This one wasn’t for me although I can definitely see certain readers loving it. If you are one of those you definitely will want a box of Kleenex by your side. There are so many heartbreaking events. I struggled that it felt too predictable and that the last part of the book was way too unrealistic. Not only the entire happening but also the specifics of the event (I’m being vague on purpose so this review doesn’t require a spoiler alert).

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in return for a fair and honest review.

First of all, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the Advanced Reader Copy of An Impossible Choice in exchange for my honest review.
Anytime I read one of Alison's books, I know I will not be able to put it down. This one is not an exception. This book pulls on your heartstrings and makes you really think about your life and the choices you have made. It is a very emotional book, so have the tissues ready.

This is a sensitive, emotional book about family. Throw in some unexpected twists and turns and you have a fabulous story that has won my heart.
Two siblings, one with a chronic illness at nine and his eleven year old sister Tara, who learns she has Osteosarcoma .
Tara desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to have a fighting chance, but to find a match is like finding a needle in a haystack.
It needs to be 100% compatible to even work to destroy the cancer and siblings have the best chance of this happening.
Can they put Callum through this? Should they?
There are secrets and emotions that begin to surface and yet must be forgotten for now.
Can it be done?

I loved this novel and it will surely remain with me for a long time.
BTW: FYI- there is a definite need for some (a lot) tissues.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Bookouture for this ARC and the chance to provide my own review.

This is a very emotional read. It had me gripped from page one until the very last chapters. Unfortunately, I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and didn’t seem to address some huge issues in the family’s life. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.

What a heart wrenching read

I loved this book. Was enthralled from the beginning of the book to the end.

Thank you ever so much for the opportunity to review

You can always count on Alison Ragsdale to write the most heart-warming and heart-breaking stories! An Impossible Choice is relatable, well written with well-developed characters that leads you to the stunning ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Honour is the mother to two children, Tara and Callum. Her children seem to be giving her the strength to go on after a terrible day at sea results in Kenny, Honour’s husband, being swept overboard in a storm and lost at sea. They all struggle to carry on after Kenny’s death, but find strength in one another and from the people in their village and Honour’s parents who help out and give her and the kids love and emotional support. Now the family is faced with another crisis - Tara is diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her knee and has to undergo chemo and surgery. When the cancer refuses to let up and Tara’s condition worsens, the doctor recommends a bone marrow transplant. The Dr. says the best chance for a match will be Callum, a sibling, but Honour is reluctant to have him tested because Callum has an autoimmune disease and could put his life at risk. This is the impossible choice - do you risk one child’s life to try and save the other.? I thought the characters were well written. The story moved along well enough but I felt I was being manipulated somewhat by how many times we were told Honour was so overcome with emotion when someone would do something nice. In one regard, I get it, people were going out of their way to be kind and helpful - but we don’t need to be constantly told this, we can see it by their actions. I don’t want to spoil the ending but I was disappointed with the couple of events that take place near the end. I didn’t feel this would be how a truly loving couple would act. I recommend this quick read for a good story about family and friendships, but the end left me a bit deflated. I give the book 3.5 stars out of 5, so I’ll round up to 4.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to be published on June 7, 2024.

Life is a series of challenges and the sweet little family in this book certainly has faced more than its fair share. Secrets and behaviors have consequences and the way in which we navigate life’s difficult times that cause our growth. Those who have been in a committed partnership will understand the conflicts and every reader who has nurtured a child is guaranteed to feel the strong emotions of this story. In this book we witness the deepening relationships between these vulnerable, yet strong, characters. This is a serious read that will pull hard on your heartstrings.

Sometimes, I just want to read a story that makes me feel something different and unexpected. Something that makes me reach for a tissue or two from the box I keep close by. Something that has me reading far into the night. Alison Ragsdale's newest novel fits the bill perfectly. She has crafted yet another emotional and poignant read that kept me riveted from beginning to end. You've probably read other reviews about this book that mention tears. Lots of them. But they're not all sad or empathetic tears, or happy ones. There's a little bit of all of that. My emotions ran the gammit as Ms. Ragsdale's words inspired whatever she meant for me to feel in the moment. You may have heard that you can compare her work to someone like Jodi Piccoult. And yes, you probably can. But this story is not that story. Not by a long shot. There are more twists and turns than you would expect. So many, that as you read it, you learn not to anticipate any particular outcome, because you will probably be surprised. Honour's dilemmas, one after the other, seem heartbreaking as they happen. But her strength in handling the situations as they arise are what makes this story worth reading and learning from. I absolutely loved this book and will remember it for a long time.

"An Impossible Choice" is another emotional book by the brilliant Alison Ragsdale. It's packed with shocks, twists, sadness and happiness all in equal measures. It was a very easy read as I had to know what happened next as almost every chapter ended on a cliff hanger! Also the ending made the book 3 times better!

Oh my goodness Alison has done it again with her brilliant books. Sad and heartbreaking so beautifully written

I felt as the I had got into all characters lives, such great storytelling from the beginning until the very last page with a sad but brilliant ending

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this wonderful ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I can't wait for her next masterpiece

'Hold fast'

WOW!! My heart was broken in a million little pieces. As a wife, mother, grandmother this story touched me in every way. The rollercoaster of emotions started from the very beginning of the story and continued throughout the entire book. I admired Honour for how she coped, as tragedy, illness and dealing with everyday life was no walk in the park.
Friendship, family, love, heart-wrenching story grabbed me in and kept me captivated. Mother/daughter
relationship. I cried from the start of the book to the very end. Totally pulled at my heartstrings.
Have plenty of tissues next to you, as you will have tears flowing down your face as you read.
I highly recommend this book or any other book by Alison Ragsdale.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Alison Ragsdale for the opportunity to read this book.

This an amazing book of emotions right from the beginning and throughout the entire book. When her husband falls from their boat in a storm Honour and her children are forced to live life without him. The family is in for a roller coaster ride of emotions as they move forward from that awful day. The book is set in Scotland and the author does an excellent job of describing the locations where the story is set as well as Honour’s thoughts and emotions. She has many friends who pitch in and help when she needs them most. At the end of the book the author asks if the reader’s heart has been torn in two and the story touched the soul deeply. Yes, yes and yes! I can’t recommend this book enough. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley at the request of the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab the tissues...this is a story of love and loss...of tragedy...of starting over...oh my...the secrets in this family...the children...this talented author has written a story that while fiction, could be nonfiction...it is real life...it is a cannot put down novel about a mother and her son and daughter, a missing/dead husband, a brother-in-law who comes back into the picture...friends and family...parents...illness...do not miss this book. Thanks Netgalley.

Wow! This story grabbed me by the throat and did not let me go.

After the book is finished, there is a note or a question from the publisher asking if my heart was broken in two by the story of Honour and her family. Unfortunately, I have to say no wholeheartedly. My heart was broken in a million pieces though.

I was gripped by the friendship, love and help Honour could count on during the darkest days and I have to admire how Cal and Tara, her children, coped with everything. They were a very strong trio. 

The only one who disappointed me was Kenny, Honour's husband. He should have had more faith and he should have realised what he put his family through. On the one hand, I can understand his feelings. On the other hand he is a bit of a coward. I am glad he saw the light.

This was such an emotional story that brought tears to my eyes. Now, a few hours later, I still feel tears well up. µ

I know this is fiction, but sadly some people really have to cope with these devastating events. Some days we all moan about the most trivial things. When I read this kind of stories, I realise how fortunate I am.

This is a very beautiful story that makes you see everything in a different light. 5 stars

Thank you