The Mothers Promise is the first book I’ve read by this author and it’s a book that I would highly recommend

A very poignant story that touches your heartstrings.

Alice is 40 and lives with her daughter Zoe. Zoe isn’t good socially and suffers with Social Anxiety Disorder which can be very disabling not only for her but her mom who takes care of her.

Alice of course takes care of her daughter. She’s her world.

Then Alice gets ill. Seriously ill.

Anxiety, social inhibitor, her illness is real. And in reality people with this mental health condition overthink things, fret anxiously and repeat themselves. It’s tiring for them and for those around them, also though, frustrating for some who have no patience.
So some of how Zoe acts may not be understood by others, even some readers.

It takes patience and understanding.

Now that Alice is Ill she has to reach out to strangers. A social worker gets involved and that doesn’t bode well, especially with Zoe.

Alice is so worried, what if she dies? Whose going to care for her daughter?
As a mom I’d hate to be in that situation.

Things start coming out as things are revealed, some might make the reader uncomfortable, it’s part of the insight.

The only thing I didn’t like was the third party way in telling this.
Took me ages to get used to, hence 3*. But that’s my personal taste.

I loved this book though, made me think much deeper than I intended to!

Note: clearing old books from before 2019

Did not have time to read this book - still on my TBR. Thank you for the opportunity and my apologies for not getting to it.

I got this ARC long, long time ago from NetGalley but unfortunately that time I didn't make it on time to read and review it. And I really want to kick myself for that.


Alice a single mother in her 40s lives with her only daughter, Zoe. There are always the two of them. Zoe is a teenager with social anxiety disorder. Alice always be the protector of Zoe, until Alice is diagnosed with cancer. What will happen to them?


This is the second book by this author I read.
The writing style is the same as the last book of her I read.
Third person, multiple POVs: Alice, Kate the nurse, Zoe — Alice's daughter and Sonja the hospital social worker.

This kind of makes me confused actually.
Too many POVs that sometimes I can't figure out who this "she" "he" "her" "his" actually is. You know, because it was told in third person.
Each chapter feels like a new beginning of different story. Because almost each chapter told in different POV and every POV has different story. This is pretty frustrating for me tbh.
There are like 4 different stories in one book.

Personally I'm not a very patient person. And to be honest I don't know how to deal with people with anxiety disorder. Reading Zoe's story really took my patience. And it's so frustrating that she always overthinks everything. Seriously, get a grip 🙄

Although I know something like this really happens in reality. But still... I just...


I tried really, really hard to finish and enjoy this. Because I'd feel so guilty if I DNFed it.
The story is so slow-paced with so many events and problems that was built, but then all of them solved in such a short time that it seems like the author really in hurry to finish the story.

So for me it's more like an 'obligation' to finish this book than to enjoy it in my leisure time.

Although surely there are many moral values that we could take from this book—I shed tears in some parts, the story is just too complicated and frustrating. And not to mention, too long for my taste.

I'm so sorry that I couldn't finish it on time due to so many things going on in real life back then.
But thank you so much for providing me this ARC.

This novel was extremely difficult for me to get through. Sally Hepworth is a great writer and I love her work.  However, this book touched on a few sore topics for me.  This book includes descriptions of sexual and physical violence, that I found very difficult to read.  In fact, I had to take a break and walk away because of the content.

Another area that really got to me is the story of Alice's struggle with her diagnosis and her fear of leaving her daughter alone.  I am a single mother and I personally have a very small social circle.  Having something as serious as a cancer scare is my greatest nightmare. I'm worried about what will happen to my son. I'm scared to leave him alone in this world.

Technically speaking, there's nothing wrong with this novel. I was able to determine one of the twists early on, but not the other.  However, I spent so much time crying as I continued to delve into the book.  This was a very difficult book for me to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.

Being a mother is not for the faint of heart. Wanting to be a mother is not for the faint of heart. Hepworth has crafted a story about the different ways we come into motherhood and the different sacrifices we have to make as mothers.

Alice Stanhope and her daughter Zoe are a tight-knit unit. Not much can come between them. Zoe replies on Alice for stability as she deals with Social Anxiety Disorder which is no fun when you are in High School. Alice has nobody to rely on to help with Zoe so nothing can ever happen. But then something happens. Alice's maternal family history appears in her own body and she's looking at a serious, advanced cancer diagnosis. Suddenly things feel very unsettled. What would happen to Zoe if she doesn't make it? Well, it's not an option - she'll just have to be in that rare 20% the Doctor mentioned that beats this cancer.

Because Alice and Zoe have literally nobody to come alongside of them, they are assigned a social worker and a Nurse dives in to help as well. Alice resents this intrusion and Zoe is scared of it but it can't be helped. As time goes on, Kate (the Nurse) weaves herself into Zoe's life and it feels threatening to Alice. Sonja (the social worker) is on the peripheral until she isn't and when she enters the story fully it is in a shocking and earth-shattering way. None of them will ever be the same again.

I liked this story, and its characters. Honestly I wasn't sure I would but I took to it really quickly. I have no reason why I didn't think I would like it so I'm glad I was wrong. I wasn't real fond of the character Sonja but once she entered into the story fully I saw why Hepworth included her. I loved Zoe and the way Hepworth fleshed her out as a high school student who is inflicted with social anxiety, I also loved how she brought someone into Zoe's life who could share in her struggle because of his own. The isolation Alice and Zoe had created around themselves really makes you think about your own situations and relationships - it takes a small village rings more true than ever when hard things hit.

I enjoyed this book, especially getting to know the characters and the complexities of their lives. More than once, I nodded my head and thought "Me too!". As the story progressed, I felt that a few of the plot points were too convenient, but I forgave that for the emotional honesty with which the author was able to portray the lives of the characters. A great family/relationship drama with a host of ups and downs.

This beautifully written book introduced me to four ordinary women. Moving and generally well written story that really touched me! I cried the ugly cry. I am never disappointed by S. Hepworth! I know I can count on her books to draw me in and keep me there until the end

3.5 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This heartwarming and emotional book tells the story of Alice and Zoe, a mother and daughter who have relied on each other throughout their lives. Zoe suffers from a case of extreme social anxiety and Alice has always been her protector. But now Alice has been a diagnosed with an advanced case of cancer and the two are forced to rely on two women who have recently entered their lives due to this illness and both have serious concerns about bringing these two strangers in their world. However as the situation starts to take a more serious turn, Alice and Zoe slowly learn that it's not as bad as they thought to depend on the kindness of strangers. Another compelling read from Sally Hepworth.

My goodness me, what a lot of issues contained in one story! I loved the book but it was heartbreaking and I found the rapist father to be living in the same town and counselling Zoe a bit too far fetched. This is the first sally Hepworth book I’ve read, but I will definitely be reading more.

This novel toggles between four different women - a single mother with cancer, her teenage daughter with social anxiety disorder, her nurse who is struggling with fertility issues, and her hospital-assigned social worker with an abusive husband. As that summary suggests, it's a sad book though with some hope at the end. There were some unrealistic elements, including a plot point straight out of "Big Little Lies." But the characters were very sympathetic and it definitely wrung some tears out of me. I'd give this a 3.75 so I'm rounding up to 4 stars.

The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepworth was, for the most part, an enjoyable read. The story started out a bit slow, but watching Zoe grow made the journey bearable. Once I got through the slow parts, I had the feeling I had made a few new friends, and found myself laughing, crying and cheering them on in their various endeavors. The subjects explored in this book can get a bit weighty at times, but Ms Hepworth approaches them with grace and even humor. I highly recommend this book for those who may know someone suffering from anxiety.

I'm really sorry, I just couldn't get in to this one. Hopefully Sallys next novel will grab me s i loved her previous. Thank you for the chance to read anyway

My mom was a single mother but she had so much family support to help with my sister and I. I can't imagine not having my family around when growing up. This book is much different than my usual reads but I really enjoyed it. Sally Hepworth wrote an easy to read novel, filled with characters who you couldn't help but love: Zoe; Kate; and even Harry. Just like in our everyday lives, people come into our lives and bless us, without us asking for it or expecting it. The characters stole a piece of my heart while reading the novel.

From the author of The Things We Keep, this new book will be great for her fans and for new readers.

A well written and emotive book centred around a mother and daughter and their struggles, especially dealing with a medical diagnosis. The characters were so well written yiu want to meet them and you are rooting for a happy ever after! Would recommend highly

This book touched me. I cried and it made me think...the characters were well developed, which is always important to me. It's true to life, because we are all on a tough journey, and we just have to look at other's and find that some have it worse than we do. Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an E-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Mother’s Promise is a heartbreaking tale that looks at what happens when you’re alone, and all the different ways that you can be alone. It’s a touching tale of love in all its forms, of facing fears and growth through adversity.

Alice and Zoe are a team of two with no family support and they’re fine with that; they’ve never needed anyone else. It isn’t until Alice gets sick and she’s advised to plan for all eventualities that it strikes her how alone they really are. I am surrounded by family, and friends who are the family I chose, yet still I haven’t been able to put a plan in place for every eventuality. As a parent you want to think you will always be there for your children, you will never need alternate guardians but it’s always a good idea to have a plan in place just in case. What happens when you aren’t surrounded by family and friends? How do you plan for an eventuality you can’t face when there aren’t any suitable guardians in your life?

To make the situation more difficult Zoe isn’t without her own troubles, which makes it imperative to find the right person for the hopefully hypothetical job. Alice is torn between determination that this isn’t going to be necessary, a desire to protect her child and the need to get it right.

The Mother’s Promise is Alice and Zoe’s story but we meet new people along the way that become integral to the story, and we learn their stories alongside Alice and Zoe’s.

In alternating chapters we delve into the lives of Kate and Sonja as well as Alice and Zoe. Kate is one of the nurses treating Alice and Sonja is the social worker assigned to her case. The women get off on the wrong foot but sometimes you find allies in the unlikeliest of corners.

Hepworth writes with heart and with humour, with compassion and with insight. Her story delves into the lives of very different women and sees them face their fears and learn to embrace futures they hadn’t dared consider.

Loneliness and being alone can be very different things. Alice was never lonely, she had everything she needed between Zoe and her business but when it came to thinking about guardianship arrangements she realised just how alone she was. How do you make guardianship arrangements when you have no family or friendship circle support, how do you navigate treatment and appointments without support?

Hepworth explores the aloneness of her characters in different situations, and none of them really felt lonely until we started delving deep into their lives. Characters who were happily married, successful and surrounded by people yet still ultimately alone. Hepworth brings them into a situation where they connect with other people and it helps to facilitate a change and forge bonds that are not easily broken.

The Mother’s Promise was a difficult book to read for me as a mother, just the idea of having to face leaving my children was enough to break my heart. I know that if something happened to me I am surrounded by loving people who would take care of my children but to think what would happen if that wasn’t the case. To put myself in Alice’s shoes and think about leaving my children with no-one I could trust to protect them the way I would, to consider the thought of them ending up in the foster system when they have troubles of their own. This was certainly a book that made me think, about how lucky I am as well as reminding me of the importance of having plans in place.

Hepworth’s writing is insightful and empathetic with colourful and diverse characters that you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with… for the most part. The story is beautifully written and the characters are vividly drawn. The love within the pages is palpable and the blossoming it brings about in Zoe is inspiring to watch.

The Mother’s Promise is well worth the read for everyone and I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

You can follow Sally Hepworth on Facebook, her Website and Twitter.

The Mother’s Promise is book #6 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2017.

The Mother’s Promise is published by Pan Macmillan and is available now through Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan 10 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members will be reading The Mother’s Promise so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Alice Standhope and her daughter, Zoe, have always been a team of two. Zoe’s social anxiety disorder means that she doesn’t feel comfortable with many people other than her mom, and Alice has done everything she can to support her daughter. However, when Alice is diagnosed with cancer, they will need to reach out to other people. Kate, Alice’s nurse, and Sonja, the social worker assigned to Alice, step in to provide the support Alice is loath to admit they need.

There were a lot of serious topics covered in this book. I really enjoyed the parts with Alice, Zoe, and Kate; the parts with Sonja were just OK for me. Overall, the book was well-written and a compelling read.

Posted review on goodreads and Amazon on 5/5/2017. On my blog early August. For some reason the copy and paste option is not working for this page.
Will try to do so later. Many thanks for this book.