This is a thought-provoking and powerful novel about a mother’s love; from the author of The Things We Keep and The Secrets of Midwives.
ABOUT THE MOTHER’S PROMISE:
“All their lives, Alice Stanhope and her daughter Zoe have been a family of two, living quietly in northern California. Zoe has always struggled with crippling social anxiety and her mother has been her constant and fierce protector. With no family to speak of, and the identity of Zoe’s father shrouded in mystery, their team of two works—until it doesn’t. Until Alice gets sick and needs to fight for her life.
Via – Sally Hepworth’s website
Desperate to find stability for Zoe, Alice reaches out to two women who are practically strangers, but who are her only hope: Kate, a nurse, and Sonja, a social worker. As the four of them come together, a chain of events is set into motion and all four of them must confront their sharpest fears and secrets—secrets about abandonment, abuse, estrangement, and the deepest longing for family. Imbued with heart and humor in even the darkest moments, The Mother’s Promise is an unforgettable novel about the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters, and the new ways in which families are forged.”
MY REVIEW:
With every book she writes, author Sally Hepworth becomes more well-known for her emotional portraits of families, and the struggles that test their bonds.
In The Mother’s Promise, she delivers a powerful novel. It’s the story of a single mother who is dying, her troubled teenaged daughter who is battling crippling social anxiety, and the two women who come into their lives at the most critical moment.
I felt immersed in the story from the first page. I connected with each character—they all feel very real. And as the mom of a daughter, I began questioning how I would react and respond to the situation the characters found themselves in. It’s heartbreaking.
My one complaint would be that it wraps up a bit too neatly. Otherwise I found it to be a story that made me laugh, cry, and think hard about the responsibility of motherhood. Is it to protect your children from the world; or is it to help them prepare to one day fly the nest and lead independent lives? You can probably guess the answer to that!
MY VERDICT:
Overall, The Mother’s Promise is a heart-warming and sentimental story about the power of motherhood. A great read for any mom. Keep the tissues nearby though.