Member Reviews

Unfortunately I barely started this book and quit reading. I didn't expect to find the language that was to me offensive. I'm sure it's a well written book and a good read but just wasn't for me. I received an ARC of this book . This opinion is my own.

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Many readers will love this book. I really liked the writing and the “event” that sets up the story was very well written. My challenge with this story is I don’t enjoy books where the reader knows more than the characters. I am also not a big fan of the stories of romance. And I stand by my opening statement that most readers will love this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Honor and Tom are a wealthy, married couple with a young daughter, Chloe. Tom works long hours and Honor spends her time wishing for another baby. After several miscarriages, they turn to a surrogate and egg donor, which seems to take over Honor’s life and cause strain in the marriage. After a horrifying incident on Christmas, Tom has to move forward and pick up the pieces of his life.
I don’t want to give too much away and spoil any of this book, but this tale deals with love and grief and starting over. A great debut by this author!

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Loretta Rothschild debut novel is very engaging. This book opens at Christmas in Paris. Tom, Honor and their little daughter Chloe are trying to take a break from the struggles of not being able to have a second child. Honor just can’t let it go for even the holiday because they had decided to use an egg donor and a surrogate. This causes tension with Honor and Tom. Neither realize that evil is there in the hotel to destroy their lives. Years late Tom is left to raise the new baby alone. He just can’t move on from his guilt until he gets a letter in the mail. This letter came by mistake from the donor clinic. It contains information that can change all their lives. But is it ethical to use it. Tom faces a major dilemma and a series of lies that build and build until the conclusion of the book. Well written and I enjoyed it.

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Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild is a debut novel. Tom and Honor have a daughter and are discussing having another child.
The story is told by Honor who is killed along with Chloe the daughter. Tom finds out the surrogate is having the baby, Henry.
Years later he meets Grace who looks a lot like Honor. Secrets are everywhere. The point of view was interesting and different. It was an enjoyable book – not my type. It was well written.

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In “Finding Grace,” Loretta Rothschild’s debut novel, the book is narrated by Honor, Tom Wharton’s dead wife. Shortly after her tragic death, inconsolable with grief and wondering if he should go on, Tom is jolted back to life when he discovers that the surrogate selected to carry their donor’s egg is pregnant. When Henry is born, Tom allows his love for his son and the daily routines involved in his care to distract him from his grief.

Five years after the tragedy that shaped his life, Tom meets Grace, who bears a striking resemblance to his dead wife. As they fall in love, Tom lives in constant fear that she will discover an important secret that he has concealed from her. Adding to the tension, he revealed the secret to one of his circle of friends, who feels uncomfortable keeping the secret from Grace. I don’t want to reveal more, so the reader will be surprised as events unfold.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Before reading it, I had been in something of a reading slump for several months, finding it hard to get into any book. It seemed as if every book I read I had read before. But when I started reading this one, it was like suddenly being awakened from a long slumber. It was tantalizing, beguiling and intriguing with a premise unlike any other I’ve read. In addition, the writing was exquisite and the characters came to life with dynamic dialog that further defined the characters. The building tension regarding whether or not Grace would discover Tom’s secret and how she would react was a constant source of anxiety throughout the book. As a result, I couldn’t put the book down. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for more from this debut author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Loretta Rothschild’s debut novel, "Finding Grace", takes readers on an emotional journey through grief, privilege, love, and healing. Right from the start, I found myself rereading the opening chapters to catch the details I missed, which made me feel even more connected to the characters. By the end, it felt like I had experienced their struggles and growth alongside them. Rothschild’s writing is so vivid and engaging that she brings these complex, real characters to life in a way that makes you feel like you truly know them. The story offers a fresh perspective on love and loss that sticks with you long after you finish the book. With unforgettable characters and emotional depth, “Finding Grace” is a must-read.

Big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to review this ARC—it was definitely worth it!

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I am always looking for new authors and was excited to read “Finding Grace” by Loretta Rothschild. I never know what to expect when trying out a new author and this novel had plenty of surprises.

In “Finding Grace, ” Honor and her husband, Tom, want to have a second child, but with what consequences? Honor wants to use a surrogate (and find an egg from a donor that is like her), but Tom feels that Honor is neglecting their existing daughter, Chloe. Later, Honor and Chloe are tragically killed; Tom, deep in his grief, discovers the surrogate he and Honor had found is pregnant. Will he raise the child or walk away?

The twists and turns of this story are unexpected as is the novel’s narrator (Honor, speaking from beyond). Talk about an unreliable narrator. “Finding Grace” will make you frustrated and you may not care for the resolution, but I will still highly recommend it.

Three and a half out of five stars.

Thank you very much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

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Finding Grace by Loretta Rotschild is a book that I just couldn't put down - through tears, horror, compassion, anger, and just love that the characters had for each other.

The story of Honor and Tom and their decision to try IVF has repercussions that I won't reveal to not reveal spoilers, but it sure wasn't what I thought it would be.

I was a page turning fool reading this book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. I cried and I gasped at several parts of the book and most of all I felt for Honor and Tom.

Read this book, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

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This begins with a couple, and an unforgettable event, one that leaves a family shattered. A woman who is determined to add another child to their family, despite having a daughter, and so she decides to find a surrogate, hoping for the right person. But ultimately, a catastrophic event interrupts her dreams, and her life, leaving her husband, Tom, to fulfill those dreams.

This is a story of family, of loss and love, and coming to terms with grief, as well as finding your way back to a life with a degree of acceptance of what has been lost, and what remains to be found.


Pub Date: 10 Jun 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

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Somethings I like about this book:
1. the title and its possible meanings
2. the narrator
3. the evolution of the main character family
4. the side characters and their friendships
5. the plot twists

This book was an interesting and often surprising novel that was sometimes a romance and also a beautiful study of resilience and love and life.

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This review may contain SPOILERS
I was wobbling between a 4 and 5 star rating but I went with 5. The reason being, that this book impacted me and made me feel so much even when I was questioning the characters choices and the ending.
Finding Grace is beautifully written! The first chapter is immediately enthralling and I opened my mouth and gasped when I finished reading it. It was hard to imagine what would come in chapter 2 and beyond. The author didn't a great job with this concept.
Lots of emotion and it was interesting to see a widowers story told through the perspective of his dead wife. I found some parts of the plot to be unbelievable, BUT I forgive it because the story was so addictive. There was also a lot of funny parts in this book, where I chuckled at the character banter. I particularly liked Colettes character growth. I want a french mother in law of my very own. Finding Grace book is definitely worth a read. It will give you butterflies, make you so sad and also so mad! Kudos to Loretta Rothschild for writing such a wonderful debut novel. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

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“Finding Grace” by Loretta Rothschild is a debut novel I know I'll be thinking about for a long time.

It’s a raw, emotional story about grief, regret, loneliness, and the complexities of privilege—but it’s also about love, forgiveness, and healing. I was hooked from the first chapter thanks to that insane cliffhanger and stayed invested the entire way through.

The unique narrator choice is something I haven’t seen before and was executed so well (I won’t spoil it, but trust me, it’s genius). Rothschild’s choice of narration gives us a deep look into the characters' inner worlds—how and why they operate the way they do, even when they make some questionable choices. Every character is multi-layered, deeply flawed, but also so easy to empathize with.

The portrayal of motherhood in this book is raw, unfiltered, and incredibly real. It adds such depth to the emotional landscape of the story, making it even more powerful and relatable.

I have nothing but good things to say about this novel—honestly, I can’t believe this is her debut. I’m already excited to see what she does next.

Make sure to add this to your TBR for its June release!

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this advanced copy!

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Wow what a debut !! I am still in utter shock that this is a debut novel., it was absolutely brilliant!!

Finding Grace was filled with charm, beautiful dialogue, heartfelt ,genuine , tragic and serenades you with hope & second chances and ...secrets that will make you question all your morals !!

I read this if you like books that :
* Likeable Characters
* Mysterious
* Gripping
* Second Chances
* Charming reads
* Beautiful Writing
* Secrets
* Question all your morals

I don’t want to give anything away , but I loved this book so much . The premises of this book was so unique and the narrating was done so well .

The ebb and flow of this story was on point , and the secrets that kept accumulating until they were finally revealed , was so intense . Like one of those Jack in the boxes and you’re slowly cranking the dial just waiting for it to reveal itself …and then BOOM all the truths are spilled out , and I literally gasped out loud !

Finding Grace has so much charm, it’s touching, heartwarming , will pull at your heart strings and shock you right to core !!

Bravo to your debut novel ! Highly recommend reading this one !

Thank you NetGalley , St Martin’s Press & Loretta Rothschild for this enchanting ARC!

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Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. It takes one, only ONE chapter to pull you right into this emotional story. If you are a mood reader like I am, you need to be in the mood for a book with all the deep feels. There is love, there is loss, tragedy, sadness, deceit, friendship, betrayal, hope... Open this book and experience it all.

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Finding Grace is a mesmerizing exploration of love, loss, and the tangled web of secrets that bind us to the past. Loretta Rothschild delivers a masterful debut that will rip your heart out but is so gripping and powerful. The novel skillfully weaves a complex narrative that blends a suspenseful moral dilemma with a deeply emotional love story, creating a reading experience that is both thought provoking and utterly absorbing.

Honor, the novel’s protagonist, is a character whose vulnerability and resilience leap off the page. Her struggle with longing for a second child and the ripple effects of a life changing event feel achingly real. Rothschild captures the delicate balance of joy and heartbreak in Honor’s journey, making her both relatable and unforgettable.

The story takes unexpected turns when Tom, Honor’s husband, makes a choice that sets off a chain reaction, intertwining the lives of two women in ways neither could have predicted. Rothschild’s ability to capture the nuances of human relationships—old love versus new, the push and pull of forgiveness and resentment, and the fragility of trust—is what sets Finding Grace apart.

What makes this book truly stand out is its exploration of the cost of starting over and the ways our past can haunt or redeem us. Rothschild’s writing is electric, seamlessly transitioning between the suspense of uncovering secrets and the emotional poignancy of healing and forgiveness.

With compelling twists and unforgettable characters, Finding Grace is a thought provoking page turner that will stay with me long after the final chapter. Fans of women’s fiction will be captivated by Rothschild’s ability to blend gripping drama with heartfelt emotion.

If you enjoy stories that challenge your sense of morality while delivering a powerful emotional punch, Finding Grace is a must read.

THank you to NetGalley, Loretta Rothschild, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

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Going in to this book I simply thought we'd be following a couple who are struggling to have a baby. Boy was I wrong. This was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. While the plot was intriguing I just didn't connect with the characters, to me, they felt very one dimensional.

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It’s nigh impossible to review Loretta Rothschild’s “Finding Grace” without disclosing surprising plot turns, the first one of which comes at the end of the very first chapter and which suddenly and startingly upends reader expectations about what they might have thought the novel was going to be about.
A domestic drama with a couple trying for a second child through IVF, the novel appears to be at first blush, but then, with that end-of-chapter development, it veers into completely unexpected territory allowing for omniscient-narrator commentary on the novel’s action in the way of, say, John Fowles’ “The French Lieutenant's Woman.”
Similar in that way the novel was, with the expectation it set up for me of something more than what on the surface it appeared to be, of another novel I recently read, Christa Carmen's “Beneath the Poet’s House,” which, with the extent of its literary allusions, also had me thinking that there was greater literary game afoot than met the eye. But in both novels it seemed to me that a potential for greater literary possibilities went unrealized.
Not that either novel isn’t satisfying enough for what it is – especially well rendered in Rothschild’s case, for instance, is the sense of the irrevocability of last words to a loved one as well as the strains on a marriage of infertility. It just seemed to me, and here it may just be the English major in me always looking for greater heights to which a novel might aspire, that there was the potential, particularly with that major surprise, for the novel to scale greater literary heights – something perhaps indeed as philosophically probing or challenging as Fowles’ fiction.
Still, either as straight domestic drama or with its hint of greater possibilities, the novel is absorbing and well written and a veritable feast for English majors, with its plethora of literary references.

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Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

Finding Grace is an emotional roller coaster that I could not put down. There were so many things that I didn’t see coming. This book is filled with life lessons that we all need to learn. Wow!

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Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Loretta Rothschild for the ARC of Finding Grace.

Where do I start? This book was and absolute page turner, I finished it in one day. The storyline is one that i have read before: woman wants baby and is driving the husband batty in attempts to do so, however, this POV is one i have never read from! Your soul is snatched from the first chapter and you are gasping for air for the duration of the book, this was a phenomenal book. It is hard to.believe that this is a DEBUT! You laugh, you cry, you get angry, you want to fight, you cheer, this book is a roller-coaster of emotions. To me, this is the quintessential love story.
TOPNOTCH!!
10/10 RECOMMEND FOR ME!

Thank you for allowing me to voluntarily leave my honest review of this heartwarming and exciting story of unconditional love.

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