my discomfort to finish it. It's such a unique storytelling device they've created, and I am forever a fan of anything they write together.

This was such a sweet, endearing, enlightening and powerful story. I really enjoyed it, get yourself a copy ASAP! Thank you to @atriabooks , @simonandschuster and @netgalley for my copy!

The premise of this novel is important and raises important questions about race and privilege. I appreciated l the deep-dive into the complexity of the fostering and adoption process, and how it disadvantages those of color from the onset.

The Dynamic Duo does it again.
What a writing team that takes on TOUGH issues.
Thank you for sharing this great book with me.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Very interesting read! The book pulled me in from the start and I wanted to see how it ended. Try it and see if this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride: Jo Piazza in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was an interesting premise for me as finding a baby and not turning it in just didn't sit right with me. I struggled to read this due to that concept.

I was not able to finish this book in time due to life events that got in the way of my reading time, but I did get halfway through. I did not want to stop reading this book and I am still curious about how it ends. I would definitely purchase a physical copy of this book because I found the storyline quite entertaining. The story was very well written and pulls the reader in. 10/10, I enjoyed every page.

Like this author duo’s last book, You Were Always Mine brought attention to relevant topics pertaining to race in America. I think the overall story was good, but there were a few things that could have been improved. There were plot lines that got lost while other portions had unnecessary details. But overall this was a good book worth picking up!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really likes this whole storyline and how the author really emphasized the point that love has no color! There were moments that were completely gut wrenching and others that really touched my heart. It’s about friendship and love at its core but also how far some people will go to do the right thing. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes women’s fiction and something that will hopefully open up your eyes and brighten your day!