I want to thank Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the audiobook and I usually struggle with them.
The story was a thoughtful family history that made you think a lot about how society put a lot of pressure on women during different eras and how little rights they’ve had throughout the years in comparison to now.
It talks about Emma and her strained relationship with her mother, Margaret, how she gets to know her better after her death following the clues she left behind; about Margaret and her mother Beth and the difficult life they led.
I loved the portrayal of the relationships, they felt real. And made me think about how we don’t really get to know the life our parents had before our own birth, how we don’t really know the people they were before being our parents.
Overall it was a nice read and I enjoyed it. 3.5 ⭐️

P.S. For the author/editor Carbamazepine is not an antipsychotic but a mood stabilizer. Please do some research. Sorry, I’m a psychiatrist and it really bugged me 😅

Gripping story spanning multiple timelines, spanning 3-4 generations of women. Lots of secrets revealed from the past. All about motherhood. Enjoyed it very much.

I always enjoy a dual timeline story. However, this book was a little slow for my taste and I found it hard to pay attention to the narration at times. I give credit to the narrator as she did a great job playing different parts. This story tackles difficult topics and I wouldn’t say it’s a happy one, but worth a read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Bronwen Price narrates this story and does a fabulous job. I highly recommend the audio version if that is of interest.

Emma has been estranged from her mother, Margaret, for most of her life. Its when she receives a phone call letting her know that her mother passed away that Emma realizes that she and her mother will never rebuild the bridge. What unfolds next is the familial history of three women who each endured a tragedy that shaped them as women, mothers, and their relationships. The book is told through Emma and her grandmother, Betty's, point of view. As life unfolds and the secrets begin to be revealed, Emma will uncover secrets and so much more about her family and how things were and how things are today.

This is an atmospheric story full of emotion and secrets. The generational secrets where tough subjects to tackle and were well done. While I did enjoy the story and its relatability, I found it to be a bit slow in the middle when it could have been tightened up. Despite this, I do think that its an engaging read and recommend it!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

I love a good dual time book and this one definitely hit the mark. The main protagonist is Emma, in February of 2019, but the book goes back and forth between her and her matrilineal line, beginning with the story of her grandmother, Betty, in 1937. As the story played out, with the story lines interweaving, I really resonated with the characters. This is not a happy story, per se, and there are some tough topics covered, but it was a beautiful read with a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was VERY good, able to utilize a very different voice for Emma than the voice she used for Betty. I definitely recommend this book!

Three generation of women. Betty gave birth out of wedlock in the 1930s, kept the baby and was ostracized. Her own mother was cruel to Betty. Margaret gave birth out of wedlock in the 1950s but gave the baby up for adoption. Emma thought she was an only child until her mother died. She then discovered she had a sister that was put up for adoption. Emma wants to uncover the truth- despite warnings from her mother's attorney. Some secrets are best left hidden.

This story was real. The actions, reactions, and feelings of each character were completely plausible. However, that made it sad, too. Real but sad. There are a whole lot of triggers in this- various types of abuse.

I did find this predictable, but it still kept me engrossed. I read it straight through.

Bronwen Price does a good job with the audiobook narration.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cathy Hayward, this is such a fantastic book! I absolutely loved it! It was beautiful. Highly suggest this story. Wonderful job.