1.5 stars

This really disappointed me. I don’t think this book was for me.

I was expecting more from it because the first chapter actually made me go, "Hahh??!!" The ending of that chapter came out of nowhere. I thought the book would be gut-wrenching and emotionally devastating, but instead, it went downhill from there.

I didn’t like Tom’s character. Honestly, I didn’t like any of the characters in this book. That made it even harder to stay engaged.

This book made me lose interest and drained my motivation to finish both this book and another one I was reading. It took me a long time to get through it.

Note: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! What a great debut. Honor is married to Tom and they have a daughter. When tragedy strikes can life go on? The novel involves infertility, egg donation, surrogacy and secrets. Secrets that can tear the ones you love apart.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel but I loved it. It was a unique narration of the book. A very fast paced book because you really want to know what is happening. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the arc copy.

I liked this, and I found the tension in this book to be very good. Rothschild had a really good writing style and it carried this book. I really enjoyed it

Went into this book without knowing much about it, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.. well it does revolve around something that changed the course of this family’s life, it is also about love, redemption, family, and emotions

Get ready for a really wild, deeply emotional ride with this story of the most profound loss imaginable. The first chapter will make your jaw open and hit the floor and will take the wind out of you.
As husband and father Tom begins to right his life again, another surprise is on the horizon which will carry the book to the end. It's important to not say too much to give the reader the full impact of this story, so I will leave it here.
It is a raw emotional drama with such difficult themes like loss, grief, infertility and secrets that are right on the surface but yet untold. This was hard for me because Tom is such a good guy, level headed and is a people pleaser. At the same time, I understood his need to fill his life again with love. Having Honor narrate the story was also a good choice the author made because she gets so much clarity to her life and regrets especially discovering her mother's secret which allows Honor to forgive but there were times, Honor wasn't a likeable character and I felt like Tom put up with a lot of unnecessary selfish nonsense.
I liked the side characters of the Sunday Blues group who care about Grace like a daughter and all of Tom's friends who are like an extended family for him and little Henry. That was gratifying because in times of loss, there need to be supportive people in your life. The author did a terrific job building those storylines. I would have liked to have seen more bread crumbs and build up to the Laurie character's behavior to make the end of the story have a greater impact for the reader. It seemed to come out of the blue. A reader likes to say "I had a feeling that was going to happen!"
And towards the end, the movie Notting Hill came to mind which kind of had the same boy meets girl, feel good until it crashes down and then boy seeks girl out on a car ride through London.
The overall message to take away from this story is to show appreciation the people in your life and don't squander time away from them with unimportant things because in a moment, it could all be lost. An amazing debut!

What a fantastic debut! I went in pretty blind to this book, but had seen a few great reviews so was really curious to see what this was all about. And it ended up being a complicated literary love story and unlike one I had read before.

Before diving into things, I do need to warn that there is quick, yet traumatic and shocking scene right in the first chapter that I was not ready for, but sets the course of the rest of the novel. I don’t want to share too much as to spoil the gist of the story, but know that it is quite sad and tragic and I am happy to share more if needed!

Anyways... this book was written like a literary fiction where it really explored a lot of profound and discussion worthy topics like grief, fertility, the power of relationships, fresh starts, hope, but also had the elements of a messy romance and some mystery. It did take me a little bit to really get into the groove of the story and become hooked + the narrator/ POV was interesting too and took some time to adjust to. But I think that made the story feel unique and I did end up enjoying this perspective and voice.

Now, don’t also go in expecting to like all the characters and their actions because oh my gosh some times it felt like watching a train wreck! There were so many moments where in my head I was like "no don't do it!" and then of course they did it and it created more tensions and drama. At one point this book became so addictive that I couldn’t put it down because I just needed to know what how things would eventually transpire.

As for the ending it was both chaotic, but also a little moving and optimistic. I am am still a bit torn with how I ultimately felt about how things ended up, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and think others will too!

Finding Grace gave me icky feelings through pretty much the entirety of the book. The narrator of the book is Honor, but she's telling the story of her husband as a dead person, because she and her daughter are killed in a terrorist attack at the end of the first chapter. Quite frankly, I didn't like Honor when she was alive, brief introduction that it was, so I probably wouldn't be fond of her being the storyteller. Except she is, and the story is about her husband Tom falling in love again after being a sad sack for almost five years. Grief is normal, what he does is not. At first I wanted to root for Tom, because surely Honor's replacement won't be as snotty and cruel as her. Except for Tom gets a letter in the mail that reveals the egg donor that produced his son Henry via surrogate, and he can't resist seeking her out. And he falls head over heels for Grace, who is a doppelgänger of his dead wife. Which his and Honor's friends can't help but see, and doesn't feel wrong at all. Of course, on the wrongness scale, it doesn't come anywhere close to the fact that Tom never tells Grace (who seems to be the most likeable character in this book and grieving the loss of a spouse of her own) that the reason he met her is because he found out it was her egg that produced Henry. Even though Tom is genuinely in love with her, at the point where he keeps actively lying to Grace, I couldn't help but think that he and Honor deserved each other. Not surprisingly this eventually blows up in his face, but I won't spoil how it plays out. Do I like stories where someone is able to find love again after the loss of a significant other. Definitely, and some are really well done. But I just didn't like these characters, I didn't like it being told from the perspective of the dead spouse, and I didn't really love how the story played out. It creates a sense of suspense, but I guess I like the more romantic genre angle. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was such a unique story. i'm looking at other reviews now, and people recommend going into it blindly (which fortunately for me, i did), and i definitely agree.

it's a love story, but not in a traditional sense.

Tom's life is uprooted after a tragic event that occurs in Paris. he's left to navigate the world in a completely new way, now filled with grief and emptiness and some hopelessness. this story really is about finding Grace, and that he does.

i recommend picking this one up, for sure.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I was intrigued by the cover of the book. Im glad I got to read this early, it was a really amazing book. I highly recommend reading it.

This book grabbed me pretty quickly by something happening that I totally did not expect at all. It came out of left field and my mouth dropped open. A wonderfully written book by debut author Loretta Rothschild that tells a story about heartache, love, honesty, friendships, marriage - life. It was such an interesting story that I read it quite quickly.

The only reason for me that it's not a 5-star is I didn't love the narrator aspect of this book. I wondered how the book could have been written without the narrator aspect - there were parts that were very poignant but could have probably been dealt with in her "memoir" so the readers could know her thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Loretta Rothschild and St Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Finding Grace
by Loretta Rothschild

𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 10, 2025. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳!

This a gripping story that blends suspense with a heartfelt love tale. The story follows Honor, who seems to have it all—a loving daughter, Chloe, and her husband Tom, despite his demanding career. Her yearning for another child sets off a chain of events that profoundly alters their lives. Years later, a decision made by Tom leads to unforeseen consequences, intertwining two women’s lives in unforeseen ways, raising questions about love, secrets, and redemption.

Overall, Finding Grace is an enjoyable read not at all what I expected from reading the books blurb. This debut explores how our past choices shape our future, keeping readers engaged

Finding Grace - Loretta Rothschild
Rating: 3/5

During a family Christmas vacation in Paris, Honor, her husband Tom, and their daughter Chloe experience a devastating tragedy that alters the course of their lives. To reveal more would spoil the narrative.

Though this novel falls outside my usual preferences, it offers a touching exploration of love, loss, and connection in the wake of grief. The unconventional narrative perspective adds an intriguing layer to the storytelling, though I found the writing somewhat lacking in depth and the plot occasionally frustrating. While it didn’t entirely resonate with me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy similarly emotional stories.

I read this book without really knowing what to expect. I have to say this was a well written story. I was taken by surprise within reading the first two chapters. That was a twist I was not anticipating, and it made me so sad!

I really liked how the story unfolded and how each character came together in it. My least favorite character is Lauren. I just wanted to strangle her!!! How dare she??!! The amount of malicious intent from her angered me so much. I also did not like the fact that Tom kept digging himself a bigger hole with all those lies.

I am so glad the ending was a happy one, but it did leave me wondering what happened to Grace's parents. I really thought she was going to be Honor's long-lost sibling or something, which would have made this story a crazy one! I hope there's a second book to this one and we get to find out more about Grace's story before she met Tom.

This was such a great read; I recommend!

It is a 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me.

I want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rothschild's debut had my emotions just where I like them: all over the place; however, it was connection to her reflections on grief, heartbreak and love after loss that truly got me. Her characters flexed an expert depth and authenticity that had me feeling as if I KNEW them. I have certainly been thinking about them and Rothschild's beautiful prose since.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars – While I have mixed feelings about this story, I actually really enjoyed it and the emotions it brought out while reading. While Tom’s decision making throughout a majority of the book frustrated me, I think it was still well done (especially for a debut novel). The narration was unique, it was beautifully written, and I’ve never really read anything quite like it! I do wish Tom would have done things differently as I felt his ending was a little undeserved and wrapped up a bit too nicely, but I also understand why things happened the way they did. Overall, it was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Loretta Rothschild in the future. I’m happy to have picked this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

This debut novel is a remarkable triumph, starting with an unexpected twist that immediately hooks you – a dead woman as the narrator! The story weaves together themes of love, hope rising from sorrow, friendship, loyalty, and above all, honesty.

Meet Thomas and Honor, a married couple with a beautiful four-year-old daughter named Chloe. Their marriage faces challenges due to infertility issues. While Honor longs for another child at any cost, Thomas believes their family is complete. Then, tragedy strikes, changing everything forever.

Prepare yourself for a book that will evoke deep emotions and tears. It powerfully demonstrates that life continues, often in unexpected ways, and remains worth living. I eagerly anticipate the author’s next work!

The strength of this book lies in its characters. You feel as though you truly know them. You root for them, empathize with them, and at times you find yourself wanting to shake them up. It provokes deep reflection on how you might react in their situation.

This novel is nothing short of incredible. It’s stunning, heartbreaking, and full of unexpected twists. It’s clever, intelligent, and beautifully woven, with moments of humor that add depth to this slow-moving train wreck of a story.

From the explosive opening chapters, this gripping literary fiction holds you captive until the very end. I’ve never encountered a book with such a unique concept or opening. We meet Honor, Tom, and Chloe, who are celebrating the holidays in Paris. Despite the festive backdrop, tension simmers as the parents argue over their family’s future. Honor is content but yearns for more, including a second child through a surrogate—whom the bickering couple has dubbed “Dunkirk.” Then, on Christmas morning, everything shifts, leaving both the characters and the reader to navigate the aftermath.

I had heard from a couple readers that it is best to go into this book knowing as little as possible about it, so that's what I did, and that's also why this review will be a bit vague. Unfortunately, Finding Grace was a DNF for me at 30%. I was originally intrigued, but once the opening scene happened, the plot and tone of the book were so utterly depressing that I dreaded picking it up. I think if you're ok with a mostly sad storyline, you may find this to be a compelling read. The POV is interesting in an of itself, but for me it was simply too sad. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

Novel deals with a marriage challenged by a wife pursuing a second child through surrogacy. When the wife
and daughter die in a tragic accident , it leaves the husband dealing with loss and raising the child
who is the result of the surrogacy. eaning to move on, hiding information will change not only the relationship
but also support of friends. Story of love, family and rebuilding connections.
Compelling read.
#FindingGrace #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

3.5
I find myself bifurcated by this debut book. One part of me looks at the story. The story is one of loss, grief and love. But it is also one of obsession, secrecy, and feeling preyed upon. The later made the story feel very creepy to me and that was hard to shake,

The other part of me looks at the mechanics of the book. The first chapter is a doozy and will have you flipping the pages for more. Referring back to my first half, if I felt all of these feelings, then the author did her job well. While I may not have "liked" how the story was going, Rothschild provoked a real reaction from me and that is the sign of a promising writer,

I look forward to reading her future works and seeing I can be at one once again.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! This was a powerhouse of a novel, with a big twist at the beginning. I couldn't get through this book quick enough. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.