Multiple POV, brilliant disability rep, family drama and twists, all made for a gripping domestic drama.

This is a new author to me, I enjoyed this book and the way it dealt with disabilities. It moved forward and backwards in years throughout each chapter but it didn’t deter from the storyline. All in all a good book

A fascinating account of one woman who does the ‘unthinkable‘ and abandons her family, including her disabled daughter. We see how her choice affects not only her, but her husband, her son, her best friend. 20 years later her (ex) husband has written a book detailing how he taught their daughter to sign; what will happen when the film rights are optioned?

I appreciated the author's foreword when we learnt that she was writing from experience, and also that she acknowledged that everyone's experience is different.

A completely engrossing book, even if there were a few too many ‘convoluted‘ relationships. Everyone seemed to be looking after other people's kids.... I think one less issue like this would have made the book even more powerful.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This book is personal to the author, it deals so many emotions, different emotions from the different family members.
Having myself been the mum of a child who did not fit into the ‘normal’ box, I found the author dealt with the difficult issues one encounters with grace and empathy.
Kate has just had her 2nd child, a daughter, baby Kirsty has been born with many difficulties, her condition is so rare there is no name for it and Kate is struggling to cope, she feels totally overwhelmed. Kirsty screams continuously, needs 24 hour attention and on top of that her son Adam is an angry, rather demanding child.
I truly understood some of Kate’s emotions, a few times I felt I had turned the clock back and it was I again in the midst of the many problems and on emotional rollercoaster that comes along as the mum of a child with complex needs.
I even understood her need to escape, but was still shocked that she left, abandoned her husband and her two children, the path of so many lives altered by her decision. Her husband Andrew manages to survive with the help of of her friend Olivia. Olivia moves in practically, she is an unpaid housekeeper and provides care for Andrew. and the children It is fifteen years before hear from it see Kate again.
This book is a heart wrenching read, it’s powerful and will speak to those who read not only Kate’s story, but that of those she left behind and how they survived. I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to end, or what I expected to happen.. Kate made her choice, I don’t think we can judge Kate, we are all different. This book will stay with me for some time, an outstanding read.

The author completely involves you in the lives of the characters. You want to keep reading to find out what happens to them. There are so many different aspects of love woven into the story. Unlike some books I have read it was not annoying to move between different times. I also enjoyed hearing the story from the viewpoints of the different characters.

Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... These books should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away. Disability covered in this book.

FROM THE COVER📖


Kate has done the unthinkable. She'd worked hard to build a perfect life for herself, while ignoring her growing unhappiness. But when her second child was born profoundly disabled, reality hit. Unable to cope, Kate left - disappearing without a trace. She ends up in LA, with a glittering career and a new family of sorts, but the guilt is still suffocating.

Husband Andrew was left to pick up the pieces and care for their disabled daughter and angry, confused son. Bereft and broken, he leaned on Olivia, Kate's best friend. She's been by his side ever since, ignoring her own needs to meet his.

Years later, Andrew has written a memoir about his daughter learning to communicate against all odds. But when Kate's new producer husband decides he wants to make a film of it, their worlds collide once again. Now, Kate must return to the life she abandoned and reckon with what she did. The guilt and the love. The pain and the hope. In other words, family.

Following a fractured family over a period of twenty years.

REVIEW⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have read all of McGowans books, I have a mixed relationship with them I adored the Paula McGuire series but I have found a few of her stand alone novels not very good at all. I enjoyed her last book “Are You Awake” though I found it a bit far fetched and rushed so when I saw this on NetGalley I was very interested to read it especially as it was a move away from her usual genre of writing. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this ARC am super glad to report that this was one of McGowans best.

The book is told from various character POV(Kate, Andrew and Adam) spanning over time, time again and the now, set in London and LA we hear the story of the family. I really liked how the book was laid out, it was well plotted and very much held my interest. It is not a fast paced book it’s steady, giving us little moments that individually might seem insignificant but weave together to make a picture of a life,a story and a very well written character lead novel.

The characters are imperfect, some are not very likeable but they are all relatable written with a honesty that makes them come alive off the page. Every character develops and grows as the pages turn, showing us the network of people who get involved and affected by the decisions made years ago. I like how the author makes us think that life is really a series of decisions we make as we go, one decision leads us this way but the another decision would have lead us in another direction. There is a lot of reflection from all the characters on the what ifs of life. For me this made compelling reading. I really in particular liked Adam as a character, we go in a journey with him from a young boy to a young man, this journey was heartbreaking at times. He also got some of the best one liners in the novel. I really feel the author captured what it is like to be the sibling of a sick child, Adam character felt the most real to me. For me Kate as character is very interesting I feel the writer has written with a honest voice she clearly represents the true picture of being a parent, not just to a disabled or an sick child, the mixture of feelings you can have: the guilt that sometimes your children can be impossible to love, the grief for your not “perfect” child, the loss you can feel for yourself, the anger, the frustration, the joy, the love and all that’s in between. She written well with a raw heartbreaking honesty full of emotion.

You can tell the writer has experienced being part of someone life whom has a disability as she handles the issue with such a delicate nuance. For the main this novel is very different from her previous work and it for me it is for the better, perhaps having such a close personal story of her own helped but this book is by far her best stand alone work.

Like all of the authors works there is a deep political, social message inter-winded in her works in the case of this it’s seamlessly done, drawing a subtle attenuation to big questions and important matters like how we treat the disabled and abortion rights . I always like how she has a powerful stance on the treatment of women within her work and this is no different however I feel within this message is extra powerful. It will make you question your view points and it will make for an ideal book club read, lots of room for debates.

The ending was bit of a let down I personally would have liked a more tidy ending however that being said it matches the tone of the book- the what’s ifs of life- and leaves the reader to make up their own minds

A solid four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading other books by this author. I would definitely recommend this book!

This is a powerful. book showing a very interesting look at the complexity of the relationships and the heartbreaking choices and decisions surrounding children with disabilities. Although none of the characters were particularly likable - you could understand where they are coming from, you really don't know how you would cope in this situation until you are faced with it yourself. Fantastic writing, but a difficult read that will definitely get you thinking.

Powerful, raw and thought provoking. Disability can be such a tricky thing to get right in literature but the author’s lived experience shone through and was so well written.

I found this book to be a very emotional rollercoaster as it tackles the difficulties of being parents to a disabled child. Claire McGowan tackled this theme very well providing many thought provoking moments. It was difficult to read in places but due to the writing being so well done it did make it easier.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Which parent of small children hasn’t dreamed of leaving at some stage ,I recall a particularly fraught day when I stormed out of my house leaving toddler and baby with daddy .I made it to the car only but what if you didn’t and you left and restarted a life elsewhere.This is the premis for this novel which very quickly grabbed me and kept me wanting to know what happened next
The family in the story have a severely disabled very dependent child and this adds another level to the story .The stresses on family life of raising disabled children is immense and many marriages break down unable to stand these .I particularly appreciated the decision made by the author to way the author tell us her own family history of learning disability right at the start .perhaps because of this I felt the story had a deep authenticity which raised the novel above simple women’s fiction
Cleverly the narrators move to USA allows the author to raise the topical issues surrounding the abortion debate in that country
There were several scenes I appreciated from my own life as being very real for example the elderly relative not turning off the TV on when visitors arrive .

I loved the ending particularly as it raised the the serendipity of life so well
I read an early copy on NetGalley uk the novel is published in the uk on 1st June 2023 by Little Brown Book Group
This review will be published on NetGalley uk Goodreads and my book blog Bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.Com

What if you could choose? This is the underlying theme throughout this book.
Kate has her dream of a perfect job, marriage and children. But with the birth of her second child, Kirsty, life changes for everyone.
The book is cleverly written, telling the stories of all the characters involved. It reflects the harsh reality of caring for a disabled child and how easy it can be to reach breaking point. Would you have done the same?
This book generates a multitude of topics and social dilemmas to discuss. Each character has their own personal battle throughout and although at times, they are unlikeable, they portray those taboos that we can be afraid to voice out loud.
Very emotive and not my usual genre, but definitely a thought provoking book, well worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this copy.

A very powerful and raw novel about a woman who leaves her marriage and two children, one of whom is severely disabled. In a world where men leaving similar situations is relatively common this twist is strangely subverting and challenging for the reader. Heartbreaking and unflinchingly honest the characters, although unlikeable are beautifully drawn. A powerful dissection of family dynamics and complexities this is highly readable if challenging. An amazing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This must have been a difficult book to write. The subject matter is of a woman who leaves her two children, one of whom is severely disabled. She is not a likeable character but the author does an excellent job of helping us understand why she acts the way she does. The difficulties of raising a child like this are not skimmed over. I suspect many will judge her for what she did which is very sad because none of us know how we would react in a similar situation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This Could Be Us" is the way it explores the themes of friendship, betrayal, and the dangers of keeping secrets. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about the bonds of friendship and the ways in which they can be tested by external pressures and internal conflicts.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Wow this is a powerful, difficult book. Clearly a topic close to the author’s heart, this book deals with the difficulties of living with a disabled child. Added to that is a complex web of relationships that spans two continents!

I did not much like any of the characters, but could understand a lot of where they were all coming from. None of us know how we would react if faced with a child with a rare genetic condition, and this book lays bare a number of options of how to manage it.

A great look at the intricacies of relationships, the heart breaking choices and decisions around children with disabilities, as well as managing to include the pandemic!

Great writing, a hard read but one that will definitely make you think!

An incredible emotional rollercoaster, this is really hard hitting and raw, I truly think everyone should read this to gain awareness about disabilities and how this can affect families/family dynamics. This was honestly so heartbreaking and makes you ask yourself a lot of questions. The characters are all incredibly developed and so human because they are morally grey they do right and wrong. Also the writing is evocative and beautifully written. I highly recommend.

Love this author.
A difficult subject written beautifully.
I would imagine that everyone will have different opinions on the main characters particularly Kate. I think that makes for a good book, very thought provoking.
I have already suggested this book to a couple of friends when it is published.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

What a ride of emotions I had reading this brilliantly written novel. Claire McGowan was born to write. Her style and delivery is so readable, so relatable and extremely clear. I loved this book so much.

This book is filled with amazing characters that each have their own journey within the plot. Some characters easy to warm to, others you’d like to give a quick slap to. The best bit is that as we follow their lives I found my impressions and opinions of everyone constantly changing. It’s a deep story with an important message.

What if you just don’t feel love for your children? What if you watch all the other mums being naturally maternal and beaming in unconditional love? What if you cannot cope, cannot connect and not only feel an utter heartless bitch for it but you cannot do it anymore? This is Kate. Her wishy~washy husband who can’t make his own decisions and in her view is just well….weak and that’s unattractive. Kate didn’t see this being her lot in life.

Their eldest son Adam is an angry, destructive, rage filled child. Hurting other children and seeming to enjoy it. But Kate’s biggest mum test is her daughter who has been born with such a rare chromosome disorder there is no nam for it. No help, no support groups. Kate and Andrew simply get overwhelmed. A baby who even as a teenager will have the body of an 8 year old, will never speak and still be in nappies. No way of communicating with her.

Kate does the unthinkable and sets wheels in motion for so many lives to alter course. The book explores all the players in the plot so well, defines each one and this is a book where in many scenes you can think who’s would you do? Each choice by any link in the chain jingling the other links. These intertwined lives come to a significant and very hard end that was hard for me to read. I wanted a different ending but can see why Claire took it where she did.

So many world events are happening. COVID hits the world, America is divided on its new President. Rumbles of Roe Vs Wade and women’s rights from both camps. Amongst all these the characters walk their journeys and confront themselves and question whst is family really? I loved Olivia (Livvie) as a special character in h book. I loved Adam too with his journey from angry raging child forwards.

It’s not a fast paced book, it’s steady, solid and holds you real close. I had a lot of late nights and just on more chapter! If you love character driven novels with imperfect characters this is for you. If you like your own opinions challenged it’s also for you. It will make for an ideal book club read, lots of room for debates. I enjoyed this immensely and shedding light on how raising a disabled child and the unique challenges I connected with having an Autistic son with ADHD and a learning disability. He is 23 now and he’s a young man yet so far behind others that my heart breaks. So I wan to say to anybody reading this with a disabled child this it’s not easy and let those that judge and give ridiculous advice (grapefruit juice can cure Autism) stay in their own lane.

What Kate did isn’t a simple thing but who knows how many Kates are out there right now?

An utterly powerful and brilliant novel that packs so much in. Kudos Claire for this exceptional novel. I hope many decide to read this gem. 5 huge stars!