In "When You Were Mine," the protagonist, Stephanie, confronts a harrowing dilemma upon learning of her pregnancy and receiving a diagnosis of ovarian cancer on the same day. Faced with the severity of her circumstances, she wrestles with the choice of either carrying her child to term, potentially jeopardizing her own life, or opting for treatment that poses a risk to her unborn child's well-being. Her husband advocates for her health as a priority; however, his concealed truths foster an atmosphere of distrust for Stephanie. This poignant narrative delves into themes of motherhood, friendship, and the intricate dynamics of family relationships, rendering it a moving exploration that resonates profoundly with readers.
As the storyline progresses, unforeseen developments and startling diagnoses cultivate a compelling atmosphere that captivates readers. The author, Emma-Claire Wilson, deftly engages with challenging subjects, weaving together themes of love, infidelity, and childhood illness with sensitivity. The evolving connection between the two families throughout the narrative underscores the significance of support and empathy. "When You Were Mine" serves as an emotionally impactful read that ultimately conveys a powerful message about the essence of friendship and the definition of family, leaving a profound impression on its audience. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

When You Were Mine delves into the themes of friendship, motherhood, and the true essence of family. It poses a question many of us have pondered: Is family defined solely by blood, or is it something more? What does ‘family’ truly mean to you?

The novel intricately explores the separate lives of friends and how their paths intersect, creating a compelling narrative that kept me eagerly turning pages. The suspenseful twists in the latter half of the book made it utterly unputdownable, and I found myself engrossed, devouring the entire story in one night.

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Two women from different backgrounds become friends when they both go into labour early in Spain.

When one of the.mums returns to the UK after her baby moon ends and they stay in touch remotely via video calls and text and use their catch-ups to share their parenting and relationship struggles.

However, when tragedy strikes their friendship is put to the test....

A story that kept me hooked. A parent's worst nightmare, I'm not sure what I would do in their situation!

This is an emotional story which will pull on your heartstrings whilst also being an engrossing read. Not having children myself, I wasn't sure about this book from the blurb alone. However, those fears were unfounded and it quickly drew me in and the writing style made it easy to read. Differing family and friendship situations are explored throughout and many times gave me pause for thought. Overall I enjoyed it and based on this would read more of this author's work

📚 Book Review: When You Were Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson
📚 Genre: Women's Fiction / Family Drama
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
When You Were Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson is a powerful and emotional journey through the trials of motherhood, friendship, and the devastating impact of hidden truths. The protagonist’s life is spiraling out of control as her marriage crumbles and unsettling questions about her daughter arise. A visit from her friend Victoria seems to offer a glimmer of hope, but a shocking diagnosis and the necessity to reveal a long-buried secret threaten to destroy everything she holds dear.

Why You’ll Love This Book:
💫Deep Emotional Connection: This book dives deep into the emotional struggles of its characters, making you feel every twist and turn in their journey.
💓Complex Relationships: Explore the intricate dynamics of marriage, friendship, and family, each portrayed with raw honesty and depth.
🎭Relatable Characters: The protagonist's struggles and Victoria's support are relatable and will resonate with readers who have faced their own life challenges.
✍🏻Gripping Narrative: Emma-Claire Wilson’s storytelling keeps you hooked from the first page to the last, with a perfect blend of suspense and heartfelt moments.
🎡Thought-Provoking Themes: The book tackles significant themes such as loyalty, truth, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

When You Were Mine is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of human relationships and the impact of secrets on our lives. It’s a story of hope, resilience, and the strength it takes to confront the truth, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys emotional, character-driven stories. Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources and @netgalley for the #ARC #BlogTour

#BookReview #WhenYouWereMine #EmmaClaireWilson #HeartfeltStory #Motherhood #Friendship #FamilySecrets #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity

A thought-provoking story about Covid and lockdown with a child. This well written story will stay in my mind for a very long g time. It was sometimes sad and sometimes it was hard to remember how we all got through that pandemic but, we did. I did enjoy this story but, at times it made me uncomfortable. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Two women. Two families. One life-changing mistake.

Nicole's life is a mess. Her marriage is falling apart and the arrival of a baby girl did not bring joy to the home. Especially because as she grows, there is less of a resemblance to her husband. Nicole's friend Victoria lives a seemingly perfect life in Spain. When they reunite, the visit takes an unexpected turn. A shock diagnosis reveals a mistake that changes their lives but could save a family.

If that synopsis sounds deep, it is. I am trying not to spoil the plot while letting you Bookhearts know it is worth reading.

Heart-strings? Tugged. Eyes? Teary. Emotions? Pulled. These are my immediate thoughts upon finishing When You Were Mine. It is the type of book that you cannot help but to imagine what if. I sincerely do not know what I would do in this situation. This made the story all the more interesting.

It may seem like a tearjerker of a read but it really is balanced. The opposite types of marriage, the difference in setting and the different household roles all contribute to a well-rounded story. Beautiful writing, Emma-Claire Wilson, on this powerful novel of motherhood, friendship and what family means.

Happy Pub Day, Emma-Claire Wilson! When You Were Mine is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

This was truly a wonderful book. Nicole and Victoria meet in unusual circumstances and form a friendship that last over the years. They live in different countries and their bond just grows stronger. They help each other through the difficulties of raising children and struggles in their marriages. Then the unthinkable happens and their. lives are changed forever. It's definitely a page turner that you won't be able to put down!

When a debut novel is so successful I would imagine an author worries that their second novel might not receive the same admiration.
Author Emma Claire Wilson need not have worried in the slightest
When You Were Mine was every bit as good as her debut novel This Child of Mine
We meet Nicole and Victoria in this story along with both husband's Andy and Mark.
The ladies meet in Spain while giving birth and forge a friendship that would see them through the difficult of times.
When Nicole and her family receive the most devastating news, she must look to Victoria for support, for understanding and for courage.
I thought the friendship between these two ladies is what you hope for in life.
It seemed so special to both women.
They must try to see what is important and somehow navigate the difficult road ahead for them both.
So many emotions with this read. I laughed, I cried and I hoped as I turned the pages.
A beautiful read for me....💞

This is an emotional read with themes of motherhood, friendship, depression, child illness and so much more.

I love how real and relatable this was. It follows the journey of two friends across two countries with different familial problems and issues.

I enjoyed it and loved the build up. I did not know what to expect. This was a far distant shot from where I thought the story was heading. I did not see that plot twist coming.

It is a book about everyday people with everyday problem. It was set during and after the lockdown which all readers can relate to.

There are difficult topics in the book which the author dealt with in a humane way while caring for the reader’s sensitivity.

If you love books about second chances, great friendship and family then I highly recommend this.

After absolutely adoring Emma-Claire Wilson’s first novel, I was so excited to read this.
Emma-Claire Wilson has a fabulous knack of tackling delicate, and heart wrenching stories and this book does just that.
I love how strong the friendship came through in this book with Victoria and Nicole, and the story that was developing around them.
This is a beautiful, strong story about friendships, heartache and the family you choose to have around you.
Very enjoyable and heart warming read.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'When You Were Mine' by Emma-Claire Wilson.

Congratulations Emma on another fantastic page turner!!! An absolute must read with vivid descriptions that set the scene for you. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

Grab the tissues and clear your schedules as you will not be able to put this down!!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Emma-Claire Wilson!!! I absolutely loved your absolutely amazing debut book 'This Child Of Mine' and when I seen this book I just had to read it. I was a bit dubious wondering with such an amazing debut book how on Earth are you going to make another book just as amazing as that one is but you managed it hook, line and sinker which is not an easy feat at all!! I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next with your incredible talent!!!! The storyline is realistic and filled with love, loss, heartbreak, tears, important messages, tragedies, romance, family and more. I was completely absorbed from the first page until late at night when I could only put it down because I'd finished it. It is one of those books that is just impossible to put down!!! I lost count how many times I would promise myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next so I promised myself just one more, just for this to happen over and over until I had tears streaming down my eyes finishing the last page. Make sure you clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down and definitely have the tissues at the ready!!! An emotional read full of love, heartbreak and hope with serious topics weaved perfectly into it. Emma writes about such difficult topics but does so in a sensitive and gentle way weaving them into absolutely incredible storylines!! If you love Jodi Picoult and Nicholas Sparks then Emma-Claire is an absolute MUST READ author for you!! Grab your copy of this amazing book or 'This Child Of Mine' today and I can promise you will not regret it!! It is a gorgeous book and can be read in the sun or curled up next to the fire. I was completely invested in the storyline throughout and on several occasions my heart was in my throat with what was happening. Emma, you really do have such an amazing talent of conveying such heart wrenching topics and via such amazing storytelling skills that your book will leave me thinking about it months after reading it which makes for truly amazing talent. Congratulations Emma.

This would make an absolutely stunning movie that I would love to watch!!

I was completely invested in the characters and I loved both Victoria and Nicole's characters and personalities so much!! Emma-Claire does an amazing job of weaving their stories together ensuring the reader really gets to feel everything that they are both feeling and that they both completely jump out of the pages, as do all of the characters although not all of them are as likeable! Both Nicole and Victoria were realistic, strong and very likeable. Their friendship was absolutely amazing and something that everybody in life should have as it really makes a difference to what someone is going through to have such a huge support as these ladies were to each other. My heart absolutely went out to them both and as a mother myself I really could feel their struggles and pain but also the beauty of their friendship shining through the pages. It's hard to say too much as I don't want to give anything away to future readers but I'd you want to find out what I mean just click the link below to get your copy today!! A great realistic mix of characters who worked perfectly for this storyline.

ABSOLUTELY loved this book Emma and here's to hoping you've started on your next page turner. Watch out JoJo Moyes, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks and Diane Chamberlain you have some serious competition here!! This is the exact reason you are one of my favourite authors even when you had me in streams of tears!!!

Overall an unputdownable addictive emotional rollercoaster drama filled with love, family, heartbreak, friendship and loss.

#WhenYouWereMine #EmmaclaireWilson #Avon #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

@EmmaclaireWilson @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @Avon


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Though this book was a bit slow to start I did find the story very interesting. It did get to a point where I did not want to stop reading because I wanted to see how the story unfolded.

This story explores deep themes including motherhood, family, marriage, infidelity, friendship, and childhood illness. This was not a light story but one which was deeply emotional and at times very moving.

The theme I enjoyed was the idea that family is not always blood. We can create family out of shared love and mutual respect and being in each other's corners.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and plan to read more of this author's work. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"When You Were Mine" presented an intensely emotional narrative that delved into numerous challenging topics. Although it falls outside my usual genre preferences, the compelling description enticed me, and I'm delighted that I decided to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a beautifully written and emotionally moving novel. All the characters in this book were amazing, because they felt so real to me, and it was impossible not to feel a connection with them. It was as though while I was reading, I felt everything that the characters felt.

The bond between a mother and her children is unlike any other type of love, and I think this book speaks to that.

I was also very moved by the portrayals of friendship and marriage in the book. It was an absorbing read, and somehow, I found it both heartbreaking and heartwarming, at the same time.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for a free copy to review.

I absolutely loved her first book, This Child of Mine, it was such a moving emotional read. I couldn't wait to read her sophomore release.

She's back with another fantastic women's fiction book that is so emotional. She does a fantastic job transporting the reader into her stories, making you feel all the emotions.

I will read every book she writes.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

The story was an emotional read and was about life as a Mum, family and the role friendships play throughout this time.

There was different issues covered throughout like illness, depression as well as others. But it was very well written.

Tissues will be needed.

I highly recommend this book.

Nicole and Victoria are leading very different lives. One in Scotland, one in Spain. They meet in hospital, having babies on the same day, and have stayed friends ever since. They haven’t been able to spend much physical time together, living in different countries and with having covid restrictions in place for so long, but they both cherish their zoom catch ups and when Victoria announces she’s visiting Scotland again, with her twins, Nicole is over the moon.
I loved how these two ladies became friends and how they are such a support to each other despite having so many miles between them and a pandemic to contend with. They both have their struggles and very much look forward to catching up properly and seeing their children (now three years old) play together. However, when Nicole’s older son is taken ill their plans take an unexpected turn and little do they know just how much their lives are about to change forever.
This is such a heart-wrenching story. My heart broke for both ladies, and Nicole’s husband. (Victoria’s husband, not so much, he’s not quite as likeable.) I can’t even imagine how I would cope if I found myself in their situation. A parent’s absolute worst nightmare! I wondered however they would find a solution which is best for all concerned and I think they handled it perfectly in the end, considering how painful it must be.
I absolutely loved Emma-Claire Wilson’s first novel, This Child of Mine, and I have absolutely loved When You Were Mine. It’s so beautifully written, full of raw emotion, sadness and heartache, but also family, friendship, smiles, laughter, and hope. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

** Thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC via NetGalley **

**Spoiler Alert: This review contains details about the plot of “When You Were Mine” by Emma Claire Wilson.**

Emma Claire Wilson’s “When You Were Mine” delves into the dramatic implications of a baby switch against the backdrop of the pandemic. While the novel’s central plot revolves around this twist, it also explores broader themes such as family dynamics, the nature of friendship, and the complexities of relationships.

The book's setting during the pandemic adds a layer of contemporary relevance, creating a sense of immediacy and realism. The prose is undeniably elegant, providing a detailed and immersive look at the characters' lives. However, the narrative's slow progression can be frustrating. The story drags through a significant portion of the book, focusing heavily on mundane details rather than advancing the central plot. This slow build-up might test readers' patience as they await the pivotal reveal.

The baby switch, which serves as the book’s main premise, is preceded by a considerable amount of build-up. When the revelation finally occurs, it feels both predictable and exaggerated. The characters' reactions, though understandable given their exhaustion and stress, seem overly dramatic and undermine the impact of the twist.

Alongside the baby switch, the novel examines themes of family and friendship, questioning whether familial bonds are solely defined by blood or by shared experiences. It also delves into the challenges faced by the characters in their relationships, both within their immediate families and with close friends. These elements provide depth to the story but are sometimes overshadowed by the slow pace and the book’s focus on the baby switch.

Another notable issue is the book’s use of Spanish, which contains grammatical errors and incorrect word choices. This detracts from the story’s authenticity and suggests a lack of attention to detail in representing the language accurately.

In conclusion, *When You Were Mine* offers a compelling premise with its exploration of family, friendship, and relationship issues. However, its slow pace and occasional narrative flaws may limit its appeal. The potential of its themes is evident but could benefit from a more dynamic structure and meticulous attention to linguistic accuracy.

*Disclaimer: While I used AI to help me write this review, all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.*

I fully realize this is a novel and not rel life... but this does somewhat mirror real live. 2 families who meet by chance, yet thier lives are so drastically different. Fast forward a few years... one mom has a very sick young man, but will her past come back to haunt her? This is honestly where things went a little downhill for me. Without spoilers, there are some unique situations in the story, that might not mirror real life