I first read Ali Mercer back in 2012 and then I was in awe of how easily she made spinning a story with great emotional depth look - it turns out, she's only gotten better. This story broke my heart, in the best possible way, I read it too fast probably, but then it was impossible to put down.
A powerful, moving story about sudden human frailty, resilience and triumph - utterly wonderful!

I love this author, everything I’ve read by her has been thought provoking as well as emotional. This one was another well written story, I loved the dual timelines. I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator. Highly recommend!

OMG - what a totally, compelling, heart rending read!!
Don't read my review - it is this book you need.
But have the tissues ready on standby, too,
In case, like me, it really affects you.

A story told from different points of view
Sharing events from the past and things that are new.
With family dramas, revelations and more,
A moving read, the kind I adore.

Such an emotive read, the sort that stays
Fresh in your memory for months/years not days.
Beautifully shared, an utter pleasure to read
Poignant, soul-stirring, so sensitive indeed.

I don't like to share spoilers and won't do so
I can't recommend this book highly - hope you'll give it a go.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘A Child’s Goodbye’ by Ali Mercer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

‘A Child’s Goodbye’ is an emotional family drama that’s tugged at the heartstrings and kept me involved from page one. The story begins in 2002 when Callie first meets Rueben, the boy from the house across the road, moving on to 2014 when she has a collision with a bicycle and realises that she needs to forgo her pride and ask for help from her mother and friends. The descriptions of the characters are perfection, Callie who’ll do anything to protect her sweet-natured son Billy, and Rueben who regrets not trusting Callie. This is a beautifully written story that’s had me gripped from page one, wanting to hug Billy and take care of him, and causing me to shed copious tears the further I’ve got into the novel. This is a lovely story that broke my heart with its sad ending and will stay in my thoughts for a long time. I recommend it.

I haven’t read any of Ali Mercer’s books before and this didn’t disappoint. I did feel it was a little slow to begin with but really just setting the scene. The story of a single mum (Callie) everyday struggles, juggling life on her own soon take a turn in direction when she has an accident that means she needs support from others. The son 10year old Billy has his own struggles that we can relate to. This is a real emotional read that in the end I couldn’t put down.
The writer Ali really makes you feel that you can relate to all characters in this book and make you wanting to know more about how the storyline is going to go.

Thank you to Ali Mercer, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read a advanced copy of A Child’s Goodbye.

This is the first Ali Mercer book I’ve read and I’ll definitely be looking out for more.
A child’s Goodbye is written in a dual timeline and tells the story of Callie and Rueben and how friendship, love and misunderstanding can change the whole course of life.
When Callie has an accident on her way to collect her son Billy from school everything changes, Callie hasn’t spoken to her mum for nearly ten years and after the only option left is for her to take Billy everything he knows is suddenly different.
A lovely book well written even made me cry a couple of times.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book

From the very beginning, there was an uncomfortable tension, a nervous anticipation for what you think may happen. With hints at unfathomable secrets and betrayal.

This book is told in multiple points of view and Billy's story and his confusion comes across so well, it left me just as confused and unsure as him ( and that's a good thing, I could relate to him)

The past literally comes knocking at the door, and people are reconnected, and some old wounds are healed. But is it too late to fix and undo the past?

The cliffhanger chapters and pace of writing had me anxious and desperate to keep reading.

My nose was burning with the anticipation of tears to come, I thought one thing was going to happen, but there was a twist, and it kept me guessing. The twist still hits hard, though.

A few sensitive topics are covered, so check the trigger warnings.

Keep your tissues close, you'll need them.

Keep the tissues handy while reading this one.
Mercer usually offers a complicated plot but this one was deceptive. It was fairly straight forward until it wasn’t.
Upon reflection it gives an entirely new meaning to the title. I believed it meant one child when actually it could also encompass another one.
My favorite character was Janice. She messed up but was there when the chips were down.
I wasn’t impressed with Reuben. Even at the end, I felt lukewarm toward him.
It’s a good story with lots of carousel of emotions.

A family drama about a young mother who is injured on the way to pick up her young son from school. She is injured bad enough to have to be in the hospital and have surgery. Callie is a single parent with not many people she can call her friends. She is estranged from her mother. Who is going to help take care of her son, Billy?
I had a bit of trouble getting into the story as it seemed slow to me. As I read on, many things became clearer to me as to why Callie is the way she is. And, this is when the story starting drawing me in more and more.
Overall, A Child’s Goodbye is a heartfelt and emotional story that will take you through so many emotions.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story was emotional, intense, inspiring by all that they made it through, An accident set in motion, changes in their lives, that they had to work through, finally talk about, and learn to forgive. When you are reading this book, have some tissues close by.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.

This one started off as a slow burn for me for about the first quarter of the book. I found myself starting and stopping a lot and couldn't commit, but once I got through that first quarter, I really found this to be such a great book! It was heartfelt and absolutely devastating in so many ways. I thought Mercer did a great job navigating the topics of loss, unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, lost time, bullying, anxiety and so much more really well. Her words were poignant and weighty. I truly felt like I was experiencing the events with each character.

I gave this 3.5 stars but erred toward 4 because the only reason I knocked it down a half point was due to how hard it was for me to get into, but that could have been the hectic nature of my schedule when I sat down to read it.

This book also had a few incredible quotes that absolutely took my breath away:

• "Did you know,' he said, 'that when you look at the night sky, you're looking at history? The light of the stars you see has been travelling towards the earth for millions and millions of years. Some of those stars might not even exist any more. They might have burnt away to nothingness, and be all dead and dark. But the light is still real. The light is like a time traveller."

• "Standing under the expanse of the night sky and looking up, knowing her child was on the way into the world, she had felt more connected to everything around her than ever before."

• "If you love someone, you don't stop just because they've done something bad. you might feel different about them. You might be angry with them. The love might be mixed up with all kinds of other feelings. But it would still be love. Love isn't a rational thing, like deciding to do more exercise or... or give up smoking. Maybe it isn't always very good for you. But when it's there, it's there, and you can't get rid of it just because it isn't convenient any more."

• "The summer days went by, each one, if anything, brighter and more beautiful than the next, and he felt guilty for being able to witness them. He came to think of grief as the grey thief - it had stolen his happiness, and had left him unable to find joy in the colours he knew and was blessed to still be able to see."

**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful read.Callie and her son Billy have been everything to one another since he was born but when she has an accident and needs help with him events from the past bring back some heartbreaking memories as well as some difficult ones.its a wonderfully written novel and Billy is such a lovely character ,it's full of warmth and emotion that really pulls at your heartstrings but its also healing in lots of ways. I really loved it

this book will have you sent crying and hopeful all at the same time. I couldn't put it down and was just full of emotion throughout.. this is a family drama written by Ali Mercer at its best full of heartbreak but also strength.

You really do find out who your real friends are when you are in need. This is a fact!
Callie is injured on her way to pickup her son from school. Laying in that hospital bed she has regrets… many regrets. The biggest one being she’s a single parent who never told the father. Now she’s worried what will happen to Billy, her son, if something happens to her.
I thought the story had great depth.
I think it was just hard for me to read since it dealt with a young boy. I just couldn’t become fully invested in it.
Well written and it might be the story for you - not for me though.

"A Child's Goodbye" is an emotional, gripping, page turner with a great ending. This book hits all the marks for me, it's about love, loss, family feuds, motherhood and finally making amends before it's too late. I don't want to give too much away by going into more detail but if you like those topics it's a must read guaranteed!

A Child's Goodbye
by Ali Mercer

General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Description
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be. But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?

🛑 MY REVIEW🛑

A Child's Goodbye
by Ali Mercer is a powerful heartbreaking family domestic drama filled with emotion, motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets .

It is a totally captivating story that kept me hooked until the end. I was not prepared for such an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. The characters Callie ( mom), 10 year old Billy and Rueben ( who we don't know who he is for awhile ) come alive on these pages. I just wanted to jump into the book to hold and comfort Billy. Lord this child broke my heart in a million places. This is a beautiful, but also a very very sad story so have tissues on hand. It was told from different pov and jumped back and forth in timelines . Each chapter has a plot twist followed by one huge gut-wrenching twist at the end that you don’t see coming.
******Disclosure*******
Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get.
#AChildsGoodbye #NetGalley

A Child's Goodbye is an emotional read with lots of ups and downs, twists and turns. There are so many different personalities in the different characters, and somehow Ali Mercer brings them all together to weave a story of love, loss, family, and friendship. A Must Read!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful book. I stayed up till 3am to finish it! Billy was such a sensitive kid. In my mind, I pictured him as Sam from Coronation Street! (For those that don't watch, he's the same age with a very similar background) Such a sad story but with twists you don't expect, but add to the depth of the story. My only problem was that I felt the title is a spoiler, especially the tag line, as I was waiting for the inevitable to happen.

An emotional heart rending read!
The fragility of single parenthood, the repercussions of decisions made in the past, misunderstandings and eventual realisation!
Emotional, tear jerking,unexpected twists and sadness make this a compelling, intriguing read!
Wonderful characterisation I particularly loved Billy with all his little foibles and idiosyncrasies and Reuben who totally steps up and embraces his new life!
Callies character is more complex and diverse and haunted by her past experiences and decisions.
Totally relatable read!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

First, I want to thank Ali Mercer, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

WOW!!! I was not prepared for that emotional rollercoaster of a ride Ali Mercer put me on while reading her latest A Child’s Goodbye!! She is GOOD at pulling on my heart strings and should have been prepared with tissues on hand. Yes, she made me ugly cry with this one.

Can we talk about the beautiful cover with the pretty colors?! The graphic designers did a spot on job with it.

Ali is a brilliant storyteller who writes from her heart. All her stories you can feel how passionate she is about these characters and storylines. All of Ali’s stories are a breath of fresh air to read.

Billy’s character was my favorite of the book as every situation he had been put in he came out stronger! He sure did pull hard on my heart strings! There were so many times I wanted to reach out to him to comfort him.

In A Child’s Goodbye there are so many life lessons to be learned in this book. One of the most beautiful ones I thought was at the end of the prologue.

Ali wrote some truly shocking moments where I was either scared for the character, left speechless or thinking OMG she went there! Ohh let’s not forget the moment I had to put down the Kindle to compose myself because the waterworks would not stop!

A Child’s Goodbye is one book to put on your TBR list for this year!