Kate's in a terrible position. The characters are well drawn,. the situation tough, and the plot thoughtful. A good read.

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! I highly recommend this book and author to all!

Sinéad Moriarty brings us a thought provoking and heart wrenching story of love, loss and family. Kate, mother of three, is forced to deal with the break-up of her marriage. Her husband had an affair and moved out, deciding to marry the other woman. The first part of the story shows us how Kate and the children cope with this, the impact this has on the children, and how they all pull together to support one another.

The bonds between the siblings is very strong, and even though they act out in different ways, they come together to support their mother through this time. Jessica, the middle child of the three and the only girl brings a childish charm and a level of maturity that is common among children who are forced to grow up too soon. However, in her, this just makes her more likeable, and everyone's rock. Her older brother has a more difficult time dealing with the family break-up, as he looked up to his father more than anyone else. His support system are his sister and his girlfriend, who becomes a very integral part of the family and the story. The youngest, hardly knows his father, and is confused most of the time, acting out in any way that only children can.

The beauty of the plot is that the author portrays her characters in shades of grey. There is no right or wrong in this, things just happen, and after a point, you accept that and try to move on. Forgive, learn and move on, but it is not necessary to forget. The story moves at a steady place initially, painting a picture of Kate's life, her coping mechanisms, and the support she gets from her father. The plot thickens when Jessica, who is absolutely healthy, suddenly takes a turn for the worse, and is later diagnosed with cancer.

In reality, unless you have had to deal with such a situation by yourself, it is not easy to relate to the shock, pain and horror of someone having cancer. The author has brought out the feelings and emotions very well, making sure that the reader is able to understand them. We are taken on an emotional roller-coaster afterwards, as we follow Kate and her family as they deal with the cancer. The way it affects everyone and how Jessica deals with it form the crux of the later half of the story. There is a lot to learn from Jessica, who though a child, has an "old soul" and wisdom that goes beyond her years.

The final question that this book prompts is this: Would you love someone enough to let them go? and, if you do, can you live with the truth? These questions are food for thought and this well-written story is a gripping read to the end.

This book was easy to fall in love with. This will be high on my list to recommend to fellow readers

I thought I was going to really love Sineass work but I read a book just recently by her and I didn't like it at all. I don't think her work is for me. I have change my mind about this book. Thankyou anyways!

This Author is really great. I loved this book. Unputdownable! Highly recommend!!

Honestly this book was so boring. I got half way through and nothing happened.

A heartwarming novel that will keep you turned by the pages. Will continue to recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to read & review this book.

The Good Mother is such a good book. Well written with a good plot and well developed characters. This book brought me to tears. I
A new to me author and I throughly enjoyed the writing.

The Good Mother, written by Sinéad Moriarty, is a beautifully written story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Whenever I sit down to read a book by this author, I know I am in for a treat, and this book definitely exceeded my expectations.

Kate has been to hell and back...her husband, Nick, has left her alone and homeless to raise their three children while he moved on with his life and another woman. Left with nowhere to go, she ends up moving in with her father. She is completely devastated by the affair, and the quick downward spiral her life took immediately after. This is something nobody should ever have to deal with, but all too often, so many do. However, Kate is a strong woman, and she found a way to get through it all, regardless of the obstacles she had to overcome. Just when she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel, she receives news that no parent ever wants to hear...her twelve-year-old daughter Jessica has cancer.

The story that unfolds will definitely pull at your heartstrings. Kate is an amazing character...a strong woman on the outside, while on the inside, she's falling apart piece by piece...all while trying to keep her family together. Her kids haven't been the same since her family broke up. Luke, her eighteen-year-old son, wants nothing to do with his dad. Jessica, the optimist, tries to keep things civil between her parents...a responsibility no child should have to take on. Bobby is the youngest, and like Luke, he has also lost respect for his dad. As Jessica's health deteriorates, the family has to learn how to deal with it and they all struggle to do so.

The author perfectly balances the good with the bad....there are times you will laugh, and times you will cry. The characters are extremely well-written, and the situation is one that is all too realistic. This is a story that will take you on a rollercoaster ride filled with emotion, but one you will remember long after the story ends. I can't stress enough just how amazing this story is. I strongly recommend reading this beautifully told story that is guaranteed to touch your heart and soul!

I received an advance copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

I just finished this book, my eyes are red from crying and my nose hurts from blowing. I think this was one of the best books I've ever read. I my heart was breaking for the family, Kate, Luke, Jess, Bobby and George. I wanted to punch Nick and Jenny in the head. More than anything I want to be Hazel when I grow up.

This book brought out so many feelings. The characters were so well developed, I was able to connect with them from the beginning. The story was well written. I was in turns angry and happy and sad.

I especially liked the character of Nathalie, the French waitress. She always a seemed to have the exact words that I wanted to say.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was absolutely amazing. Kate was an amazing mother who had to make a choice that no mother should ever need to make. I loved her character and I could not put the book down.

The Good Mother was one of the best books I have ever read! This is a must read! A wonderful book of family, love , and relationships. This book will keep you reading until you find out what happens next! This will be a bestseller, I have no doubt about that! You will fall in love with the characters. You will ask yourself, if you could be a good mother? You will understand that question after you read it. This book was so gripping I read the whole book in one sitting, forgetting everything I had to do!

I love this author - she never disappoints! I adored this book. Poignant, emotional, heartrending, taking us on a heartbreaking but hopeful journey. I loved all the characters, felt for them. A beautiful story, one I highly recommend.