What a read!

Talk about “moral dilemma” to the tenth power. Finding Grace is an edge-of-your seat read. It’s emotionally intense as the past meets the present in a way that captures your attention.

Secrets, lies, and the truth.

It’s a story of all the feels, with complex characters and twists you do not see coming.

It’s a debut novel you didn’t know you needed. A family life fiction that will have you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages for more.
A perfect blend of romance and mystery with emotionally connecting characters that keep you turning the pages, and on high alert for when secrets are revealed and the truth is set free.

Read it for the mystery, but you’ll totally stay for the emotional truth.

Finding Grace is a debut that dares to go deep…but doesn’t flinch.

On the surface, Honor Wharton has it all—a beautiful family, a good life, and even bigger dreams for the future. But one shocking event shatters everything, and years later, the choices she and her husband made come back in ways they never expected. Finding Grace is a story of love, loss, and second chances that asks how far we’ll go for the people we love.

That first chapter had me gasping—it’s been a long time since a book caught me off guard like that. From there, it was a unique, wild ride. The pacing is quick, the writing confident, and the characters flawed in all the right ways. For a debut, this was seriously impressive. And I really appreciated the thread of hope that ran beneath the twists—it left me believing in second chances and the possibility of a happily-ever-after.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this one completely blind and I am glad I did. I cannot believe this was the authors debut novel. Many many kudos! The writing was really good.

The beginning of this story threw me for quite the loop. So as I started this story off I had no idea where it was going.

This was a book that I just wanted to find out what was going to happen. How things were going to be handled.

There were some parts especially at the end that I didn’t love or wish would have been written differently but in the end it’s all part of the experience.

I love the perspective that this was written in

I read A LOT of books so it's really really rare for me to find a book with a premise I have never seen before. And this one took the cake. By the end of the first chapter, you're like WHOA did not see that coming. And then you're spending a bunch of the rest of this book reorienting. I know people will have mixed feelings but I loved it. I liked the twist and then the turn the story took. I liked how the author played with the way stories are told. I liked how the characters grew and surprised you both with their stupidity and humanness.

I think this one will be controversial, people will love or hate. I am of the former camp. And I loved listening to the audio.

i went into this blind & that almost made it better—just know i cried the entire flight from florence to barcelona reading the opening chapters & by the end of the day i was already halfway through. i’ve seen some goodreads reviews saying they hated the moral dilemme but i thought it was so perfectly juicy & well-executed. this was gossip girl meets the literary greats—portrait of a mirror, cleopatra & frankenstein, & the rachel incident.

This was a great debut and is a bit different from my normal reads. It is an unusual story that may or may not grab you. I would recommend but it was not my favorite. Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley. I will give this author another try.
3 star

The first chapter is very powerful. I wish the rest of the book had matched that. I will say the premise is unique and after the first chapter (no spoilers as you must read it yourself) I was excited to read a book with a different writing style and premise. For me, the middle was slow and the last quarter of the book picked up again, but with a predictable ending.

This book turned out so unexpected i still can't wrap my head around it. It was jot what i expected but i couldn’t stop reading it! Don’t wanna say much more to not spoil the book but definitely go into it blindly and with an open mind.

I have never wanted to reach into a book and smack a character upside the head before! The book started with a what just happened? It was a very different type of book as far as who was narrating it. I loved it! I can't say anything because I don't want to give anything away. Well done Ms. Rothschild! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Hard to believe this was a debut novel. The depth and exploration of what it is to be alive; grief, suffering, healing, hope, family and friendships. Written with such beauty and expertise, the plot was heart wrenching and impactful….I will remember this story and characters for a long time.

Definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What a ride! Breathless and all-consuming, FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild grabbed me by the throat from the opening scene all the way to the perfect and yet surprising conclusion. Honor. Grace. Tom. Lives entangled. Love revealed in all its many forms and colors with secrets never totally hidden, but seething and roiling just beneath the surface. I felt like I was reading a thriller, then a romance, then something else entirely as I read as fast as I could. A tight and compelling, powerful story that has me rethinking my own relationships, secrets, and what we can salvage from the good and the bad we have done. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This was the most diverse plot I’ve read in a really long time!! I didn’t know much about it before I started, and went in pretty blind and I think that’s the best way to go in. Really enjoyed the ride!

Oh Tom, I empathize with you my boy! I honestly don’t know what I would have done in his position, but I loved every single one of the troubled and anxious characters in Finding Grace. I was left wanting more since the first chapter and I couldn’t wait to see what would unfold around Honor and Grace, aren’t those names just beautiful?

I’m obsessed with this book!!

A jaw-dropping beginning, a unique narrator, and a very divisive ending- this debut novel had me furiously turning the pages. For most of the story I couldn't tell whether the thriller I was reading was actually a romance or vice-versa. It seemed like an intriguing premise and I had a lot of theories swirling around in my head, none of which would eventually pan out. What a ride, though! I loved Tom, I hated him, and then I just felt sorry for him. I'm not sure I've ever been so wholly conflicted with the decisions made by every single character in a book before. If you decide to dive into this one I suggest going in blind as long as you are ok with triggers.

Ultimately, I think this novel would have worked better if it were written as a dedicated romance or thriller, and not a genre-bender. Loretta Rothschild has a clear knack for writing tension on the page and well thought out characters, and I will definitely keep her next book on my radar.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've been struggling to write this review, not because I didn't like the book (quite the opposite) but because it's the kind of book that defies an easy verdict. I can absolutely see why it's a polarizing read. The characters and deeply flawed, the plot is messy, there is sensitive subject matter and many of the character's choices are uncomfortable, even questionable. There is a sense of emotional chaos that permeates this book, driven by secrets, betrayals, and moments that may leave the readers cringing or frustrated. Yet, I fall in the enjoyed it camp. Finding Grace made me think about morality, forgiveness, and the complexity of human relationships. It's not a feel-good read, but it's a conversation starter.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the copy!

This debut novel absolutely knocked my socks off! My review is a little less traditional than usual, but for good reason.

I picked this up after seeing so many people strongly recommend going in completely blind and mentioning that the first chapter was a jaw dropper. I was so intrigued by those reviews that I bumped it straight to the top of my TBR, and all I can say for those reviews is: YES and YES.

For a touch of context (without giving anything away), the book touches on grief, loss, parenting, fertility journeys, and blended families, but the true magic is in the not knowing. The story is built on a significant web of lies and, by the last quarter, the consequences the MC was facing had my heart racing!

It’s rare that a book truly surprises me, but this one managed to do it. At one point I audibly gasped, and my husband gave me the “what is going on in that book?!” look. The writing was beautiful, the premise was unique, and I know this story will linger with me for a long time.

I really didn’t like this book.

The first chapter is like a bomb. Pun intended. After that… nothing. I struggled so much trying to finish this book. Not sure if it was the fact that Hope narrated everything - down to the sex scenes - or the fact that Tom absolutely sucked.

The plot just falls flat. It just circled around any actual development. The characters were empty, with not depth. Honestly the book was sadly a huge letdown for me.

Tender. Surprising. A completely captivating binge read and a stunningly beautiful debut.

I started this book and flew through the first 35% in no time. And then, I spent EVERY single available moment with Finding Grace, DESPERATE to find the time to finish. (Damn those adult responsibilities!)

And this extraordinary 5⭐️ debut proved worth every stollen moment.

From that first shocking chapter and all the way through emotionally charged narrative, this book captured every part of my attention and heart.

The writing is gorgeous. The characters are indelible. The storyline is full of secrets and relatability. It’s poignant and challenging. Everything about this book kept me engaged and fully entertained.

I’m not going to give any glimpse into the storyline or characters beyond the accolades above—and with good reason. This is a book you *must* go into blind. Know nothing beyond the title and the absolute LOVE that readers have had for it.

Truly, this book is best unpacked through Rothschild’s elegant prose and meticulous plotting. The reward of not knowing until uncovered within the pages is immensely satisfying.

A surprising and mesmerizing debut that captivates. I can’t wait to see what Rothschild writes next.

🎧 The audiobook was a necessity for this read because I absolutely could NOT put it down. And Fiona Button’s narration was extraordinary. She imbued the text with authenticity and tenderness. As such, her voice breathed life into Honor and made her feel as though I was sitting with her listening to her recount her own story.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress @macmillanaudio and @librofm for the free #gifted copies of this book. #partner

2.5⭐️
Unfortunately this one didn’t click for me.
I am impressed with the writing quality of the author of outside of plot and look forward to more.

The first chapter was great. It made me expect a lot more from this book. I kept waiting for a mystery or twist in Finding Grace but none came. It is labeled as a mystery romance but there was no mystery and the romance left me wondering is that was written by a man. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.