Emotional, heartbroken, but a story that full of sacrifices, love and motherhood.

She passed her newborn baby to her mother, said “Please take my baby.”

Among all these years, Erin had no idea about her true identity. Until the day her daughter found a picture in a biscuit tin at their home. Erin thought it was herself and her mother Ava. But it’s not…Erin could not get the straight answer from her dementia mother.

The story then followed along Erin was finding the truth. She discovered more about the secrets and history of her family.

It was totally touched by the story. Perfectly written storyplot. How a mother took care of herself after giving birth, how helpless a mother felt, how fragile a mother could be…all these feelings were strongly showed in the story.

I love the narrating style. The narrator sneezed when Erin sneezed! How wonderful was that. The storytelling was very well!

I also loved how smartly the author put Erin as the center character by putting her as a daughter and at the same time a mother. Erin could then show her strong side as a mother and the understanding side as a daughter.

I was not able to listen to this in the day they approved me for it and then removed it. Once I have read this one I’ll provide a full review.

I thought this one fell in the category of pretty good. The author did a great job at pulling at the heart strings and illustrating the challenges around the choices we make in life. It's easy to take a one dimensional view as an outside to cast judgement. But as this story shows there is much complexity in personal choices. Well done but maybe not super memorable.

When Aaron moves in with her mom Ava due to her mom‘s growing dementia Aaron‘s daughter Harriet isn’t happy about it but while getting her stuff set up in her room she finds a cracker tin full of documents and pictures and then one of the pictures Aaron sees her mom holding a plump little girl and her mom has a Big smile on her face. Aaron knows this isn’t her because she was a scrawny little thing and she could tell by the way her mom is looking at the picture that she knows who it is yet says she doesn’t this is when Aaron calls her aunt Marcel who lives in Australia when she finds out the baby‘s name is Imogen she wants to know more and what she finds out will rock her world but bring closer and peace to another’s. She is also dealing with her ex Simon who without her knowledge sent her daughter Harriad beautiful pictures of California telling her she could move with him and his new wife and start high school there. Aaron cannot compete financially with Simon but she isn’t letting Harriet move to another country without a fight or at all. This book was mostly about Ava and Aaron and Imogen and at the end Marcel the only reason I bring up the bit with the dad is because I noticed when reading books with single moms from Britain the mom could be poor while the dad lives a lavish lifestyle do they not make men pay child support there? In America the absent parent has to keep the child living at the level they were accustomed to but it seems in Britain it is A-OK for a mom and her child to be destitute but I am going off topic completely! This is a great book and at one point it even made me feel like I was going to cry when Marcel came from Australia I won’t say more because I don’t want to give anything away this is such a great book in at first I thought it was a thriller but it doesn’t really and it’s so good so heartfelt and every real thing that people go through. I listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a stellar job so kudos to her she did an excellent performance. I want to thank Bookoucher a and Net Galley for my free audio arc please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook of Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson.

I have not read/listened to any of this author’s work previously and I enjoyed this very much. It was a very moving story about mother/daughter relationships and it definitely had my interest the whole time. I felt very invested. I would definitely recommend!

This book has an interesting blurb but the way it was executed made it basic and I’m not sure I’ll remember it in a couple of days. Some information was given away far too soon and it lacked the build up and suspense. It does touch on important topics which is always good. I found it drawn out for what it all came to. I did like the characters and their different relationships with each other. Unfortunately it just fell a little short for me. I didn't think it was mind blowing or anything different to many other books of a similar topic. The narrator was engaging and kept my attention.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #PleaseTakeMyBaby

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Please Take My Baby
Emma Robinson

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a really intriguing, heartwarming and hertbreaking read which I just loved.
I think being a mum, made this such an emotional read for me.

Erin and her daughter, Harriet, have moved into Erin's Mum's house to care for her as her condition dwindles and her memory starts to fail.
Harriet understands but also misses her old house, school and friends.
When Erin's ex-husband drops the bombshell that he's got a job in the US and wants to take Harriet with him, Erin's world starts to shake.

This is just some of the ins and outs of this storyline too!
I loved how all the different parts to this were woven together seamlessly - Erin's work life, Harriet's decision, Ava's condition and then things come to light about another baby, Imogen (when Ava starts to have memory slips)
It sounds complex - but this was so well written that you never get too bogged down in one area.

It was so easy to become immersed in Erin's life. She was so relatable as a person, but also as a mother. The things that we do for our children and the sacrifices we make for them all in full focus throughout this book.

It was actually tough to read in places, but everything was dealt with so sensitively. However I did have a tear in my eye during a few of the scenes. Erin dealt with these events so calmly - I'm certain I'd not be able to stay so composed in some of thoae instances!

I loved that everything came together in the end - all threads nicely tied up and things turned out well for all.

A really enjoyable and moving read.



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

"Please Take My Baby" written by Emma Robinson and narrated by Sofia Zervudachi, is a heart-wrenching book that pulls at your heartstrings! A beautiful and emotional story that captures the struggles and love of four generations - Ava, Imogen, Erin and Harriet.

Erin, a hardworking single mother, finds herself caring for her mother, Ava, raising a teenage daughter, Harriet, and working in hotel management all while she is struggling to better understand who is in a photograph her daughter found in an old biscuit tin. Hariett showed Ava, who is suffering with dementia, the photograph and learned the photo was of someone named Imogen. Erin sets out determined to learn more about Imogen and find her as she believes Imogen is her sister and her mother's daughter.

Emma does a wonderful job of diving into an emotional storyline that involves memory loss, depression, family protecting family, postpartum psychosis, and so much more. Though uncomfortable topics, Emma shows genuine empathy and understanding through her characters.

Sofia does an excellent job of changing tones and voices through the various characters and her accept fits the part!
 
Even after completing this read, I continue to look back at the challenges and think of the ways parents try to protect their children. #postpartumpsychosis

Thank you #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this early audio version in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own.

Please Take My Baby chronicles the journey of three generations of women, dealing with immense heartbreak, sacrifice and loss.

For Erin, a long-kept secret threatens to expose decades of heartbreakingly tough decisions made in moments of duress. But will this secret break bonds or strengthen them? This book is a testament to what lengths a mother will go to to protect her child.

Divorced mother of one Erin is juggling work, motherhood and taking care of her aged mother suffering from dementia. A photo of a stranger raises questions that could change not only Erins life but that of her mother and her daughter too.

It's a roller coaster ride of emotions, with HEA. It all works out in the end and everything falls into place.

The book wasn't as intriguing as the synopsis hinted it would be, however, the story telling was great though! There was no big reveal, the story unfolded too easily, the secret was revealed prematurely in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my free copy of this arc to review.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting. As I read more books like this, I find that I can skip ahead a few chapters and not miss anything. So that is what I did. I did not expect all of the connections that were revealed, but overall the book was average.

OMG OMG OMG best book I've read or listened to in a long time!!! All the feels, all the tension and twists, and the mother daughter relationships that are so relatable. I couldn't love this book more. And the narrator was perfection!

Master storyteller Emma Robinson returns following My Stepmother's Secret with her latest, PLEASE TAKE MY BABY —a heartfelt, beautiful, emotional story of three mothers— four generations of women whose lives connect unexpectedly at just the right time when they need each other the most.

COMPELLING —a poignant testament to the immeasurable and restorative power of love. A captivating tale of life, loss, sacrifice, love, and the power of family.

Four women:
Ava
Imogen
Erin
Harriet

Set in London, Erin is a divorced single mom of Harriet, and her ex-husband, Simon, is currently remarried, and they are expecting. He is looking at a new job and wants to take their daughter Harriet to live with them in California.

Erin is stressed and worried about losing her daughter and, at the same time, wants to do what is best for her. All the while, she is caring for her elderly mother, who has dementia. She goes to The Oasis, a drop-in center for dementia sufferers and their carers.

She finds a photo in an old biscuit tin of her mom, Ava, with a baby. That baby's name was Imogen. However, her mom's memory goes in and out, making it difficult to learn more about her. How will she find the answer to the dark secrets of her mom when they are buried within? She seems to be agitated when bringing up the subject.

Erin is determined to find this woman, who may be her sister and her mother's daughter before it is too late. There are so many unanswered questions.

But what she does not expect when she finds her is that she is not her sister. She is something more.

What happened to Imogen? Why did she leave? Why did she give up her baby? Is she too hurt to revisit the past? Things are not as they seem, and three mothers have spent their lives thinking something different. What if someone could put all the pieces together for a second chance before Ava loses all her memories?

From past to present, the author takes us back to Imogen as a young girl who gets pregnant. Her parents were very strict. She had the baby, but she was so young and did not know how to care for her little girl. Her mom helped, but then the father would not allow her to keep coming back when she left, or she could take the baby. Imogen had no where to turn.

We also learn about Ava and what she went through as a mother with depression. All the while, Erin is struggling as she is close to Harriet, and she may move. Erin has always put her daughter first as a mother, so she has had to pass up promotions in the hospitality industry.

There is much more to the story than you can envision, and I was surprised with each twisty turn. I enjoyed the strong theme of memory. Ava and Imogen see the events from different perspectives. As with dementia, it is difficult to determine which memories may surface and where those memories live.

The author delivers a page-turning novel about the complex, intense, love, and heartbreaking relationships between mothers and daughters.

Emma Robinson does a beautiful job diving deep into motherhood with compassion and sensitivity. As with her other books, this one will pull on your heartstrings. From love, sacrifice, longing to belong, and what it means to be a mother. This was one of my favorites of hers, with a sense of mystery and intrigue and a happy ending! I adored Erin's character.

PLEASE TAKE MY BABY is a bittersweet, emotionally intense, and uplifting novel recommended for readers who appreciate stories by Sally Hepworth, Lisa Genova, JoJo Moyes, and Jodi Picoult.

I was fortunate to read the ebook and listen to the audiobook narrated by Sofia Zervudachi for an engaging performance—I loved the audio!

Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 17, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
Oct 2023 Must-Read Books

The book centres around Erin, a single mother caring for her elderly mother and teenage daughter. Family secrets are gradually exposed as the story progresses leading to questions about Erin's own identity. The book is beautifully written and explores the complexities of parenthood and the sacrifices made for the sake of a child in addition to exploring the impact of dementia on a family system.
Emotional, thought-provoking and very enjoyable. The narrator does a superb job of capturing the potency of the subject matter in this audiobook.
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this very entertaining audiobook.

Listened to this one on audio as had some rather long (12 hour) car journeys - so needed some entertainment.
An emotional story of a family with a secret. Enjoyed all generations of the female members of the family. Was rather poignant as I recently lost my Mum and could empathise with them wanting to make the most of the Mum/Grandmothers time left.
A pleasant narrator which made for easy listening.
Emma certainly knows how to write a cracking domestic drama.

This book has some emotional subjects and triggers, so any reader that is considering this book may want to research those before starting. I found this book touching and powerful. I think because of the sensitive subject I was hoping to be slightly more connected with the characters but something seemed to be missing. Overall I think the storyline was great, and the subject matter is so important. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book prior to publication, and would like to sincerely thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley. I would recommend this book to others - primarily a more mature female audience.

Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson, an audiobook narrated by Sofia Zervudachi is definitely an utterly heart-wrenching and powerfully emotional family drama! This story wraps out your heart and makes you question constantly - why? It was a sad and touching story! I loved every single part of it!
There wasn't too many point of view or too many characters so it was easy to follow and no confusion over things! Brilliantly made emotional rollercoaster!

Erin, a divorced mum, facing a challenge - her teenage daughter wants to move to America to live with her father and his new wife. As much as Erin would like to pay attention to this she can't as she must look after her elderly mother who has dementia. Things are hard but on top of all this Erin discovers that her mother has another daughter! Erin is dedicated to finding who is she and why no one ever mentioned that she has an older sister!

I can't express how grateful I am to receive this audiobook as Sofia Zervudachi made this book so real! The emotions were so real! I was listening and sometimes forgot that it was a book as it felt like a watching film!

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook, I can't recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early! This book had such an interesting premise, but the way it was executed made it very basic and forgettable. Despite what the synopsis would lead you to believe, our main character is Erin. She's a UK mom to a teen daughter with an ex husband who is trying to move to the US and a mother struggling with dementia. She finds a picture of her mom and a young baby who she knows is not herself, so who is it? We know from the very beginning of the book that the baby, whom she assumes is an estranged sister, is her actual mother; the mother who raised her is her grandmother. I really wish we didn't find that out with her in the first chapter because it eliminated any tension and the rest was just waiting to find out why and how it all happened. I liked how this book touched on how we treat people with postpartum psychosis and other mood disorders, but I still couldn't relate to or understand the actions of Imogen (the mother). Overall, this was just fine.

Erin is a single mom of a teenage daughter and cares for her ailing mother. Family secrets are revealed and Erin begins to doubt her own identity. This shows the complexity of mother daughter relationships and how secrets can destroy the mother daughter bond. It also shows the power of forgiveness and getting answers.

This was a wonderful, quick read that gave me all the emotions. I will be looking for more of Emma Robinsonś books.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader’s copy. #NetGalley #PleaseTakeMyBaby

This is my fourth book by Emma Robinson, and I actually got it on audio version this time from NetGalley and the publisher. I didn’t love this book like all of her others. The characters were just ok and it appears I’m in the minority here but maybe it’s just not for me.

Another one I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book. Be ready for an afternoon or evening of completely neglecting any chores as this one will have you hooked within the first chapter. Listening to it was a pleasure.