Stephanie finds herself pregnant with a much longed for child whilst also finding out she has a serious illness. Her husband is desperate to save her even if it means losing what they have both always wanted and what would make their lives complete.
The author dealt with the issues very sensitively and I do believe with a certain amount of personal experience.
It's hard to believe this is the first published book by this author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Is there a more heart-breaking book to come out this year than this? Even before I'd started reading it I knew I was going to be in for a tear-soaked time.

I can't even explain the way it's written to give it the justice it deserves. The words...they're like poetry, like silk moved on the page, like smooth melted chocolate - it's just so poetic and elegant and eloquent.

It's not an easy read. If you're like me, you'll cry within the first few pages. It's a hard story but a beautiful one.

I mean, it goes without saying that there's difficult subjects: pregnancy, miscarriage, cancer, death, grief, abandonment. So yes, it is hard to read in that sense, but it is handled so tenderly and sensitively that it's just a masterpiece of read. And it's a debut novel, which is just astounding, to have this much clarity of voice in a debut.

It's an impossible decision to make that Stephanie is faced with. Some may not like her for her one-track-mind, but I liked her for her strength. She was willing to discuss other options, but she knew in her heart what she wanted to do, and as it's her body at the end of the day, she believes that is all that matters. Whereas her husband James, I was a bit on the fence with for a lot of it. I understand his emotion and his frustration, but he seemed closed off to any other options, and he irked me somewhat. I just wanted to give them both a shake, make them sit down until they had an adult discussion. Neither can do it alone. He often called her selfish but I think at times he is the one that's selfish. They were my initial thoughts on the couple. But it's a complex book with complex emotions and complex characters; I flitted from sympathy to anger and back again throughout the book.

There is something so personal about the way it is written that I fear it's come from first-hand experience, and I really hope that's not true.

Somehow, given how dark and sad the storyline is, there's this potent undercurrent of hope and joy and love. Even in the worst of times, there is always something that'll lift you up, even if you can't see it at first. It's weird, there were moments where I was reading with a smile on my face but with tears streaming down. I think it's impressive writing to be able to balance the grief of the moment with sympathy and empathy and tenderness, without making a spectacle of it but without sugar coating it.

As someone who has had more than their fair share of grief over the years, I often find it difficult to fully put into words how I feel, but it's like Emma-Claire has written what my heart and soul needed to hear.

I think I am going to have the biggest book hangover from this one. It's proof why I generally steer clear of star ratings when I can, because this is worth more than 5 stars. In fact, I'm not sure there's enough stars in the sky to give this book the credit it deserves.

A five star emotional, heartfelt journey of a young couple who are expecting their first child.
So wanted, so loved, their tiny "peanut" that they have been praying for.
It is a family story that had me so drawn in, as Stephanie and James come to grips with the challenges in their lives and the grief that has flooded them all at once.

But... the gift they will receive is nothing short of a beautiful miracle that was meant to be. I believe in miracles and when you read this story, you will too!
*Tissues are definitely needed!*

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Avon Books, Uk for this amazing ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

"Sometimes, a child finds its way into your heart, via a path you never expected."

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read! 5 out of 5 stars! To me, a book is worth 5 stars only if it makes me laugh, makes me cry, and changes me in some significant way. That’s a tall order, but this debut novel of Emma-Claire Wilson’s is all that and much more! It is real life at its’ best… and its’ worst.

Stephanie and James desperately wanted to become parents and had just learned they were expecting! Their hearts were overflowing with joy as they began to plan for their little “peanut.” Unfortunately, that joy was short-lived. Expecting to gaze at the beautiful sonogram of their child at their next pre-natal visit, they were instead met with the news that Stephanie had a life-threatening illness. Time was of the essence and the decision was an impossible one; save Stephanie or continue the pregnancy. Stephanie wanted to keep her baby at all costs, and James wanted to save his wife.

I was invested in this book from page one. This story holds a roller-coaster of emotions, and I felt every loop, twist, and drop right along with them. It wasn’t that I was ‘reading’ their story, it was like I was ‘in’ their hearts feeling each emotion. Additionally, this story hit very close to home for me in several ways. I lost many close loved ones during childhood, raised by a single parent, experienced a pregnancy with severe health complications, and the unbearable grief of losing a child.

I loved this book; it will stay with me always. It was sensitively written, exploring the most heart-wrenching and life-affirming moments that define one’s life. The end was beautiful and supported the theme; what is meant to be, will be. The story reminded me of a Jodi Picoult novel by addressing many significant issues of our time; grief, trust, faith, pregnancy and abortion, childhood emotional trauma, single-parent families, eldercare, and forgiveness. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a story that pulls you in an makes you consider what’s important in life.

I am grateful to Author Emma-Claire Wilson, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Too much sadness for me to enjoy reading. Not my kind of novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest. review.

This is a poignant, touching, heartbreaking story of love, loss and hope. It is emotional and impactful, and a real tearjerker.

Stephanie has wanted a baby for a very long time, so when she found out she was pregnant and also had a debilitating illness at the same time, there was no choice for her whether or not to keep the baby. Her husband though wanted her to choose her own life over that of the baby. They argued, they cried, they nearly destroyed their marriage, but fate intervened and made the choice for them.

I could not put this book down, I read it in a single day, and it brought me to tears, both happy and sad, many times over. I highly recommend this book and rate it 5 great big stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy.

Such a tearjerker! As a mother, I just don't how one could choose their health or their baby. This book was a little long in the middle. How many bad things can these characters endure? In the past and present. Just very sad and hard to read. But the ending was def heartwarming.

This was a beautifully written novel, though I did find it unnecessarily longwinded in places. A good ending and worth reading. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

Firstly I don’t think any review or star ratings could live up to how this book truly made me feel. A few weeks ago I asked my social platform about books that had left them in tears as I had yet to experience that. Well today I experiences just that. I’ve been bought to tears by movies, tv series and even songs but today this was the first book that bought tears to my eyes accompanied by ever different emotion and feelings that came with reading this raw novel.

I didn’t feel like I was just an outside reading each sentence, flicking each page, coming to the end of each chapter. I felt every heartache and emotion that the characters of this book were feeling. I wanted to reach inside this book a take Stephanie and James and lock them away from all the bad things that they had to have ever experience during their lifetime.

I started this book crying from utter heartbreak of the unexpected twists and turns in this beautiful couples journey and ended the book with floods of joy in my eyes and heart and with such closure.

This book was a breathtaking, heart-wrenching, emotional rollercoaster for me and I cannot wait to get my hand on a hard copy to keep on my bookshelf forever once this has been publish.

I only ‘𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑒’ this isn’t the end of your writing Emma.

𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆: 3𝑟𝑑 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful story full of meaning but it was a little long-winded in places. Though I loved the ending.

If I could give more stars I would...what a phenomenal book! "This Child of Mine" is a tragic story about a woman who has an impossible choice to make. She makes her decision, even though not everyone agrees, especially her husband, only for it to completely implode. This book is all about loss and grief and then overcoming it by resetting and starting anew. It's an exceptionally written book that released a lot of tears for me as I could relate to it in ways. The ending really blew me away though, especially when the penny dropped about the little girls name!

What a tearjerker. A beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking novel and I loved every page of it .James and Steph have had to cope with more loss than most people but when they finally think all their dreams are about to come true by becoming parents to a longed for child their lives are changed forever when the news isn't they expected. Their journey is so difficult and threatens to tare them apart but it is so beautifully written with sensitivity and healing that it takes your breath away. Highly recommend 5 🌟read

A book of impossible choices which at once are solely central to one person and yet so many others have - or feel they have - a voice. In many ways a painful read but the dilemma unveils the strength of a mother's love and the sacrifices they will make for their child.

Heart-wrenchingly good. A real tearjerker, get the tissues ready.
A fabulous debut. Can't wait to read more from this author.

What a breathtaking read! Forget the usual emotional rollercoaster, this is a rocket of emotion that explodes from the page, nestling the characters into your heart making this story unforgettable.
The blurb offered the premise but the book gave so much more than expected; nothing prepared me for the immersive heartbreak that kept me engaged until the the last page. Beautifully written, Emma-Claire Wilson has not only captured the turmoil of a devastating diagnosis and horrendous dilemma to resolve but also the impact grief and childhood trauma. Despite not being in the specific scenarios covered, there were many moments when the unspoken feelings I’ve experienced were laid bare on the page, making it a strangely cathartic read.
The difficult subjects covered were expertly tackled with love, and raw honesty that will sing to many readers though boxes of tissues are required. And preparation for a severe book hangover is also needed.

Such an emotional rollercoaster of a read but in all honesty this is one of the best books I have ever ever read I kept going back to it every few mins !!!!was sad when I finished it absolutely a cracker of a book!!!!

This Child of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson is an emotionally taut read that will give you all of the feels.

Steph and James have barely had time to rejoice in the news that they are expecting their longed for child when they receive a devastating diagnosis that will change everything. Impossible decisions will need to be made as the couple face unimaginable obstacles on their journey to creating the family they have always wanted.

This beautifully written story will have you reaching for the tissues.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC.

Wow, this storyline definitely threw a lot of obstacles and difficult decisions at this loving couple Steph and James. When couples can’t agree, it’s really hard to know who is right. It’s even harder when things happen that are sadly out of your control. This book certainly proves that when you want to be a mother, you will do everything possible to get it. It was beautifully written and i will definitely be reading more by this author. An endearing read.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones.

Wow, what a heartbreaking read but beautifully written story, I absolutely loved every minute of this book, and aww what an ending!

The ultimate decision! What a heartbreaking story. Wilson did a good job with this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review. I love books about motherhood and everything that women go through to get there. Four stars from me.