This is the first book I have read by Dawn French and I really enjoyed it.

It is a well written and compelling read with well drawn characters and a good plot.

If you are expecting a funny book then this book is not for you, this is an emotional book about family, love, grief and forgiveness and I totally recommend it.

Just FAB! I’ve always loved Dawn French and waited soooooo long for a new tell all book, and she didn’t fail to disappoint! Thank you for the advance copy. I’m going to go buy myself this one too!

There are two very different couples on the maternity ward as the new millennium begins. Anna Lindon-Clarke and her black Tory MP husband Julius have just become first-time parents to Florence while in a room just down the hall Hope Parker and her African partner Isaac are heartbroken first-time parents to still-born Mini. Both babies are beautiful.

When Anna and Julius catch up on sleep while they can, Hope and Isaac get ready to leave the hospital empty-handed, that is until Isaac goes to fetch the car while and Hope makes her way steadily along the corridor, where she sees baby Florence. She just wants to peep at her, then hold her and before she can think she slips her into her bag. Her thought is if she doesn’t cry then the baby wants to be with her. Not a sound does she make.

Oh boy, I have cried so many tears already in this story, having said my own goodbyes to our sleeping grandson born six years ago. I can still remember the feel of him and how perfect he looked. My heart broke for Hope and Isaac and then again for Anna and even the obnoxious Julius who would take 5 mins of TV fame if it meant increasing his status politically.

The story jumps 17 years where it becomes a huge tear-jerker again. Dawn French really knows how to connect her characters to readers, get you involved and seeing the points of view from every possible angle. There is something mentioned at the beginning of the book that sits in your mind, something that Hope is not aware of. It niggled me. Mini, as Florence had always been known, is a truly colourful character, confident and happy with who she is or until now who she thought she was.

This is an incredible story that doesn’t have right or wrong answers it has reasons, it has love, forgiveness and sacrifices. The ending just took my feet when I thought that this book had already given everything. Superb!

I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin UK for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
Having lived in the UK for a long time, I knew Dawn French’s work as an actress and comedian, but I had not read any of her books. Although I had heard about his memoir, I didn’t realise she had also published fiction, and I couldn’t resist when I had the chance to read this book. And it was a great decision.
Although this is not a mystery, I will try to avoid any spoilers,and will not offer too many details about the plot. Suffice to say that this is (mostly) a story about two mothers and a daughter (the fathers are around but don’t play too big a part), the price they have to pay for that relationship, and it deals in themes such as family, identity, grief, the mother-daughter bond, love and sacrifice…
I’ve mentioned two mothers and a daughter. Both mothers, Hope and Anna, are very different. From different social spheres and ethnic background (one well-off, one just getting by, one white British, one Jamaican-British), in very different personal circumstances (one married and going through a planned and expected pregnancy, one unmarried and her pregnancy a total surprise that have changed the couple’s plans), and their partners have nothing in common either. Julius (Anna’s husband) is pompous, self-centred, and only interested in his political career. (Silent) Isaac is all good will, kindness, and only interested in the well-being of his fiancée and his soon-to-be-born daughter. The two couples are in the same hospital for the birth of their daughters, Florence and Minnie, but things don’t go to plan.
I loved both mothers. Their experiences are vividly described and cover the whole gamut of emotions. Loss and joy, grief and hope, second-chances/the beginning of a new life and becoming stuck in a dark hole. I’ve long believed that comedians are great observers of human behaviour, and there is evidence aplenty of that here, as there are beautiful touches and nuances, insights into the thought processes of the characters and their actions, that help create some memorable scenes. The story is narrated in the third person from alternating points of view (mostly those of the two mothers and of Minnie, the daughter, but we also get some insight into the fathers’ thoughts), and although at first I felt somewhat distanced from the protagonist due to the way the story was told, I soon became used to it and realised that it might have become unbearable to read the devastation and utter desolation the characters experience if it had been written in the first person. It is still a very emotional experience (tears came to my eyes more than once), but the narrative choice and the inclusion of lighter and comedic touches (one of the policemen, Tripshaw, plays the part of a buffoon, there are some unexpectedly humorous passages in pretty dire circumstances, and there are also some lovely life-affirming scenes surrounding the girl’s childhood and her growing up) make it a bitter-sweet but ultimately inspiring read.
I’ve already said I loved both mothers, and I must say that I like all the female characters, especially Debbie Cheese, the wonderful policewoman who understands the situation and empathises with the mother from the beginning, and Minnie, the daughter, colourful, unique, and full of zest for life and love. She knows who she is and doesn’t allow anybody to change her mind. The men are not that important, although Lee (or Twat), Minnie’s boyfriend, seems a keeper, truly devoted, and determined to stick around.
Readers who don’t like sudden changes in point of view don’t need to worry, as these do not occur in the middle of a chapter, and we are clearly told in each moment whose point of view we are following, so there’s no possible confusion.
The lovely details about the relationship mother-daughter don’t disrupt the flow of the story, which is beautifully written, and contains sharp psychological insights into the world of family relationships and all its ups and downs. The story starts, then moves forward 18 years, but then we go back again to the beginning and follow its development in chronological order, so although we have an inkling of the ending, we don’t get the full details until the ending proper. And it is quite an ending. I felt, at times, that Tripshaw’s malapropisms were pushed beyond the limit and so were Julius’s excesses but, in general, it is easy to read, and there are some truly funny and also some truly insightful moments. I thought I’d share a few:
Here, Tripshaw is, for once, word-perfect:
‘Well, Mr Lindon-Clarke, that went well, didn’t it? Truly, I’ve met some pricks in my time, but you, sir, are the full cactus.’
Anna, also talking about her ex-husband, Julius Lindon-Clarke, and his self-centredness and conceit:
‘He’s like a budgie: loads of talk, until it sees a mirror.’
‘How ironic that her emotional skeleton was made of pain, the very stuff that would not support her —it couldn’t. Pain is not galvanizing, it’s corrosive, so she would eventually rust. It was already happening and she knew it. All the parts of her held together by pain were deteriorating. She needed new reinforcement if she was going to claim her future without alcohol or sleeping pills or fear or endless crying. Anna needed to bestow this forgiveness.’
I recommend this novel to anybody who, like me, might be curious about Dawn French’s writing or has already read some and want more, who enjoy stories with strong and varied female characters, and who are particularly interested in books about families and mother-daughter relationships. It is well written, beautifully nuanced, full or wonderful characters, and, despite the sad moments, it is ultimately life-affirming and heart-warming (sorry, I know some people hate such accolades, but they are true). It won’t be the last of French’s novels I read, I’m sure of that.

I really wasn’t sure what Dawn’s writing would be like, but was blown away by this extraordinary novel. It’s wonderfully written, taking you at a fast pace along the story of two mothers and their intermingled lives. As for the ending, nothing like you could imagine. Well done Dawn- looking forward to reading more of your work.

An unusual story of a woman stealing another couple's baby after suffering a stillbirth in the same hospital at the same time. 18 years later that baby is now pregnant, and we go back the millennium to learn more.

What a tearjerker of a book. When Hope's baby dies during childbirth her grief clouds her rational judgement and she makes a rash decision to take another baby. Her partner Quiet Isaac understands her decision but he knows he can't stay with her and keep their secret. Hope facing a future alone decides to return home to her family in Bristol. She is pleased to be reunited with her sister but memories of her less than adequate childhood come back to her. Anna the mother of the child she stole has never got over this tragic event and her selfish, useless husband highlights how alone she feels. Events come to a head as Minnie the child that Hope stole, now 17 and pregnant discovers secrets that blow her life apart. Can she ever trust anyone again?

Anna and Hope are both in hospital giving birth to their babies but Hope's baby dies and in the midst of her grief she does the unthinkable and abducts Anna's baby. Throughout the next 17 years we follow Hope with Minnie and Anna but when the truth finally comes out can Hope make amends?

A real tear jerker of a book, although Hope is totally in the wrong you feel for her and want her to have a happy ending and whereas you also totally feel for Anna it is watered down because of Julius, her jerk of a husband, did Minnie ultimately have a better life?

There was a lot I liked about this book; the way that the characters encouraged empathy; the writing itself and the story line, which was a difficult subject to undertake.

Unfortunately there were a few niggles; the course language; the local dialect seemed forced; the story dropped interest in the middle.

However, I applaud Dawn for tackling such a difficult subject and doing it sensitively. Every character had a role to play and each one was believable.

How can you judge a mother's love?

I'm finding it difficult to review this novel as I'm not sure I read the same book as other people, I certainly didn't find it life affirming, warm or witty as some reviews suggest. Instead I found it quite odd, but with some characters, such as a narcissistic male depressingly familiar from many other stories. Stillbirth and stolen babies make for distressing reading and I found the ending disturbing and depressing seemingly to provide a neat conclusion
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book.

Hope successfully steals a baby from the maternity unit where her own daughter was stillborn. Years later and Minnie is expecting her own baby. The truth comes out, a tragic tale with little humour, would the people involved really react as Ms French tells us? The book definitely makes the reader consider how she would react in that situation.

Engaging, Succinct and Poignant.....
Engaging, succinct and poignant read from Dawn French. Exploring love, life, family and relationships. Characters are credible, some completely likeable and relatable, some downright despicable. Written with trademark warmth and quietly laced with wry wit. A well observed drama of life.

What a stunning story - it's emotional, deep, sensitive, a tear-jerker, and it's going to leave you in tears.

The story of two mothers - Anna, wife to a smarmy politician, and Hope, young and excited at her accidental pregnancy. Both are in the same labour ward, yet one birth ends in tragedy. Hard to say much more without revealing the story, but safe to say that both women's histories are forever entwined.

Dawn French writes so beautifully and sensitively, I was totally invested in all the characters, their motivations and emotions. I've ended the story with a little crack in my heart and tears in my eyes.

It has been a long time since a book has left me this emotionally drained. I loved every minute of this, I just could not put it down and I was left so emotional by the end of it. This is one of those books where you find yourself holding your breath without even realising you're doing it and just getting so behind these characters because you are so invested in their lives.

I love the fact that this book surrounds two women from very different walks of life linked by the fact that they are giving birth on the eve of the new millennium in the same hospital. I loved Hopes fiery spirit and her determination to be happy in life. I loved the fact that she didn't care about material possessions, to her family and happiness were really at the heart of her reason for being and I just admired her passion so much.

Anna is also very passionate but in a very contained way. Her life is almost the opposite of the way Hope aims to live. She is married to someone in a position of powers and so as she is giving birth she does have the possessions and the status but she doesn't have that deep rooted love with her husband. She has that strength that Hope does though, she just needed the events of this book in order to find it. I just fell in love with the women in this book. I loved how fiercely they lived and they were so well written I could imagine meeting them in real life and falling in love with them all over again.

This book does come with care warnings for baby loss and also to keep tissues nearby because it is an emotional rollercoaster and you will find yourself finding joy in things you never thought possible.. There are a few villains in this story and I did spend my time hating on the characters in particular but I love when an author writes someone that I can feel passionately about so I have no problems with that.

This is one of those books that you can't talk about this plot without giving away spoilers so I just urge you to read this one. It is brilliantly written so you find joy in the prose and just have to keep on reading reading reading because of the way it was structured. I am envious of those of you who will get to read this book for the first time because you are about to embark on a wonderful journey. This is definitely a new favourite for me-highly recommend!

This is a highly original and thought provoking novel with some interesting characters, some larger than life than others. It leaves you questioning if actions that are wrong can be equally right and also wondering which path would have been the best for Minnie. There’s some humour (I loved Thripshaw) and also heart rending drama, it’s quite a mixed bag of emotions but they flow well and you feel invested in Minnie and Hope and their story. There’s an unlikeliness to it but a certain charm too.

There's so much emotion in this book! Two mothers go into hospital to have their babies but it's only one happy ending.....but that's just the start of the story.
You can hear Dawn's personality shine through in her writing and despite the dark and serious issues within, it's Dawn's warmth that shines through. A story to really make you think about your own relationship with your mum and how special that is.

A stunning read. Fabulous writing. A family saga with a difference. Two mothers - one baby. A story to make you think. Is it nature or is it nurture. When a huge secret comes out it leads to the most mind blowing ending I have read. Heartwarming and heartbreaking. A truly great book.

This is a roller coaster of an emotional book. It is the story of 2 sets of parents, Anna and Julius and Hope and Quiet Isaac. Both Anna and Hope give birth to daughters on the same night at the same hospital. Anna’S daughter is stolen from the hospital and Hope loses her daughter. Both mothers are utterly heartbroken. Anna is married to Julius, an obnoxious, self serving arrogant MP who sees this tragic event as an opportunity to self promote by holding a press conference irrespective of how Anna feels. Quiet Isaac is a gentle loving man devastated by the loss of his daughter. The story is of a mother’s unconditional love for her daughter and the lengths she will go to to protect her. The story advances 17 years when Minnie, Hope’s daughter is herself in a loving relationship and is pregnant., when her world is turned upside down. The story tells of happiness and unbearable sadness in equal measure, the steps a mother will go to in her unreserved love for that daughter.. Dawn paints a believable picture of Julius as an arrogant self absorbing man, she depicts the uncompromising love of both Anna and Hope for their daughters and the sacrifice made by them both. A real tear jerker of an ending but also joyous at the same time, all in all a great read. My thanks to Net Galley, Dawn French and her publisher Penguin for the opportunity to read this ARC

What does it mean to be a mother? It's certainly not as simple as simply giving birth. Heart-warming and hilarious, Because of You is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Highly recommend.

This is absolutely beautiful - sad and happy, full of love, hope and forgiveness. I hadn’t read any of Dawn French’s novels before this one and initially expected comedy. This is not comedy, it’s so much more than that. We follow two mothers, both who give birth on New Year’s Day, one of whom loses her baby straight away, then other loses hers soon after.
Hope, Minnie and Anna are such well written characters, they are complex but likeable and I was rooting for them all throughout. The storyline is well woven, going just fast enough to keep interest, I had to stay up to finish the last third as I was desperate to find out what happened. I really recommend this book and am off to read more Dawn French novels straight away!
Thanks so much to the author, the publishers and netgalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.