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Writer's pictureKirsty Whitlock

'The Child I Never Had' by Kate Hewitt

Updated: Feb 16, 2022


Book Description:


If you had to make an impossible choice to save your long-lost daughter, you would… wouldn’t you? It’s a warm early summer’s evening when Mia’s doorbell rings. She opens the door to see a teenage girl standing in the shadow beyond the porch light—and in an instant she knows who it is. Daisy, the daughter she gave up as a baby. Daisy steps forward, as she says tearfully “I’m sorry I didn’t call first. But something happened. And I really needed… you.” Seventeen years before, knowing she couldn’t possibly give her beautiful little girl Daisy the future she deserved, Mia made the hardest decision of her life—to give her up. And Suzanne seemed the perfect adoptive mother: calm, stable, and full of love for the daughter she’d always dreamed of having. The two mothers promised to keep communication open, so Daisy could have Mia’s love and support along with Suzanne’s. But as the years passed, Mia moved away, and their visits happened less. Now Daisy is almost a stranger to Mia—angry, closed and broken—nothing like the tiny girl she once couldn’t bear to say goodbye to. But now Daisy has arrived on Mia’s doorstep, and she says she has a terrible secret. One she can never tell Suzanne. And she believes the only person who can help her is Mia. Her birth mother. Mia, however, has secrets of her own. Ones she is afraid to let Daisy or anyone else know. And while Suzanne desperately seeks a way to bring her child home, can Mia overcome her past to help the girl they both call their daughter in her darkest hour before it’s too late? Totally gripping emotional women’s fiction from the author guaranteed to make readers cry. Kate Hewitt’s story will grab you by the heartstrings and never let you go. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Jojo Moyes.



BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Child ai Never Had' by Kate Hewitt.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kate Hewitt, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 10th February 2022.


This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'My Daughter's Mistake' which I would highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Diane Chamberlain.' I am a fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a HUGE fan of Kate Hewitt and if this is half as good as 'My Daughter's Mistake' it is bound to be an addictive read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue, 33 chapters, and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in North Caroline and New York USA 🇺🇸.


This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Suzanne, Mia and Daisy. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.



WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!


This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.


This book is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful. It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with heartbreak, family, love, loss, secrets, friendship, forgiveness and so much more. It is a mother's absolute worse nightmare whether you are looking through Suzanne or Mia's eyes. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with them and going through their pain and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets and forgiveness. It brings to light how every different person feel when it comes to an adoption, especially an open one. Kate has clearly done her research on adoptions and how open ones work and this shines through in this story. Well done Kate as there's nothing much worse that reading a novel filled with silly errors as the author hasn't done any research. The storyline is quite unique and I haven't read one like it before, it definitely gives you something to think about and shows you how much emotion and strength is involved from both the birth family and adoptive family. I was completely shocked by the twists which I was not expecting at all. It is getting harder and harder to surprise me so congratulations again Kate!!! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down and it had me in tears by the end and I do not cry easily!!!


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.


The characters are strong, realistic and I became completely invested in both Suzanne and Mia, as well as Daisy. I felt each of their pain, anger, sorrow and joy. My heart broke for each of them who went through so much. Although it was mainly through Suzanne and Mia's eyes that the story unfolds there are so many other characters that I bonded with and who was affected by everything going on. My heart went out to Daisy who was clearly struggling with everything that was going on and the shocking secrets that were discovered which she was struggling with along with being at the tender age of seventeen. Although I did feel for her I also felt like screaming at her on many occasions and wish she would just understand what her mum was going through. I felt Mark and X was tough in occasions but I also felt for him as it can't be easy being a Dad in this situation. I've said X as I don't want to spoil the twist for future readers. I also felt for Ella, Avery and Sophie who had so much going on at such young ages and were caught in the middle. Onto Daisy and her family. It was beautiful to be able to watch the transformation in Daisy from wanting to lash out at anyone and everyone to the person she became at the end. I also really felt for Suzanne who went through so much with her own mum and then to have that bombshell dropped on her when she was going through so much anyway. Kate also clearly either did her research on or has been through what it was like to have family with Alzheimers and Dementia. My Nan suffered with this and "watching" Suzanne's mum I could definitely see my Nan in her so well done Kate for portraying such a horrible illness so perfectly. Although heartbreaking it was lovely to see how all characters had grown from beginning to end.


Congratulations Kate on an absolutely gorgeous, heartbreaking beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!! This is why you are on my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂



Overall an absolutely unputdownable, addictive and compelling devastatingly beautiful heartbreaking book!!!



Genres covered in this book include Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Coming-Of-Age Story and Domestic Fiction amongst others.



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, Diane Chamberlain and anyone who loves a tear jerker.



390 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews


@KateHewitt @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86







Author Bio:


Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. https://www.kate-hewitt.com/ https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/ https://twitter.com/author_kate




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