Wow! I can't believe this is a debut. The beginning starts with a bang and then just runs. This is a messy drama that has the makings of a literary novel. I ate it up.

i will sadly be dnf’ing this one for now! i received it as a widget and was intrigued by the premise and cover but after giving it multiple attempts it may just not be the book for me! as i did not complete it, i will only leave a review here and thank you for the opportunity!!

I requested this title because I saw a recommendation from Jodi Picoult. However, I was unable to get into the book, from the get go, which is always disappointing. Maybe try again later.

This book started out with a giant plot twist and then turned into a sweet but bumpy love story. When one person has a secret they should share in a relationship but can't find the strength to do it, it keeps me reading. I couldn't put Finding Grace down, and I couldn't stop hoping for Tom and Grace. Great story.

My advice for reading this book is to start it by knowing absolutely nothing about it Seriously, do not click on the reviews that contain spoilers. Very quickly the story I expected from the first few pages turned into something else entirely. I found the revelations surprising, even shocking at times, and was fully immersed in the story. I did find some character choices to be absolutely infuriating, but they did ultimately redeem themselves, not in a way that erased their choices, but in a way that acknowledged the absolute messiness of them all.

Loretta Rothschild's *Finding Grace* is a deep and emotional novel about family, love, and the choices we make. The main character, Honor, seems to have a perfect life with her husband, Tom, and their daughter, Chloe. However, she feels unhappy because she wants another child, which complicates her happiness.

A pivotal decision by Tom drastically alters their lives, intertwining the paths of two women in unexpected ways. Rothschild masterfully delves into themes of longing, betrayal, and forgiveness, inviting readers to empathize with each character’s journey, particularly Honor's resilient spirit.

What sets *Finding Grace* apart is Rothschild's insight into the intricate dynamics of relationships, capturing the tension between past and present desires. This beautifully written tale of loss, redemption, and hope will resonate with anyone seeking a thoughtful, character-driven story.

This plot was really interesting. A man finds out who the surrogate was for his child. It was a closed case but he goes on a search for her and his life turns upside down. I loved watching him try to navigate knowing who she was and what he would do with this information. I wish the last chapter would’ve been longer so we could’ve seen more about the ending. He storyline was so good then in a few pages wrapped up.

This book starts strong with an emotional jolt that grabs your attention but quickly loses steam. The initial shock sets up an intriguing premise, but after that, the plot doesn’t really go anywhere. The pacing feels sluggish as the story drags on without much action or development. Grace, the main character, is complex and relatable, but beyond her, the other characters feel pretty flat and don’t add much to the story. If you’re into slow, introspective reads, you might find something in it, but for me, it felt like a missed opportunity.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

In the opening pages of this story it’s Christmas in Paris. We meet Honor, Tom and their young daughter Chloe. Honor is obsessed with having another child but because of the couple’s circumstances they must rely on an egg donor’s viable option to provide them a child. Tom has become desensitized to Honor’s obsessive behavior and spends most of his time and energy on work. By the end of the first chapter their lives take a dramatic turn. There’s plenty to be found in this book, tender moments, family secrets, love, deceptions. jealousy, a distant mother-in-law, and deep friendships. It’s difficult to review this book without spoiling the story but a good portion is told through the eyes of one main character. This first time author has a great sense of character development. This ARC was provided by St Martin’s Press publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading this book! Powerful themes include love, heartbreak, secrets, and finding yourself after a great loss. Grace, Tom, Honor, and Henry all found places in my heart as I watched their lives mingle and change. This book makes you think deeply about the choices you make in life and what you would do if you were in their shoes. 5 stars/highly recommend.

Finding Grace by debut author, Loretta Rothschild, is a relatable, fast-paced, page turner. The couple, Tom and Honor, have one daughter, Chloe. Honor is desperate for a second child. This desire propels the story in unexpected ways. The characters are vividly drawn and the exhilarating plot makes this an "unputdownable" book. Fans of Liane Moriarty and JoJo Moyes will devour Finding Grace.

"Finding Grace" is a profoundly moving novel that explores the intricate landscape of grief, love, and redemption with remarkable emotional depth. Loretta Rothschild crafts a heart-wrenching narrative that follows Tom's journey through devastating loss, weaving a story that is both tragic and ultimately hopeful. The author's exquisite prose and nuanced character development draw readers into a deeply intimate exploration of healing, revealing how love can emerge from the most unexpected places. With its compelling storytelling and raw emotional authenticity, this book is a testament to human resilience and the transformative power of connection, making it an unforgettable and deeply touching reading experience that will resonate with anyone who has experienced profound loss or unexpected grace.

Finding Grace is definitely a dark subject that I was not expecting! Loretta Rothschild is a great writer who pulls you into the story immediately.

This book was so many things. It was first off, incredible. Next, it was stunning. Add in heartbreaking and unexpected. Try twisty, clever, intelligent, fantastic, funny, beautiful, and slow moving train wreck. Have we got it all? There’s so much more I could say. I loved this book and promptly signed up for email updates so I wouldn’t lose track of the author. I get hundreds of emails a day. The fact that I’m asking for more should make it clear how good I found this book!

So much of this story was mind blowing. She writes like she’s done it every day of her life for the past 30 years, give or take a decade. I couldn’t believe that this was her debut novel. Her characters were alive and the choice of narrator was purely genius. I cared about them and desperately want to see what happens next in their lives! This book was incredible and I want more books like this, preferably to read now that I’ve finished Finding Grace. This is a definite recommendation from me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. Finding Grace starts out by hitting hard with a tragedy I didn't see coming. Tom, his wife Honor and their young daughter Chloe are in Paris for Christmas when the tragedy strikes. I don't want to put any spoilers here but the book deals with prolonged grief, losing the most important people in a person's life and finding a chance at happiness again. Finding Grace is the debut novel of Loretta Rothschild.

Finding Grace, the debut novel from Loretta Rothschild, left me repeatedly uttering three words: “Oh. My. God.” It's hard to believe this is her first novel.

From the explosive opening chapters, this literary fiction grips you and refuses to let go until the final pages. I can't recall reading a book with such a unique concept or opener. We meet Honor, her husband Tom, and their daughter Chloe, celebrating the holidays in Paris. Despite the festive season, the atmosphere is tense as the parents bicker about their family's future. Honor is content but yearns for more, including welcoming another baby through a surrogate, whom the quarreling parents have codenamed “Dunkirk.” On Christmas morning, everything changes, leaving the characters—and the reader—to pick up the pieces.

Rothschild masterfully explores themes of loss, mourning, and love with sensitivity and respect. The heavy moments are handled with care, and the characters feel three-dimensional and alive. To reveal more would risk spoilers, so I'll keep it vague. If the book description intrigued you, stop reading my review and pre-order this book immediately.

While I enjoyed my time with Finding Grace, there are moments that require a suspension of disbelief. The main conflict could be resolved if the characters were more honest and communicative, especially as the situation spirals out of control. Without this conflict, there would be no story, but it's a minor qualm I had. Another small gripe is a twist near the end that felt more like an eye-roll than a WOW moment. It seemed to come out of nowhere from a character I wasn't particularly fond of.

Finding Grace is a debut like no other, and I'm excited for others to check it out. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

The book begins with a bang. Christmas Day at the Ritz Carlton in France where this couple usually spends the holiday. Friction is in the air. She is separate for another child. So much so that she often ignores their little girl Chloe. He wants to enjoy the life they have built and not on whether the embryo takes in their surrogate.

Fast forward four years. There is a little boy.

The story is told in two time lines which isn’t particularly annoying. It’s told from a very strange voice which can bring the reader to tears at any moment. It is a page turner. Once the letter arrives you know the story with the exception of a couple of twists. The gratuitous sex scenes really don’t add anything to the book.

It is impossible to figure out the years over which this book unfolds. Who flies from London to Paris when the Eurostar is so much easier? They have cell phones and can text, but it seems as if the iPhone and Android devices are not yet available so are we back in the early years of the century? I find many authors are writing without a defined time and in doing so not checking to see what was the norm. I gave the book a 4, but it leans to a 3.5. We just knew and the ending is such a cliché.

Unusual plot, sweet love story, I loved this so much! Honor seems to have everything, gorgeous husband, aand sweet daughter . But she longs for another baby and that longing seems to have taken over her life and foreshadows everything else. And then a tragedy occurs and her life and the life of her family are turned upside down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was provided by NetGalley for my review, and all comments are my own.

the first book review of 2025!

From Amazon:

Honor seems to have everything: she adores her bright and beautiful daughter, Chloe, and her charming, handsome husband, Tom, even if he works one hundred hours a week. Yet Honor’s longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it―until a shocking event changes their lives forever.

Years later, Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families' lives in ways he could never have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women's paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?

Blending a page-turning moral dilemma with satisfying emotional poignancy, Finding Grace is a sweeping love story that explores the price of a new beginning, how the ghosts of our past shape our future, and whether redemption can be found in the wreckage of what we've lost.

My Take:

If you like novels that grip you, then you will love this one!
Themes of love and grief, regret, and the human connection are deep within this book. You will learn a lot about each of the characters as the author chose to spend a good amount of time developing them into the unique people they are. From the first shocking scenes ( and I do mean shocking!) to the ending that you couldn't imagine, this first time novel shows us what to expect in the future by this author.

This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish the book. Finding Grace is deeply ingrained into your very memory. I cannot wait to see what the author does next.

About the Author:
Loretta was born in East London, England. She is a novelist, with a keen interest in telling tangled, modern love stories. Loretta is particularly passionate about writing compelling and propulsive novels with strong female voices at their core. She lives with her husband and young son. FINDING GRACE is her first novel.

When old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?