Than you net galley for giving me the opportunity to read an early edition of this rather sad book.
Luke is adopted, and all.his life he felt he never really belonged anywhere.
Luke is also. Very angry why his mother gave him up,for adoption, did she not love him.
He also felt he never belonged with the family who adopted him.
He had a baby with his girlfriend, and then met his real mother.
From then on things got very hard for Luke, and he wanted answers why he was adopted.
This was an enjoyable story, and a insight to how an adopted child really feels.

This is a really good psychological thriller which has been very cleverly written. The story comes together piece by piece with a really good ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I loved this book. It is so much more than a psychological thriller
This book was beautiful haunting emotional and so addictive
This was a total page turner
Can’t wait for more from this author

Such a heart wrenching story. The characters are believable and from the onset, you just cant wait to see if it works out for them. Set in both the seventies and present day, the way the story jumps from one to the other yet intertwined makes it one of the best reads ever. Can say hand on heart I challenge anyone not to love this book. An emotional shelter shelter.

Not a thriller as such but nevertheless I was on tenterhooks the whole time whilst reading this. A very sensitive and interesting take on giving up a child and the effects of adoption. Set from 2 pov's and 2 different time lines it follows the story of Luke who was adopted as a baby and who's now all grown up and has a baby of his own. At times I found it searingly heartbreaking for all the players concerned - and indeed the ending was a tear-jerker. I don't want to give the plot away but this was such a good read . Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is an excellent read, well plotted and executed well. It flowed seamlessly and I really enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved the aunthors first book, him, and could not wait to read this book when I saw that it was due out

This book did not disappoint at all. In fact it was so much better than her first

I loved the short chapters and the timeline that went from the 1970s to 80s and 00s. they kept the reader engrossed into what actually happened to Alice

I loved this book and devoured it in two sittings.

Thank you!

On the surface, Luke and his girlfriend Hannah seem to have a perfect life. He's an A&R man, she's an arts correspondent and they are devoted to their new-born son Samuel.

But beneath the gloss, Luke has always felt like an outsider. So when he finds his birth mother Alice, the instant connection with her is a little like falling in love.

When Hannah goes back to work, Luke asks Alice to look after their son. But Alice - fuelled with grief from when her baby was taken from her 27 years ago - starts to fall in love with Samuel. And Luke won't settle for his mother pushing him aside once again...

Whew. Man, this one was just not a book I could finish, It just seemed everyone was a hot mess. I thought Luke was way too gullible. So, sorry everyone, I could not say it was a brilliant read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy for review.

Absolutely fantastic had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from.this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to.connect with

Thank you for the advanced copy

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
This was an emotionally-charged read. Told between now (2000) where Luke is meeting his birth mother, Alice, for the first time and then (1972/3) where we learn of Alice's life in the early 70s - she and BFF Rick as art students in London, the artists' scene, the music scene and all excesses of that time. Gradually we learn of the circumstances where Alice is forced to give her child up for adoption - only she shies away from answering Luke's pressing questions.
Luke and partner Hannah have a 3 month-old son Samuel - having his own son, and with pressing encouragement from Hannah, Luke traced Alice and learned that his father was a famous and wealthy artist, Richard Fields. Richard and Alice are still inseparable friends.
Hannah works as arts correspondent on the Times and is torn between returning to work and being home with Samuel. Although Christine, Luke's adoptive mother, has offered to look after Samuel, they felt her parenting methods were at odds with their own.
Alice becomes introduced to Hannah and Samuel and under the pretext that she's an au pair, Alice takes on that role to allow Hannah to return to work. Things become rather tricky as Luke begins to feel jealous of the relationship Alice has with Samuel - after all HE is her son and as yet they had spent very little mother-son time together.
The emotional turmoil takes its toll on Luke - there are secrets and lies to be revealed, heartbreak amongst them.

There's little twists throughout the story and in all honesty I did rather begin to guess part of the scenario, but that didn't detract from this being an absorbing, poignant and interesting story.

Highly recommended.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

More of a character driven sobfest than a thriller, I could not put it down. It’s not particularly escapist, a lot of alcoholism and mental illness, but enjoyable. Enjoyed reading about the 70s UK art scene

A thrilling and heartfelt story; draws you in very quickly and doesn't let go. Excellent character development. Highly recommended!