Early this year I read this author's previous book (I'll admit: only because it was nominated at the Goodreads Choice Awards 2023) and that one did not really work for me. Yet, I wanted to read something else by this author.
And...now I've come to realise that, most likely, it's Davis' writing style that doesn't clique with me.
I did find both protagonists (mother and daughter) realistic enough, but I never felt truly engaged with them or with the plot as a whole.
I also felt this book was way longer than necessary.
Readers who have read previous books by this author and enjoyed might as well read and enjoy this one, too.
Especially the ones who enjoy multiple timelines and family drama.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, the characters were developed and it didn't leave unanswered questions. I look forward to other books from this author.

I think I had high expectations for the book. I love Barbara's lyrical writing but I just couldn't love the plot. It just felt like a repeated chain of forced drama.
As one reviewer mentioned, Mallory's work dilemma storyline was absolutely redundant, the author could've just said that she took a break from work with a few details to learn through dialogues and inner thoughts.
The book also dragged in many parts, I kept questioning what the purpose was.
Some people might like it, I wouldn't say it's a bad book myself, but it's definitely not for me.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to read Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis. A twisty and emotional read - Barbara Davis is one of the best.

As someone who has struggled, mended and has strong feelings, when it comes to my relationships with my own family, this book felt relatable. Felt like healing.

This book is full of emotions, struggles, plot twists, and most importantly full of love. The romance merely a small detail in a much bigger picture.

Barbers Davis made me cry and feel my feelings in the best way.

As you find your cozy reading place and prepare to experience this beautiful story by the illustrious Barbara Davis, be sure to keep a box of tissues nearby. And if you’re of a more mature age as I am, you might want to have two boxes. This emotionally charged narrative is multi layered and explores themes of family relationships and secrets, self reflection, forgiveness and death, not as a frightening or morbid occurrence, but as part of life that we all must cope with.

Mallory Ward is a social worker living in Boston who goes home to coastal Rhode Island for a summer following a tragedy at work. At home she must face the strained relationships she left behind…..first, with her mother Helen, who was often neglectful as she prioritized her work as a caregiver for terminally ill patients and second, with Aiden, the boy next door who was once her fiancée.

While each of our personal stories is different, our universally shared experience of living, loving and coping with loss will allow you to get easily absorbed into this beautifully written story with very relatable characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the wonderful Barbara Davis for allowing me to experience the digital copy of this exquisite story in exchange for my honest opinion. Publication date: February 18, 2025

This was a slow burn for me but in the best way. The Author tells the story from both Mallory and Helen’s viewpoints. Mallory is a social worker who helps at risk teens. Helen is a Doula for the dying. Their relationship has been strained and they haven’t spoken in months. A tragedy leads Mallory back home.

This story is not the edge of your seat roller coaster ride. However, it was emotionally charged and tugged at my heart strings. The story was relatable for me on so many levels. Great story!

Have you ever read a book that you felt like you were meant to read? A book that settles in your heart so deeply that you feel every single emotion felt by its characters? I’ve been waiting for months and months, maybe years, for a novel to affect me this way—and Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis is that book for me. This extraordinary, beautiful book feels personal, filled with sincerity and heart. Although this novel is about heart-wrenching decisions, regret, loss, and forgiveness, it is truly a love story. It’s about taking care of those we hold dear. And in a book where death is front and center, it’s not maudlin or angst-filled; death is just the passage of time and it is treated with dignity and respect. Can imperfect characters also be flawless? Because all of them were; difficult choices were made, there was pain and grieving, but in the end, all they could do was love. I felt the author’s true heart in ever word, sentence, passage, chapter of this book. As much as I felt this was a book I was meant to read, it’s also the book Barbara Davis was meant to write.

I am disappointed that this novel did not live up to my expectations. it was an interesting premise, but poor executed in my opinion. And so slow!

First of all, Mallory's job and what happened in the very beginning of the book to make her go back home seems SO disjointed and unnecessary to the rest of the story. It just took such a backburner, that it seemed like just a filler there. I did not give a care about what happened since it seemed so out of place.

Secondly, I did not get any chemistry between Aiden and Mallory. It seemed very juvenile and too easy for them to get back together despite many years since they last spoke.

I guessed the "twist" before it was revealed. But that whole convoluted story was SO weird and I felt so bad for Mallory being in the dark about it. Like what the heck?? I found myself skimming the last 20% of the book because I just didn't give a rip anymore.

All in all, I am disappointed and was not satisfied when I finished this book. It was just meh.

Barbara Davis’s Every Precious Thing is an emotionally charged, beautifully written novel that grips your heart and won’t let go. Davis masterfully weaves together a story of love, loss, healing, and second chances, blending heartbreak with hope in ways that feel authentic and profound.
This is more than just a story about loss—it’s about finding meaning, love, and strength amid life’s most difficult moments.
Fans of character-driven, heartwarming, yet heart-wrenching stories will find Every Precious Thing a deeply satisfying read. Davis has crafted a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page, reminding you of the beauty in even the most fragile of things.
Thank you to Netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this captivating tale, the author masterfully weaves together the lives of characters with contrasting viewpoints, each grappling with their own struggles. The narrative unfolds with a deep emotional resonance, drawing readers into the complexities of human experience.

The story is both heart-wrenching and enlightening, as it explores the characters’ journeys toward understanding and forgiveness. Each character's perspective adds depth, allowing us to see how their individual fears shape their responses to shared challenges.

What truly stands out is the theme of confronting personal demons to find a path to healing. The author skillfully highlights that while the road to forgiveness is often fraught with difficulty, it ultimately leads to growth and renewal. This book not only captivates but also inspires, reminding us of the power of empathy and the importance of facing our fears in the quest for connection and peace.

A must-read for anyone looking for a poignant exploration of the human spirit.

Oof. This book was a doozy. A beautifully written, heartbreaking read.

Returning home after a tragedy Mallory must confront her past, discovering truths about her mother, and acknowledging that maybe she hasn’t truly moved on from a past love.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing is the tale of a mother and daughter and the way they both cope with death and loss.

This will not be a read for every reader, but it certainly had me engaged.

Thanks the NetGalley for the E-ARC.

"For most of us, the good we do outweighs the bad we see, but that might not before you. There's no shame in admitting that."
I didn't know what I was getting into when I opened this book but it certainly was a surprise. It was a surprise that I came to like and appreciate the story for what it is.
These poor kids. This story definitely opened my eyes to what truly might be going on in these kids lives. It starts with the parents sad as that might be. Then their choice of friends.
I found myself praying for these kids.
Mallory is like me. I was able to connect to her in more ways than one. She's a sensitive soul. Tends to take things hard like me. That's why I'm surprised she's a case worker. I couldn't do that type of work. It was hard enough working with the elderly in a nursing home.
A fantastic story I really couldn't put down. I had to see if Mallory would make it.
Another quote
"I'm very proud of you, Mallory, for following your dream. The world needs more hearts like yours. I'm so glad you found your niche. From her mom.
Wise lady isn't she? I love that she's a wonderful supporting character
This will be a new authors for me. I didn't think I'd like this story truth be told. I'm so glad I decided to finish it. Honestly, it's very heartbreaking in some places but I love the mystery part of why this happened
5 stars from me. I highly recommend it. It kept me turning the pages until finished. I'm still thinking about these characters.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This was an enjoyable read. I liked Helen’s character and the relationship that develops between her and Estelle. I found Mallory to be a very relatable character. Good story!

Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley, all options are my own!!

This is the first book I have read by Barbara Davis but it will not be my last. She is a wonderful writer, and I really enjoyed this!

This book beautifully captures the struggle for understanding and forgiveness, reminding us that the past can haunt us, but it doesn’t have to dictate our future. A must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of resilience and redemption in the face of deeply rooted familial wounds.

When a tragedy happens to one of the young people that social worker Mallory Ward works with, she heads to her childhood home to recover and contemplate a possible career change. But things at home with her mother have always been tense, and to add to it there's her failed romance, once upon a time, with the boy next door.

I'm not even sure how to categorize this book. It has so much going on: family secrets, romance, discussion of death and dying, recovering from setbacks, and life altering decisions. Its a slow burn roller coaster ride. Wait, can "slow burn" and "roller coaster" even go in the same sentence? I'm not taking it back though because that's really how it feels. In terms of action, suspense, edge-of-your-seat stuff, this isn't it; but in terms of emotions, this is all over the place in the best way. It made me want to laugh and cry all at the same time, and it packed a real punch with it's frank discussions surrounding losing the ones we love. Trigger warnings for that all over the place. It's a powerful look at love and loss and the journey in between, and it's an ode to the sometimes complicated relationships between mothers and adult children and a beautiful nod to the healing that can come from reconciliation and understanding. I guess I'd call it women's fiction, but the messages here are important for everyone. Read this. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This was a masterpiece.

Mallory goes back home to her mother due to an incident at work that causes her deep stress. Her relationship with her mother is strained and her next-door neighbor is her ex that she never really got closure with.

There is so much going on in this book. This is a story about coping with death. It’s also about the choices mothers make to protect their children and how those choices can be right or really wrong. It’s about second chances. Losing people you love. Making horrible mistakes and doing what you can to fix those.

This book deals with terminal illness as Mallory’s mother is someone who helps people in their last moments of life that have no one else, so keep in mind that it can be sad.

I literally could not put this book down. This author is absolutely wonderful and I look forward to reading other books by her.

The last chapter and epilogue had me shattered. They were so beautiful.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an excellent read full of emotions, twists and turns, and love. While there is romance, this story is so much more than a simple love story. I’ve never read from this author before but I’m going to go find more to read. Outstanding read!

This is one of those emotionally captivating novels that will pull on your heartstrings a bit. Barbara Davis is a master at playing to the reader's feelings.