I genuinely enjoyed this book. About mother and daughter and their relationship, with a few secrets. The mom is an end of life caregiver to those that don’t have anyone else. The daughter is struggling in life, it’s a slow book, but quite good. The narration was great.

This is the story of deeply held secrets that come out through a multiple POV narrative. I enjoyed the writing style and the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you love motherhood stories as much as I do, then EVERY PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE THING by Barbara Davis needs to be on your immediate TBR. This beautifully written novel will definitely tug on your heartstrings. The characters are multi-layered, the plot is eventful, and the pace is steady. There’s truly something for everyone—romance, friendship, family drama, loss, grief, and heartbreak—it’s very well-rounded. The conclusion absolutely knocked my socks off with a jaw-dropping twist that I did not see coming at all! It floored me! My best advice is to go in completely blind with this one.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Reflections on motherhood
- Complex mother/daughter relationships
- Second chance romance
- Epic love stories
- Rhode Island setting
- Multiple POVs
- Family drama and secrets
- Emotional reads
- Hints of mystery and intrigue
- Themes of grief, reconciliation, and healing
- Confronting a difficult past

My favorite thing about this novel is how it navigates the complicated relationships mothers might have with their children into adulthood, and the difficult decisions they grapple with when discussing the past—especially when uncovering hard truths.

QUICK SYNOPSIS:
“𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴.”

4/5 stars for EVERY PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE THING! It’s available now!

I enjoyed listening to this title. The plot kept me interested. Character development was decent. I've already purchased this for my library. Good listen!

Barbara Davis’s Every Precious Thing is a exploration of grief, second chances, and the weight of parental choices and how choice made for us, and not by us, can change the trajectory of our lives. This story doesn’t shy away from the pain of loss, the burden of past mistakes, or the struggle to mend what’s been broken.

While the themes are compelling, the pacing was a struggle for me. The book moved at a very slow burn for most of the journey, but once the final quarter hit—wow. I could not stop listening. Davis certainly knows how to pull off a twist, and I never saw that final reveal coming.

The audiobook narration was solid, except for the voices of the older characters, which had an almost warbly, RFK-like quality that grated on my nerves. As for the characters themselves… I just didn’t connect with them, which made it harder to feel fully invested.

Overall, I liked it but didn’t love it. The slow pacing and lack of character connection kept it at three stars for me, though that twist deserves some serious applause!

Wow, this book was beautiful. Honestly, I was not in the mood to read this right now, being a mood reader but with it coming out I forced myself to and I am glad that I did.

I loved the multi POV format and along with that the choice to have several narrators for the audiobook.

Each of the narrators : Sara Sheckells; Marni Penning; Petrea Burchard; Sarah Beth Goer did a fine job with bringing their character to life. Some of them were a bit slow in the standard rate but nothing speeding it up couldn’t easily fix.

This book would be a wonderful choice for a book club read, particularly a women’s book club. The prose is chock full of things to discuss with others as well as having a poignancy that doesn’t come around too often.

This book is out today, February 18th 2025 and it is a great one to pick up, both the physical and audio versions.


I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Brilliance Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I adored this story. I can always count on Barbara Davis to write a book that I will remember for some time.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

I received a arc of this. BUT I did end up reading it because the audiobook is missing chapter 51. I was so confused before I realized.

I’ve never read anything quite like this. It’s a blend of family drama, secrets, second chances and so much more. The multiple POV worked really well and each narrator was absolutely perfect for their character. This one tugged hard at my heartstrings and also opened my eyes to new perspectives. The title is perfect for this deep and beautiful story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Every Precious and Fragile Thing" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audiobook. I have read a few books by this author but nothing like this one. Maybe it was the audiobook and listening to the awesome narration but this book was great! A really beautiful and heartfelt story. A box of tissues is recommended.

A beautiful novel about women and friendship, their deep connections, personal growth and the challenges they face in life.
The story follows Mallory, who is grappling with a current tragic event as well as the aftermath of a personal trauma from 10 years ago that reshaped her relationships and her understanding of family.
One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of the complex characters surrounding Mallory, all of whom are complex, relatable and nuanced. I was able to resonate with their inner conflicts and desires, making me feel a part of their personal stories.
This was a thought-provoking read that invites reflection on the bonds that tie us to each other and the fragility of those connections. It’s a story that lingers long after the last page is turned, encouraging discussions about love, forgiveness, and the importance of cherishing the moments we have. It was my third novel by Ms. Davis and she is an outstanding author.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advanced audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Barbara Davis delivers an emotionally gripping novel that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impact. Every Precious Thing isn’t just a story—it’s an experience, one that pulls you in with its beautifully crafted relationships and deeply human emotions.

Davis masterfully weaves together a narrative filled with love, loss, and resilience. The characters feel so authentic that you become fully immersed in their world, experiencing their triumphs and heartbreaks alongside them. The unexpected twist left me momentarily stunned, and the depth of emotion that followed made it nearly impossible to hold back tears.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a beautifully written, character-driven story that resonates long after the final page. Every Precious Thing is not just good—it’s unforgettable. Highly recommended.

This audio has three narrators. Each one does such a good job. Pulls you into the story and keeps you hanging on to every word. Makes you believe in the characters. They did a brilliant job. The last few chapters were messed up. It seemed to skip one then play the next one twice. Someone should check that before it's actually published.

Barbara Davis is one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to a new book. She knows how to capture your heart. Your fears. Your everything. Whether it is a thriller or a love story she pulls you in and keeps your attention. This book is so good. So emotional and filled with so much. Another winner for sure...

When Mallory goes back home she has no idea what kinds of changes she is about to unfold. How much her life with me changed.

Mallory is a social worker who just lost a young client to a brutal murder. Her boss advises her to go. To get away. To take a break. Mallory doesn't want to at first. She doesn't feel like she needs too. She reluctantly goes back to where her mother is. Her mother, Helen, helps people. She helps them to transition out of this life. They are dying and alone. It was a hard life for Mallory growing up and she has some resentment toward her mother. Quite a bit of resentment it seems. But Helen is determined to make things right.

Ten years before, Mallory was engaged to marry Aiden. Aiden lived next door. He was an aspiring musician. He played the piano and was gifted. His mother, Estelle, didn't want him to marry Mallory. She wanted him to pursue the dream of playing and becoming famous. After a sudden loss he did leave. But his heart always belonged to Mallory. I didn't like Aiden a lot. To me he was a bit whiny. He should have stood up to his mother. But then there would not have been a story right. So it was written perfectly.. He left and ten years later they find themselves face to face again. What will happen now?? Can they make amends? Pick up the pieces and move forward? Or should they go their separate ways and just let that be it?

Helen and Estelle were never friends. Until they are. It takes something truly awful but they do become friends. Helen has a few secrets in her life that she needs desperately to share with her daughter Mallory. And she needs to come to terms with things also.

This is a beautiful story of love, loss, forgiveness, and starting over. A story that will keep you turning the pages. Make you believe in almost anything. Through the many tears and just as much laughter can these four make peace. Can one move on and the rest be ok with it? What secret is Helen hiding and will Mallory forgive her? Forgiveness is what matters most in some cases...

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #BrillianceAudio, for this ARC.

We follow 3 different points of view, our main female character, Mallory, who is a Social Worker, specializing in at risk teenagers and young adults. Helen, Mallory's mother who's a death doula. And Estelle, their next-door neighbor.

After a tragedy, Mallory heads home to recharge and rethink her life choices. Mallory has been estranged from her mother Helen for some time. They're each doing a bit of soul searching, both alone and together. They're each grieving something/someone in their own way. And yet the thing that inevitably tore them all apart is the thing that will bring them all back together.

Grief, love, family, secrets, betrayals, this book has a little bit of everything. Such a beautiful story! This is an extremely well-written novel which examines the complex relationship between mothers and their children, dying with dignity, repairing broken relationships.

The story is both poignant and heartwarming - highly recommend.

💙Social Work
💙Multiple POV's
💙Small Town
💙Terminally Ill
💙Second Chances

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the complementary advanced audio copy, all thoughts are my own.

Another absolute masterpiece! I first discovered Barbara when I read The Last of the Moon Girls, and I've been hooked on her writing ever since. Her books are so uniquely written, and yet they all feel like coming home.

This gem is told from 3 different POV. Mallory, a caseworker. Helen, Mallory's mother and a death doula. And Estelle, their next-door neighbor. They're each doing a bit of soul searching, both alone and together. They're each grieving something/someone in their own way. And yet the thing that inevitably tore them all apart is the thing that will bring them all back together. Grief, love, family, secrets, betrayals, this book has a little bit of everything. Such a beautiful story!

Loved the narrators as well! They each played their part perfectly! Very glad that each POV had their own voice. Really brought this story to life.