The Barefoot Child by Michelle Dixon is a gripping and emotional tale of trauma, healing, and the complex bond between a mother and daughter. After witnessing her father’s death, Jess is taken in by Ray, her mother’s ex-boyfriend, while her mother, Lisa, suffers the consequences of taking the blame. Twelve years later, Jess begins to uncover the painful secrets of her past, leading to an inevitable reunion with Lisa. The novel delicately explores themes of forgiveness, family, and the search for truth, offering a powerful story of reconciliation and the scars that shape us.

This was a great book! it was emotional and it was touching. I think the book flowed well, it was written well and beautifully. I think the way this author writes is so good!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I was given the opportunity to read The Barefoot Child as an ARC, going in mostly blind after the description pulled me in. As someone with an interest in stories about family dynamics, trauma, and real world issues, this book had all the right ingredients to suck me in.

I will admit, it took me a little bit to finish. Not because I wasn’t interested, but because I felt like I really had to reserve time to focus and give it all of the attention I could. The concept of the story itself was compelling, and I really enjoyed the perspective shifts between Jess and Lisa with each chapter changed. Reading both sides of their story was a pleasantly unique experience, and there were plenty of small twists that surprised me as I read on. The Barefoot Child is the kind of book that challenges your assumptions (and inner prejudices you may not know you have), showing how two conflicting perspectives can both hold their own truths depending on individual perception.

I started off feeling frustrated with Lisa, quick to judge, but by the end of the book she had become my favorite character to read about. Each chapter written in her perspective felt like I was unlocking something, understanding the way her mind worked, alongside her motivations and the love she had for her daughter. I feel like the more I read, the more I could empathize with her in ways I hadn’t expected. On the other hand, I really admired Jess for her growth and how she coped with very realistic struggles as she got older. I spent a lot of time in this book on the edge of my seat, waiting for that inevitable reconnection between mother and daughter.

However, I did find the writing style to be challenging to read at moments. I felt that dialogue got lost in long bodies of description, and it took a lot more effort to focus while reading—I had to pause quite often. Additionally, I will admit that the ending felt rushed and very abrupt. After spending so much time invested in these characters and their journeys, I was left a little disappointed, feeling like the emotional payoff I’d been waiting for had been cut short. I love a book that leaves room for reflection, but I feel that this one could have benefitted from being a little more direct at moments, particularly in its conclusion.

Overall, I am giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. stars. I really enjoyed the concept, the complex characters, and the dual perspectives, but the difficulty I had staying engaged and the rushed ending held me back from rating it higher. That said, I do recommend giving this book a read. It offers a powerful lens into the realities of addiction, challenging readers to approach such stories with empathy and understanding. It’s a book that has the potential to open minds and hearts, reminding us that addicts are people too—with histories, struggles, and stories that matter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

An emotional read telling of a mother and daughter living with alcoholism, menatl health and abuse.

The author has written a tender tale of living with devastating and life changing abuse from another person.

It is a hard read and one that stayed with me for quite a while after reading.

It really packs a punch and made me more aware of the situations this family were living through

Even though the book is very dark Jess and Lisa won my heart. This was a very emotional read and having come from a fractured family with substance abuse issues myself I could certainly relate to Jess and what she went through as a young child, and as crazy as it was it was very realistic.

I love that we got two points of view, from Jess and her mother Lisa. The author did an amazing job writing from the point of view of a child and an abused woman who suffers from alcoholism, addiction and mental health issues and is trying to get her life back on track. Both women were courageous, and I was cheering them on throughout the story. It’s also about forgiveness, of ourselves and others.

What started as a powerful and hard-hitting tragic tale turned into me cheering them on, and I was so proud of them both. Graphic, gritty, and unflinching in its telling, this book is a heartbreaking story of addiction, abuse, and atonement that I will be thinking about for a long time. Suffice it to say that this book gave me all the feels.

As soon as a read the blurb I new I was in for a toughie. Emotionally so.
Such a devastating and explosive start to the book proved me right from the very opening scenes. This is the story of two people and what happens when one violent act changes both their loves forever. And how tough it is when memory differs, when experiences after differ, and how we heal...or don't differs.
I thought it was such a great telling. By using the story from both the young daughter and her mothers point of view you got to see such an emotionanly charged,poised and intelligent vantage point. Noone comes out of these incidents unharmed. But obviously through differing personalities and different consequences we all take things often very differently.
I felt so sad for both of them. And I wasn't sure whether I could bear the pain for both of them.
And in one hand I so desperately ached for a mother and daughter to be able to help,love and be together. But on the other I did find myself questioning how right this could be.
Such a complex amount of twists and turns on the mind in this one. And such a stunning piece of work. I love getting into the phycology like this so it hit me.in all the feels in all the right places.