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.

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.

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

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!!!