Goodreads Blurb
Alice and her daughter Zoe have been a family of two all their lives. 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 is given a grim prognosis.
Desperate to find stability for Zoe, Alice reaches out to two women who are practically strangers, but who are her only hope: Kate, her oncology 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 power of love and forgiveness.
My Review
I’m declaring my love of Sally Hepworth stories now, to the world!! What an amazing rollercoaster ride that story was. Have plenty of tissue handy by chapter 70 because you’ll need them. If you’re like me, you’ll be ugly crying to the end, with a mixture of shock, rage, astonishment, and cheer (for Sonja). The twist caught me way off guard, I hadn’t put two and two together because I was so emotionally involved with Alice and her situation. You really can’t imagine having to go through something like cancer and be a single parent with no supports. It’s actually heartbreaking, imagine having to say good by to you child… All the characters were wonderful, and i loved how we got to know each story: Kate and Sonja. I especially loved how their issues were solved but not in a way that felt unnatural or rushed. I have to admit, I did hope that Kate would become pregnant on her own. And Zoe’s father, I WTF’ed, and I WFT’ed hard. I loved the way the story ended, wasn’t rushed, felt natural, and when I read THE END I was angry that it was over! An amazing heartfelt and true-to-life story. Sally, you’re now my favourite Aussie author and I look forward to reading more of you!
I rate A Mother’s Promise: 5/5 stars
Happy reading
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