This is a great story about motherhood, friendship and trust, Gemma and her two year old daughter Poppy are awaiting news from Jack her partner and Poppy’s father to send for them to make their move to Australia, when she gets a message on Instagram from Jack’s brother to let her know that would not be happening that he had another partner now and that he will never be found and don’t try and contact me.

This came as a big shock to Gemma who was at work, she immediately makes her way to the bathroom where she has a meltdown, understandably so but there is someone else there and she offers comfort and soon they are becoming fast friends and Crystal loves Poppy, Crystal offers to help out with Poppy and soon Poppy seems to love Crystal as much as she loves her own mother, should Gemma be worried, her parents think so they do not trust Crystal at all.

Is it just jealousy or should Gemma really be worried and when people at the park are thinking that Crystal is Poppy’s mother Gemma is really getting concerned and feeling that Crystal who has become her best friend is holding something back.

This one had me thinking so many different scenarios while reading and I am not sure that I would have been as understanding as Gemma and the twist at the end well that was something I did not expect at all. Recommend for any reader of a good woman’s fiction story, this one has lots of different emotions running through it.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for my copy to read and revie

3.5 stars.
I read this book in one day.
I found this a quick read. Gemma was having a breakdown at work which lead to her friendship with Chrystal.
Both women were likeable enough and I definitely wanted to know how the story unfolded. Parts of the first half were repetitive as it foreshadowed the story.
I did not predict the ending.
I did not have a strong emotional reaction to the story though I believe the author was going for that.
I’m not sure I’d describe this as a thriller or women’s fiction but either way I found it a quick, engaging read.

In this emotional story, Gemma, a single mother, is shattered when she learns her partner has moved to Australia, found someone new, and no longer wishes to be involved, even with their daughter, Poppy. At her lowest, she meets Crystal, a supportive colleague who quickly becomes involved in her life. While Crystal helps with Poppy, Gemma grows uneasy as Crystal begins acting more like family, even as Poppy’s mother. Ignoring her parents' warnings to set boundaries, Gemma’s fears come true when Poppy goes missing. As the truth about Crystal’s past and secrets emerge, Gemma discovers answers to unexpected questions. The novel explores friendship, family, and blurred boundaries, building suspense as Crystal's intentions unravel. With complex emotions and a dramatic second half, the story ultimately leads to a heartwarming conclusion, though it takes readers on an intense emotional journey.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This emotional read follows Gemma, who has just found out that she will now be a single mum as her partner has moved away with no way of contacting him.

Whilst trying to come to terms with her new situation she meets a colleague Crystal, who knowing how she feels tries to comfort her.

Soon Crystal starts to become a large part of Gemma’s home life, with her daughter also loving having Crystal around in their lives. When jealousy starts to hit Gemma, with Crystal’s relationship with her daughter she starts to wonder if Crystal has something to hide.

Is Crystal hiding a secret? Has Gemma got a reason to worry?

This read is very emotional throughout as you get to hear from both women as they try to come to terms with distressing times in their lives.

There is a slight edge of mystery to the storyline, as you wait to find out if or what Crystal could be hiding, and this adds to the intrigue of what will happen next.

The main theme is friendship and family, but also with the added drama of when someone can overstep the boundaries of what is usually expected by friendship.

Overall, an emotional read where a colleague helps Gemma through a tough time, but is she hiding a secret?

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

When Gemma's partner leaves her for another woman, she becomes a single mother to her little girl, Poppy. Shortly afterwards, she meets Crystal, and the two women develop a close friendship.

The perspective switches between Gemma and Crystal, and I found that I didn't really identify with either of them, but I was interested in them. There was an element of suspense that drew me in, and I had to keep reading. I had the feeling that not everything was quite as it seemed. This was a page turner with some surprising twists, and Poppy was adorable too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I really enjoyed it and I couldn't put it down. This kept me hooked from the beginning to the end. Total page turner

Thank you for the opportunity to review

A great story with some good twists, some of which you could foresee however others that were a bit more of a surprise.

Not Your Child by Sheila Norton, After waiting months to here from the love of her life Gemma learns at work that not only is he in Australia but has found someone new and doesn’t want to be contacted by her for any reason not even their three-year-old daughter Poppy. When she breaks down in the ladies room thinking she is alone she hears a comforting voice and this is how she meets Crystal. Gemma is a single mom who works part time at the company Crystal works for and part-time at home building websites she couldn’t be happier to have a new friend especially when her new friend seems to like taking poppy to the park for walks ET see but soon she starts hearing things that don’t sit well with her like Crystal is acting as if she is her sister or even worse that she is poppies mom. Gemma‘s parents tell her to stop letting Crystal take poppy but when she wakes up one morning and poppy is gone she knows she should’ve listened. Crystal has secrets and is doing her best to hold on tightly not only to the secrets but seemingly her sanity but when she does come clean Gemma will have answers to questions she didn’t even know she wanted to ask. I thought the second half of this book was more interesting than the first but but I am glad I continue to read it and love the happy ending. There were many times in the book I felt is a Poppy what is showing a lack of common sense but then other times when talking to her mom she seem so sensible either way I still liked her and felt bad for Crystal been dislike Crystal then felt bad for her again. I definitely recommend this book and it’s just another example of why you should never give up on a book. #NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #SheilaNorton, #NotYourChild,

I loved reading this book, it brought up so many emotions whilst reading this. A very captivating and beautiful read overall.

Gemma is having a tough time and when she meets Crystal at work they become fast friends. It isn't long before Crystal has inserted herself into every aspect of Gemma's life including Gemma's young daughter. I had no idea where the author was going with this story so I was super enthusiastic to keep reading too find out. The twist is so shocking and you really don't see it until the second before it happens. I had suspicions about the characters making it hard for me to like or trust them but in the end I just felt regret and heartbreak. A unique and different story that I became obsessed with!

I enjoyed Sheila Norton’s books The Vets at Hope Green, The Pets at Primrose Cottage, The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay and A Good Enough Mother.

Not Your Child was so emotional, heartwarming, heartbreaking and swept me along with its twists. every word was perfectly chosen to make an impact. Poppy is so cute and well created.

The alternating chapters were a great idea for structure. Gemma’s were the longest. Crystal's ones were shorter, but no less powerful. Both women have difficult pasts.

This book is unforgettable and the story will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to Sheila Norton and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars but it deserves more. It’s a unique book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and the author Sheila Norton for the opportunity to read an ARC of the soon to released (9/24/24) Not Your Child. This review reflects my honest opinion. Gemma is rhe mom of the lively and lovely 2 year old Poppy. Her life was upended when Poppy's father simply left them with no warning. His brother sent her a notice that Jack was living in Australia and would not be seeing her or Poppy anymore; said brother then "unfriended " Gemma. Gemma was crying in the restroom at work where a very vivacious woman, Crystal, tried to comfort her. They went to lunch, and a fast friendship formed. The story is told from the perspective of Gemma and Crystal. I found both women to be childish, and it was clear from the beginning of their friendship that Crystal was preoccupied with Poppy. Although I found Not Your Child slow and somewhat predictable, it is all in all a satisfying novel 3 stars.

I found the first half of the book a bit slow and repetitive. It was basically the same scenario’s over and over.

The second of half of the book was really good and I liked one of the twists at the end, but one of them, I felt, was obvious from the start.

Although, the first half was a bit disappointing it left me wanting to know more about Crystal and her relationship with her partner.

I was going to rate this book 3 stars but it did pick up at the end so I added an extra star.

My guilty pleasure is simple thrillers like this one with little twists and women being a little off. This was okay. It held my attention.

A sweet read by Shelia but , also sad. Anything to do with children can be quite a sad read at times. I enjoyed this one as I always do by this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Not Your Child’ written by Sheila Norton in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Gemma is distraught when she learns that her partner Jack, and father of their two-year-old daughter Poppy, has abandoned them and moved to Australia. She’s befriended by work colleague Crystal and they form an immediate connection although she’s secretive about her own life. She gets concerned when Crystal becomes obsessive with Poppy, making people believe she’s Poppy’s mother rather than Gemma, and senses there’s something not quite right.

‘Not Your Child’ is a well-written story of secrets, trust and friendship and the confusion that arises when there’s a lack of truth. It’s fast-paced with characters who are nicely described and enough suspense and twists to keep me involved in what’s happening. The final twist is a surprise though not as great a surprise as I’d expected, but it’s a fitting conclusion to this enjoyable and absolutely readable story.

When Gemma breaks down at work after receiving a devastating message Crystal finds her and tries to comfort her. They become friends very fast and when Crystal meets Poppy, Gemma’s little daughter, they had a connection right away. But something isn’t totally right….
I enjoyed the first part and the last part but the middle part was a little too long, much of the same, for me. The conclusion of the story was good but I was hoping for an epilogue. I’v read a couple of books by this author but I liked this one a little less.

A psychological thriller is what I think the author was going for in this novel. I did enjoy the story; I went back and forth from liking the two main characters. Two women who work for the same company, meet when Gemma has just been delivered an awful blow by text. She's sobbing in the bathrooms, and Crystal hears her. She sticks around to see if she can help and it's the start of a friendship between the two women. As we move through the story, Crystal seems to develop a weird and unusual attachment to Gemma's daughter. Gemma's parents warn her that something isn't quite right with the situation, but Gemma wants to believe the best in Crystal and her intentions. The story does have some twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sheila Norton and Boldwood Books for allowing me this eversion arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved every minute of this book, I didn't have a clue what to expect or where the story would go, and that made it even more exciting for me, a brilliant twist, a highly recommended read.

A well written book that pulled me in from the start. Gemma and Crystal were both well described characters although I did have my suspicions over some of Crystal's actions. The big reveal was a surprise but did answer all the questions.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, which I thoroughly enjoyed, in return for an honest review