3.75-4 stars

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was the most unique lit fic I have read in quite a while. I was hooked from start to finish.
My jaw dropped so early on in the book and it kept happening again an again. I really loved the story and the writing. my main complaint is that the climax/ending happened so abruptly that it felt like it didn't get enough attention like the rest of the book, maybe it will be adjusted in the final print. I will still highly recommend this book because it's so unlike anything I have ever read and will pick up more work from this author.

Loretta Rothschild does a fantastic job in writing this love story, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of the story. The characters had that element that I wanted and was engaged with what was happening with them. It was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the way everything was told.

A REVIEW FOR. NETGALLEY OF ITS ARC


FINDING GRACE BY LORETTA ROTHSCHILD
4 STARS
A NOVEL OF LOVE AND LOSS

FINDING GRACE began shockingly. I was amazed at the suddeness of events. And yet, the description of the beginning events was so subtle, I almost missed the scene's impact. I had to re-read it a third time to ensure I'd grasped all the scene's implications correctly. I was a bit surprised such a momentous event was given such a quiet description.
I thought the character of Tom, the main protagonist, was well done. His personality was defined and developed. The aithor did a great job getting into Tom's head. The reader is able to feel his nature, and understand his way of life, what kept him going. I was actually surprised he decided to follow through with his and his wife Honor's plan for bringing a child into the world via an egg donor and a surrogate mother. The reader didn't hear much about thesurrogate mother Rose. She was mentioned in a few places but not brought into the novel as a character. The egg donor, Grace, was a main character and was within the plot of the novel, as the title shows.
The reader learns about Tom, and how he begins a new life after following through with his getting a son, which he named Henry, after the surrogate mother Rose gives birth. He was once employed in a finance career that he quits after Henry is born. I'm thinking ne must have saved a boat-load of money if he could afford to leave his job to raise Henry. He was a good father, very loving toward Henry. He gives Henry all the love, direction and attention children need. He becomes curious about Grace, the egg donor, after he receives a piece of mail directed toward her in error. As he attemps to re-deliver the misdelivered piece of mail to Grace, he sees her through the window of her wine business storefront and is immediately attracted to her. He joins the group of women that Grace had organized at Sprezzatura (Grace's wine business) and begins to develop a relationship with Grace. However, Tom is keeping secrets from Grace: How he found her address; why he chose Grace as a girl friend; that Tom is aware she was the egg donor for Henry. These secrets come to light later in the novel, and cause their relationship to tumble. While Tom and Grace are forming a relationship, Grace is studying to become a sommelier. I thought this was an interesting and unusual choice for a career.
Their relationship comes to a hault toward the novel's end when a jealous friend, Lauren, who had eyes for Tom from the start, sabotages Grace and Tom's relationship by exposing Tom's secrets and subterfuge. After Lauren's revelations, Grace leaves Tom's life. Tom, is again bereft and lonely. However, the conclusion is a happy one.
This was a very enjoyable novel and well worth the read. We read about love and loss. The permanency of love, the pain of loss, and the human ability to bear our losses, feel pain and loneliness, but continue to carry on.
I've rated this novel as 4 stars because, though the ending was a happy one, it was too "pat". Too simple. It was as if the author grew tired of writing the novel and suddenly decided to end it. It wasn't as if the author left the reader hanging. Just the opposite. The conclusion was too clearcut. The secrets and lies were completely ignored at the end.
I was given an ARC of this novel by Netgalley to review. I have given this novel an honest review. Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review the novel.

In all honesty, I didn't connect with this book. A horrible tragedy occurs at the beginning. The premise was a little disconcerting (a doppelganger). A person who was meant to remain anonymous but ended up intertwined with a family. The only characters that I really liked were Henry and Grace.
* mild swearing.
* fair amount of sexual aspects.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from St Martin's Press via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was absolutely blown away by this debut novel. From the very first sentence I was invested in the main character. By the end of the first chapter I was picking my jaw up off of the floor. The level of writing is top notch and the author packs so many things into these pages. It’s only January and I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite books of the year.

This story was quite a ride. It’s also a little like a train wreck you can’t look away from. The writing is excellent. My heart was in my throat the whole time. Choices the characters make are almost hard to endure, but I also couldn’t stop turning pages. I needed to know what happened next. An emotional roller coaster

This page turner, by a debut author, starts with a bang. Literally. I enjoyed the novel and learning about a topic I was not too familiar with.. It’s a tale of friendships, love, new beginnings, and supporting one another through tragedy.. I did wonder what the point of some of the sex scenes were? They didn’t seem to add to the story. For this reader anyway. Overall, I thought the story was thought provoking, interesting, and a good read.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. The writing is fantastic, the characters are great, and the feelings invoked are not usually something that happens for me with a new author.
This story was different than anything else I've read. It's told from a very unique perspective (I don't want to give anything away so I'm being vague on purpose). I loved most of the characters. I loved the way grieving and grief is portrayed and how everyone kind of has their own way of processing the events in the story. The ending seemed a little rushed, I would have loved to see how the lives of the main characters played our after the surprise reveal at the end. I read this book solely based on the recommendation of Jodi Picoult and I'm glad I did! If your looking for a unique, surprising, emotional read, you should check out this new author! I can't wait to read her next book!

Founded on unusual circumstances - a man raises a son born of a surrogate mother with a donor's egg - Finding Grace takes us on an extraordinary journey told partly through the lens of the deceased woman who arranged the child’s conception and birth. What seems strange soon becomes real as the characters - Tom, Grace, and Henry - are well thought out and believable, We get a deep take on Tom’s inner turmoil as he mourns the tragic loss of his wife and daughter to a suicide bomber, his guilt over their last words, his failure at protecting his family. Meeting Grace seems almost serendipitous and she soon fills a hole in his life and heart, helping to heal his grief and providing a family for Henry. But secrets are dangerous things and soon Tom is wrestling with how to tell Grace the truth about their not-so-random meeting and what she really means to him - and Henry. This is a page turner that comes to a shattering climax. The ending is a bit trite, however, and the part of the omniscient narrator played by Tom’s deceased wife is awkward and confusing at times. Recommended for those who enjoy a suspenseful love story with a dose of intrigue.

Wow, I don’t know what to say without giving away any shocking twists. I was initially drawn to this book by the glowing endorsements from Jodi Picoult and Chris Whitaker, as I admire both authors, and I’m happy to say I wasn’t let down. Though it had its heavier moments, the story remained dynamic, moved along well, and carried an underlying sense of hope and resilience. The characters were richly developed and truly captivating. I highly recommend this book!

This book was an ARC from a debut author that was fabulous! The book grabbed me from page one and just kept getting better and better! There were twists and turns throughout the book, and times that I found myself saying oh nooo this can’t be happening.. and I just kept on reading for the next twist in the book. I certainly will be looking forward to future books from this author because I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and depth of character development throughout the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Don’t miss this one.. it’s an absolute winner!

Finding Grace, a debut novel by Loretta Rothschild, is a compelling story about grief, loss and second chances. After Tom loses his wife and young daughter in a shocking event early in the book, the rest of the novel explores the impact on Tom and his son Henry as he mourns his family, makes unexpected connections and ultimately moves through his grief. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and look forward to reading more from this author.Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Loretta Rothschild for this advanced readers copy!

An extremly unusual love story that you will either enjoy or dismiss. It wasn't for me, but I'm sure others will enjoy this novel.

Okay, this one really tugged at the heartstrings. It's a deeply emotional story about loss, healing, and the power of human connection. 1 Rothschild writes with such sensitivity, creating characters that feel incredibly real and vulnerable. While it deals with some heavy themes, there's also a strong sense of hope that shines through. It's a poignant and ultimately uplifting read that will stay with you long after you finish it. Rating: 4/5 stars

I am not easily sucked into books but FINDING GRACE engulfed me. I am struggling to find words because I was just so moved. Very early on in the story an unimaginable tragedy occurs and I was floored. I didn’t see it coming and I found myself reading the last line of that paragraph repeatedly because I just couldn’t believe it..

This is a story of profound loss, what happens after, resilience, fate, family, friendship, and so many more things. This was a poignant story that contained so much depth, I found the characters, the story, and the journey throughout relatable. The writing was top tier with beautiful pacing that flowed throughout the story.

What an amazing book to start the year off with. Loretta Rothschild is officially an author to watch.

Bravo! This is a must read debut novel! Centered around love, loss, relationships, and so much more. Instantly I was engaged in the characters and storyline. Both are well developed. I highly recommend this book!

Wow had I known anything about this book and didn’t go in blind, I would have thought twice. It was so beautiful, so sad, so heartfelt.

As a mother of four, reading along and realizing that this book is really centered around child loss was really hard for me. I pushed to finish the first part, but after that was sooo interested in the narration style I just kept going. Like….how many times have you read a book narrated by a ghost?! Not often! I loved that we saw a look into Honor’s brain before and after her death.

This book is sad. This book is wonderful. It is hopeful. It is….a look into how and why we live after we love someone so much. Bravo.

Thank you @stmartinspress #partner and @netgalley for this advance reader copy of Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild.

4 1/2 stars

Fantastic, holding your breath the entire time read with characters that evolve, err, forgive, love and accept others into their lives. A love story, but so much more. Love, loss, family, grief and finding oneself after a devastating loss. Tom, Honor and Chloe have it all. Until they don't. What happens next is both astonishing and overwhelming. A must read new release!

If you make it to the end of Chapter 1, you won't be able to put this book down because, wow, this book came out swinging! Mind blown! Leave your preconceptions at the door.
This debut novel by Loretta Rothschild is a rollercoaster of love, loss, and secrets you didn’t see coming. Honor's seemingly perfect life hits a wall, leaving her husband, Tom, to pick up the pieces. Enter Grace, a wine shop owner (and probably the best thing to happen to Tom since, well, wine). But secrets have a way of popping up when you least expect it.
Jodi Picoult calls it "one of the best books I’ve read this year," so yeah, no pressure. Packed with twists, emotions, and cliffhangers that'll have you yelling, “Wait, WHAT?!”
Described as “shocking” and “emotionally rich,” this debut is like a rom-com that got lost and wandered into a psychological thriller. With twists you won’t see coming and enough drama to fuel your book club for weeks, it’s out June 10, 2025. Go ahead, pre-order it—you know you want to.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, the settings the characters, the relationships!!! This book grabbed me from the first chapter. The different points of view, how well the characters were developed!! The premise that one lie, can change the trajectory of a romantic relationship, and all the friendships attached to the person that is lying.