As much as I liked the writing and both the pace and sequence, I wasn't a fan of the book as a whole. The plot, when analyzed technically, is pretty underwhelming and weak.
After I finished the book, I realized I can sum up the whole thing in a few sentences. It was basically the kind of story people would write about seeing it happen to someone they knew.
The characters were also quite maddening, I understand everyone's apprehension about Joanne stressing herself over what happened to her bio mom, but they all reacted as if her world didn't change the moment she knew her mom didn't die in child birth. Considering the guilt she lived with over thinking about how she were to blame for her mother's demise, her need to know the truth was understandable to me.
I couldn't get why the father was adamant about not telling her everything even after she knew some parts of the truth, it would've saved her a lot of work and heartache.
The ending was satisfactory, while it didn't redeem the book, it gave it a nice closure.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

The author made this story come alive, including the characters. I didn’t want to read the chapters about Grace and the foreboding was heavy from the start. To take a topic supposed to be filled with joy and flip the script is a bold choice, but it was too much for me. I didn’t want to finish the book, but I did and the ending redeemed it, however, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I received an ARC from this publisher in exchange for providing an honest review.

Your whole life you have been told that your birth Mother died in childbirth your birth. Even though you were brought up by a Mum who loved you as her own how did this affect your life? Then fast forward and you are happily married and pregnant with your first and much-awaited baby. Only to find out that all you thought you knew was wrong. That is this book in a nutshell. We meet Grace the birth Mum and the timeline is the 70's. Then Joanne is current time and pregnant. The book goes between the two storylines developing the story. In the process, the book shows how different the 70s treated not only postpartum depression and or psychosis but even labor and delivery itself. I found this book enlightening on a subject that is often overlooked even today.
Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Cathy Hayward for my ARC. This review is my own opinion.

What an interesting read. Told from the perspective of mother and daughter, we follow two journeys through pregnancy.

Joanne has been brought up believing her mother Grace died in childbirth, but when she finds her baby book realises that things are not as she had believed and this starts her on a journey to find out the truth.

At the same time we learn from Grace's perspective about Joanne's Borth and what subsequently happened.

This was a heart rending story. Told from Grace's point of view and Joanne’s perspective, it traces Grace's pregnancy and subsequent depression/ psychological damage, and Joanne's pregnancy and questions about her mother and the stories she was told about her own childhood. As the truth comes out for Joanne, she questions everything she thought about herself and her father. Fortunately, there is a happy ending, however, the trip back to 1970's treatment was pretty gruelling. This is a difficult topic to write about and Cathy Hayward has done with it sensitivity and caring, and created wonderful characters that were easy to care about. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to read and give an honest review about.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
This was a terrific book, tense, heartbreaking and lovely all at once.
Joanne is finally pregnant after years of IVF when she finds clues that her mother may not have died at her birth. Her father refuses to talk about it and she decides to find the truth.
Her husband is terrified for her and her unborn baby, but she's determined.
In alternate chapters we follow her journey as well as her mother's, Grace, which include some uncomfortable and heartbreaking chapters about
postpartum psychosis.
It has a lovely ending ... it is an excellent book that I enjoyed immensely.

let's talk about 'The Secret of the Brighton House' by Cathy Hayward. Finished it in a day—that's how engrossing it was! Yeah, I had a feeling where it was headed, but man, Joanne's journey had me hooked. What really grabbed me? Her quest to uncover her mom's past- and by default her own truth. It's like diving into a mystery, peeling back layers of family secrets. If you're into stories about self-discovery and untangling family mysteries, this one's a must-read. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!"

The Secret of the Brighton House is a gripping tale that kept me hooked from start to finish. Joanne's journey is both relatable and compelling, though her husband leaves much to be desired. The dual timeline adds depth, and the supporting characters bring warmth and realism to the story. The central mystery about Joanne's mother is woven expertly, filled with suspense and emotional twists. Overall, it's a page-turner that masterfully blends family secrets with an engaging plot. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The dark secret in The Secret of the Brighton House had me on the edge of my seat. Joanne is a likeable protagonist. Her husband...not so much. The supporting characters were likeable and relatable and the story was engaging.

A great read. I loved the dual timeline, and the character development was great throughout the book.

Secrets…red herrings…realistic characters…is her mother dead or not? A mystery. The main character wants this question answered. Did her father lie to her? What happened to her mother? Intrigue and mystery. Warning…sad and distressing….that being said, this talented exceptional author deals with this story in a professional way…it is truly a novel of family togetherness. A page turner…Thanks Netgalley