EXCERPT: As much as she hated to admit it, Jevet was right: she was down a rabbit hole and well on her way to obsessing. But what was she supposed to do with herself for the next ten weeks?
You could go home.
She sat with the idea a moment. Maybe some time at the beach, swimming and soaking up the sun, would be a good thing. She could accomplish the same thing at a hotel, someplace quaint and quiet. But how long could she afford to hole up in a seaside hotel? Even a cheap one? Going home would cost her nothing - financially.
But there was a reason she'd been home only a handful of times in the last ten years. And why every one of those visits had ended in terse words and bruised feelings. Old resentments died hard, and there were plenty of resentments waiting for her in Little Harbor. Still, she could feel the pull of it - of home. A place she'd been happy once, if only briefly.

ABOUT 'EVERY PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE THING': A mother and daughter try desperately to reconcile just as a decades-old secret threatens to shatter their relationship forever.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face―and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

But hidden among Helen’s mementos are the keys to her past…and a terrible secret that threatens to destroy the fragile new trust between them forever.

MY THOUGHTS: I loved The Echo of Old Books by this author and couldn't wait to read Every Precious and Fragile Thing. I guess the downside of diving into a highly anticipated read is that there is a higher risk of setting oneself up for disappointment.

The author has thrown everything but the kitchen sink into Every Precious and Fragile Thing. There is a murder, a fragile main character who doesn't deal well with death, a broken relationship, family drama, secrets, lies and the possibility of a second-chance romance.

I didn't see the point of the murder. There could easily have been some other vehicle used to cause Mallory to go home. The murder distracted from the core story and only served to muddy the waters. There was enough drama without adding a police investigation.

Initially, I didn't much like Mallory. She is fragile, inconsistent, defensive and definitely not the sort of person suited to a counselling role. She did grow on me towards the end.

Part of the story - Helen's backstory - is told through journal entries. This definitely didn't work for me. I would have preferred another timeline. The main part of the story is set in 1999 and is told from three POV - Mallory, Helen, and Estelle, Helen's neighbor and mother of Aiden, Mallory's ex-fiancé.

I really enjoyed the plot thread that involved Helen and Estelle and Helen quickly became my favorite character, excluding her journal entries. Aiden was merely 'meh', a wealthy mummy's boy with little backbone.

The plot is very slow moving and it took forever to get anywhere. I was 75% through the book before I began to feel some excitement, an acknowledgement that at last I was reading something that piqued my interest and gave me a reason to read on. Up until this point, I had rated the book as average, 2.5⭐, but from this point onwards I couldn't put it down.

I love the cover and the significance of the cover to the story.

My final rating is ⭐⭐⭐.5, the extra star due entirely to the twist and the ending.

A favorite quote: The dying keep their own calendars, their own to-do lists. Wrongs to right. Loose ends to tie up. Emotional books to balance. But once they've got all the boxes checked, they tend to make their exits pretty quickly.

#EveryPreciousandFragileThing #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: I’m a Jersey girl raised in the south, now living and writing in New England. Confused? Constantly. Happy? Deliriously! But then, living your dream will do that! After fifteen years of wearing heels and schlepping a briefcase as an executive in the jewelry industry, I traded in my pinstripes for a little peace of mind, and decided to follow my dream of becoming a women’s fiction author. And what a ride it’s been! Six books later, I’m still pinching myself, and I’m still as much in love with writing as I was the day I began this journey. Maybe it’s because I believe in miracles, in happy endings and new beginnings. Heaven knows I’ve had my share.

I’m blessed to be married to my best friend and soul mate, Tom, who I must say, sets the bar pretty high for my on-the-page heroes. We also have a lovely ginger cat named Simon, who is twenty years old, wretchedly spoiled, and doesn’t give a fig if I’m on deadline or not. When I’m not making up stories, you’re likely to find me reading, cooking, watching college football, (Go Gators!)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Mrs. Barbara Davis is an autobuy author for me, I have read a few of her books and I am always engrossed and encapsulated in the writing and worlds that she writes. It feels like you are one with the characters and experiencing everything right along side them. This book is no different from the gorgeous cover to the last page of intricately written writing the reader can expect to go on an adventure full of emotional challenges, and joys.

Keep a box of tissues close at hand as you settle into your comfortable reading spot and get ready to enjoy this lovely tale by the legendary Barbara Davis. Additionally, you might want to have two boxes if you're as old as I am. This multi-layered, emotionally powerful story examines themes of forgiveness, self-reflection, family ties and secrets, and death—not as a dreadful or horrible event, but as a necessary aspect of life that we must all deal with.

After a catastrophe at work, Boston-based social worker Mallory Ward spends a summer at home in coastal Rhode Island. She had to deal with the tense connections she left behind at home, starting with her mother Helen, who was frequently careless because she put her job as a nurse for patients at the end of their lives and her relationship with Aiden, the lad next door who used to be her fiancé, first.

Even though everyone's life story is unique, you will be able to quickly lose yourself in this exquisitely written tale with incredibly likable characters because we all share the same experiences of living, loving, and dealing with loss.

Mrs. Barbara Davis is an autobuy author for me, I have read a few of her books and I am always engrossed and encapsulated in the writing and worlds that she writes. It feels like you are one with the characters and experiencing everything right along side them. This book is no different from the gorgeous cover to the last page of intricately written writing the reader can expect to go on an adventure full of emotional challenges, and joys.

Keep a box of tissues close at hand as you settle into your comfortable reading spot and get ready to enjoy this lovely tale by the legendary Barbara Davis. Additionally, you might want to have two boxes if you're as old as I am. This multi-layered, emotionally powerful story examines themes of forgiveness, self-reflection, family ties and secrets, and death—not as a dreadful or horrible event, but as a necessary aspect of life that we must all deal with.

After a catastrophe at work, Boston-based social worker Mallory Ward spends a summer at home in coastal Rhode Island. She had to deal with the tense connections she left behind at home, starting with her mother Helen, who was frequently careless because she put her job as a nurse for patients at the end of their lives and her relationship with Aiden, the lad next door who used to be her fiancé, first.

Even though everyone's life story is unique, you will be able to quickly lose yourself in this exquisitely written tale with incredibly likable characters because we all share the same experiences of living, loving, and dealing with loss.

This is a beautifully written book. It oozes compassion and kindness. Moral complexity adds to the enjoyment and book group questions at the end worth reflecting upon. Personally, my beliefs don’t align with some of those portrayed in the book but it was no less enjoyable because of this.

Mallory is a social worker. She works with at-risk kids. When one of her clients is murdered, Mallory begins to question her work. Despite having multiple issues with her mother, Mallory decides to go her childhood home to regroup. But all is not as it seems.

Mallory is holding onto a lot from her past. There are major problems between her and her mother. Plus, her ex-fiancé, Aiden is in town. She and Aiden have a lot of past hurts and regrets.

There is so much I want to say about this novel. Y’all know I love a good family drama with lots of secrets and this one knocked me for a loop! This is also a tale about love…and I mean all kinds of love…heartbreak and forgiveness. And believe me, you do not want to miss it!

Need a beautifully written tale that you will think about for quite a while…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis was a very compelling story that captured this reader. I enjoy the author's complex characters and well crafted story.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very intriguing. It gripped me from the start and I read it in two sittings. It was well written and very descriptive.

If you are a fan of Barbara Davis, you will not want to miss her latest gift to readers. And if you just happen to be someone who's not yet read of one of her novels... then now is the time!

Every Precious and Fragile Thing is a story that showcases beautifully nuanced writing, a carefully plotted story that delves into the complexities of relationships, and unsuspecting surprises along the way.

I really enjoyed this read immensely! I love the way so much of the story unfolds in an epistolary format. Davis has a way with this style that is both engaging and thoroughly thought out. She really knows how to captivate the reader and tell her story!

Final thoughts? This is a book for readers who can appreciate the joy of a well told story. Questions will be asked, "A-ha" moments will be had, and bombs will be dropped. Some, you may see, coming. Others will be sure to shock!

My thanks to both the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a digital ARC via @NetGalley. I am leaving my thoughts willingly.

This is such an amazing story! I loved it so much! When I was finished, I sat in awe and now totally understand what is meant by a 'book hangover'. This book tore out my heart and left me in tears. But in that good way that only a talented author, and an awesome story, can do.

Mallory and Helen butt heads when Mallory goes home to regroup. Their world is full of secrets, from the past and currently in the present. Can they survive the past and move on? This story will draw you in as they work through all of their issues.

I rarely re-read books but this one will definitely be picked up off of my shelves again soon so I can enjoy it's awesomeness once more. I have loved every book that I've read by Barbara Davis and she is now on my 'must-read author' list. I highly recommend Every Precious and Fragile Thing.

If you are someone who likes multi-layered, emotionally complex novels, this one is for you!
This is my second book by Barbara Davis and this is what I have come to know...her writing, her words are simply beautiful. If this book doesn’t touch your heart, then you probably don’t have one. This is one of the most moving books I've read in a while. There are so many words of wisdom in these pages.

The book is told from 3 points of view: Mallory, Helen (Mallory's mother), and Estelle (a neighbor who is also her ex-fiance's mother). Mallory is a social worker at a facility for at-risk youth. When a tragedy happens to one of her clients, she returns home for a much needed re-set. She hasn’t been home in 10 years. Things ended badly with her ex-fiance and she and her mother haven’t seen eye-to-eye in years. Her mother is a death doula and Mallory has resented her mother’s work because of the rift it created in their relationship. Her mother spent more time with her “charges” than she did with her daughter. But Helen’s background is rife with trauma and tragedy that she hasn’t shared with her daughter. Can their time together mend what’s been broken? And can Mallory finally get the closure she needs from her breakup with Aiden?

This is a story about relationships…mother-daughter, mother-son, romantic relationships, and friendships. It touches on themes of love, loss, regret, forgiveness, and grief. There are just layers and layers of emotion and human experiences in these pages. The end of this book wrecked me. There were definitely tears with this one...so many tears. I was a blubbering fool and so glad I finished this alone or my family would have been deeply concerned about my well being. I loved these characters. Davis humanizes her characters by exposing their vulnerabilities and making them relatable. It is so hard not to fall in love with them. My one complaint (and it is not enough to steal even a half a star) is that the romance aspect felt a little slow. I didn't feel that anticipation or angst that I like with a good romance. But the exploration of human emotion made up for it.

This was just a great book and I would highly recommend it to fellow readers.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis is an emotional read full of past regrets and what happens when we harbor secrets. Mallory Ward is a social worker who helps at risk youth. When one of her clients is killed, Mallory decides to step away and reevaluate her life. Despite having a strained relationship with her mother, Mallory returns to her childhood home on the coast of Rhode Island to take stock of her life and how to move forward. But when she is face-to-face with her young love Aiden, the emotional scars Mallory has been hiding come to the surface.
This book was an emotional roller coaster that is expertly written with characters that are fully fleshed out. I especially liked the way that Davis explores each women's secrets and how they affect each other. I found myself sympathizing with Mallory's mother Helen the most. If you want to check out a book that pulls on your heartstrings but leaves you hoping for everyone finding happiness and healing, check out Every Precious and Fragile Thing.
Thank you to NetGalley, Barbara Davis, and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC. Expected release date is February 18th 2025.

EVERY PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE THING by Barbara Davis is a beautifully-written and heart-wrenching story of love, family and loss that will stay on my mind for a long time to come. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author, but I must say, this is the best one yet. Mallory Ward and her mother, Helen, have been at odds for a long time. Deep-seated resentments and misunderstandings have kept them mostly apart. Mallory works with at-risk youth and Helen is a death doula, something Mallory finds difficult to accept. When a devastating tragedy occurs at work, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast despite knowing she will have to deal with her estranged mother. Helen hopes that Mallory’s unexpected visit may give her the chance to mend their strained relationship. But when Mallory uncovers a shocking secret from Helen’s past, it threatens to break their fragile bond forever. This story is so powerful and thought-provoking. It deals with many controversial and difficult themes, but does so in a compassionate and heartfelt way. I loved this emotionally-gripping story of love, loss and forgiveness and recommend it most highly. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This is a book about relationships, both romantic and parental, and how secrets and lies confine individual lives across generations. It is told through three women’s viewpoints: those of two mothers of adult children, Helen and Estelle, and that of Helen’s daughter Mallory. The story begins with burned-out social worker Mallory taking a leave from her Boston job and returning to her widowed mother’s home in a small seaside community in Maine. Their neighbours are the imperious Estelle, also widowed, and her son Aiden, a talented concert pianist now sidelined by a serious hand injury.

This visit is already fraught because Mallory and Helen have never had a close relationship. Moreover, Estelle has always looked down on Helen, whose work as a ‘death doula’ led to her inheriting a magnificent house on the demise of one of her elderly charges, leading to much gossip. To further complicate the situation, Mallory had been greatly in love with, and engaged to marry, Aiden. A tragedy put an end to that dream. Very gradually, the truth behind that heartbreak is revealed by the dying Estelle.

There are many twists, some not that plausible, in a story about the lengths to which mothers will go to protect their children, seemingly in their best interests, but often enough with results far from what was intended. For Mallory, finding Helen’s diary brings the truth to light, demonstrating how the mother’s trauma is visited on her child.

For all the build-up to this point, the resolution seems almost too quick and easy. The ´mysteries’ are not that mysterious. Although the story is at times gripping, there is much extraneous detail that leads to repetition, stretching matters far too long. The mothers get over their grudge of many years without much difficulty once Helen discovers that Estelle has terminal cancer. The young people go back and forth emotionally until all is revealed and consequently mended. There is no doubt, however, that Barbara Davis packs an emotional punch.

There is no single word to describe this book. It is a roller coaster of emotions and deals with lost love, heartbreak, loss and grief but also hope, compassion, friendship and forgiveness all at once - the story of three women whose lives are tragically connected: Mallory, a social worker in Boston, who nearly suffers a breakdown after one of her young clients is brutally murdered. When she is put on temporary leave as a result, she decides to spend the summer with her mother, Helen, at her childhood home in a small Rhode Island town. They never had a close relationship but maybe this is the time to reconcile and come clean. Both of them have made mistakes in the past and have kept their secrets. And then there is Estelle, her mother’s bitter neighbor who has had a hand in sabotaging Mallory’s wedding to the love of her life and Estelle’s son, Aidan, 10 years ago. Turns out she has secrets of her own.
The story is told from the POV’s of the three women - Mallory and Estelle in the third person and Helen in the first person. We also gradually find out about Helen’s past from her journal entries. The writing is exquisite, and I loved the descriptions and development of the characters with all their virtues and flaws. The setting in a small New England coastal town is just beautiful and adds a nice atmospheric touch. This book is a page turner, a heartfelt tale about life and death, and I highly recommend it. The story had me hooked from the beginning and kept me engaged. The shocking plot in the end had me speechless.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Lake Union Publisshing and Ms Barbara Davis for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I truly enjoyed it and the above is my honest review and own opinion.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this, and how it started was far from how it ended. It was heavy, with themes of shame, secrets, regret, and endings, but also full of hope and love and second chances. In the end, it was a truly beautiful story full of empathy and kindness. I can tell this one will stick with me. Read this if you like stories that focus on character over plot, messy family relationships, and the struggle to be confident in life decisions.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. I will definitely be adding more of Barbara Davis’s books to my TBR.

Another awesome book by Barbara Davis!
This book is well written with fabulous characters and a great story!

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of Every Precious And Fragile Thing.

Mallory has just has just lost a client of hers to a vicious crime and her boss tells her she needs to take a break. So Mallory goes home to her hometown to stay with her mother Helen. They have a very difficult relationship but she has nowhere else to go. She finds out her ex fiancée Aiden is also back in town and next door. She tries to avoid him but they eventually talk. She also finds out things about her mother and childhood that will change everything.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions. I really liked the dual point of views. The storyline was very well written. This book really shows that you may think you know everything about a person but they can always surprise you.

An unforgettable story that stirs the emotions. A story of life, love, death, secrets, and hope. I was so full of emotions reading this. I highly recommend this for book clubs. Davis has a way of capturing you with stories that stay with you long after. Beautifully written and deeply felt.


Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

I was thrilled to be able to read Barbara Davis’s newest novel early. Entitled “Every Precious and Fragile Thing” it was the third novel I’ve read from the author. The story primarily involves Mallory Ward and the relationship she has with her mother, Helen. Also included are Mallory’s ex-fiancé, Aiden, and his mother, Estelle.

When the story begins, Mallory is living in Boston and working as a social worker with at-risk youth. After a tragedy occurs with one of her clients, Mallory returns to her childhood home in Rhode Island. Her boss (and friend) forces her to take leave over the summer because she is not processing the tragedy very well.

Her boss suggests she return home while on leave. The press coverage of the tragedy has a lot of attention on Mallory, as well as her company. Her boss also believes Mallory needs to work through things that occurred a decade ago with Aiden and Estelle.

The narrators for the book were primarily Mallory and Helen. The book also flips back-and-forth at times between present day and decades earlier. As the summer progresses, Mallory and Helen work at repairing their relationship. Mallory also begins to better understand her mother and addresses the events of her childhood, as well as what occurred a decade ago.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

A friend recommended Barbara Davis many moons ago and I hadn't had a chance to get to her. When this book came up, I jumped at the chance to read her and I was not disappointed. This is definitely character driven with many secrets held close to the vest. While it felt slow going at first, I realized that the information and the way it was told was essential for the secrets to have the impact they did. Told via dual timelines (1966 in journal format and present in story format) helped the mystery of Helen's life and past come alive in the end. The depth of the story grabbed me by the heart more often than not and I got the ending I'd hoped for from the beginning.

Barbara Davis is one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to a new book. She knows how to capture your heart. Your fears. Your everything. Whether it is a thriller or a love story she pulls you in and keeps your attention. This book is so good. So emotional and filled with so much. Another winner for sure...

When Mallory goes back home she has no idea what kinds of changes she is about to unfold. How much her life with me changed.

Mallory is a social worker who just lost a young client to a brutal murder. Her boss advises her to go. To get away. To take a break. Mallory doesn't want to at first. She doesn't feel like she needs too. She reluctantly goes back to where her mother is. Her mother, Helen, helps people. She helps them to transition out of this life. They are dying and alone. It was a hard life for Mallory growing up and she has some resentment toward her mother. Quite a bit of resentment it seems. But Helen is determined to make things right.

Ten years before, Mallory was engaged to marry Aiden. Aiden lived next door. He was an aspiring musician. He played the piano and was gifted. His mother, Estelle, didn't want him to marry Mallory. She wanted him to pursue the dream of playing and becoming famous. After a sudden loss he did leave. But his heart always belonged to Mallory. I didn't like Aiden a lot. To me he was a bit whiny. He should have stood up to his mother. But then there would not have been a story right. So it was written perfectly.. He left and ten years later they find themselves face to face again. What will happen now?? Can they make amends? Pick up the pieces and move forward? Or should they go their separate ways and just let that be it?

Helen and Estelle were never friends. Until they are. It takes something truly awful but they do become friends. Helen has a few secrets in her life that she needs desperately to share with her daughter Mallory. And she needs to come to terms with things also.

This is a beautiful story of love, loss, forgiveness, and starting over. A story that will keep you turning the pages. Make you believe in almost anything. Through the many tears and just as much laughter can these four make peace. Can one move on and the rest be ok with it? What secret is Helen hiding and will Mallory forgive her? Forgiveness is what matters most in some cases...

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #BrillianceAudio, for this ARC.