Katie is an artist who has been hiding the fact that she suffers from OCD. She's also been hiding her past from those who are a part of her "new life". Nine years ago she ran out on her husband and baby girl, and later promised her husband that she would stay out of their lives and play dead. She's begun a new life for herself as a metal artist, and she has a good man in her life. She keeps pushing him away, but he seems to keep coming back.

Daughter Maisie is a bit quirky and very smart. Her mother died when she was just a baby and she was raised by her single father who is a professor. Now she has a new stepmom and is about to start middle school, and she's beginning to feel the pressure.

Through happenstance Maisie and Katie meet, and Katie recognizes the signs of OCD in her own daughter.

This is my first exposure to this author. I enjoyed this book for the most part. The author has a relaxed writing style, and really does a great job of making the characters come to life. But a few things did bug me.

First was the fact that Maisie always felt younger than the ten years of age she is supposed to be in the story. She felt like she was more like six or seven years of age. And her biological mother Katie would speak to her like she was a little girl, using childish phrases and words. That really kind of annoyed me.

Secondly were the descriptions of the OCD experience. Maybe it's accurate and I'm way off (after all, it seems the author got her insight through speaking with people who suffer with OCD, including her own family member). So maybe those who suffer from OCD will read this and think it is spot-on, but for me it felt over-dramatic in the same way that Maisie felt overly young. Both things just felt "off".

My final word: Despite my reservations about the internal descriptions and dialogue with OCD, and the childishness of Maisie, I really did enjoy this story. I wasn't a fan of Maisie's father Callum, and Katie's sister Delaney felt a little one-dimensional. But Katie was a highly fallible character that you could root for, Maisie was an endearing off-beat little kid, Lilah was the stepmom who surprised everyone with her strength and loyalty and determination, and Maisie's "Uncle Jake" was also a very flawed human being who I wound up liking. I would especially recommend this one for those who enjoy stories involving mental health, and those who like stories centered around family dramas. I will be happy to read this author again.

This was an easy read at times but had undertones of a difficult subject and I struggled with it. Unfortunately I was unable to finish it.

An excellent book of mother-daughter connection and the depiction of OCD and its painful realities. "The Promise Between Us" by Barbara Claypole White was a deep examination and delve into mental illness, the tolls it takes on families, its weight on decisions and of the course of a life, as well as tools to live successfully with its heavy burdens. Thank you for that! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Touching and beautifully written, and centered around a cast of characters that quickly make their way into your heart, This is a heartrending story about family, and an insightful and compassionate perspective on the challenges of living with OCD.

Barbara Claypole White is SO good at what she does. She focuses on characters with human issues that are so often neglected and stereotyped. I love that the character featured in this book had severe OCD and she realized it so much that she changed her world, trying to make it better not only for her, but safer for her baby. The research that BCW put into this character is evident. I loved this and BCW in general!

This was my very first book to read by this author. WOW! I was so drawn in by this story line. Grabbed you right from the start and didn’t let go til long after it ended.

I loved this book!! The character development is phenomenal and the story line is so believable. I can pick up any book by Barbara and love it without question.

Katelyn lives in Raleigh north Carolina and wants to protect her baby Maisie. All she wants to be is a good mother but she feels paranoid at minor things. Katelyn has depression. Callum loves raising Maisie. He is remarried to Lilah. Katie wants to be a part of Maisies life but doesn't know how. I loved the characters and events. I loved the different view points. I liked Katie but sometimes I got tired of her closing herself off from people. It's a fiction book but I felt like I learnt something new about mental health.

A tear jerker and wonderful emotional book by a great author and person. Loved this story and these characters. this is a book that will stay with you

Barbara Claypole White weaves an incredible, heart-wrenching story in "The Promise Between Us"---as a mother, I could not put it down! The novel centers around Katelyn (Katie), a mother who is living with undiagnosed OCD and is in constant terror that she will harm her own baby, so much so that she abandons her husband and daughter thinking they would be better off without her. When her daughter Maisie (who believes her mother to be dead) reemerges in her life years later, Katie is able to see the tell-tale symptoms of OCD in her daughter, forcing her to choose how best to help this girl she barely knows.

In addition to the plot, White does an excellent job focusing on the importance of relationships and friendships in this book. In particular, the friendship between Cal and Jake, and the relationship between Katie and her sister Delaney were so well-developed.

I highly recommend this book!

This book was incredible! Best book I’ve read in awhile!! The pain and torment caused by OCD is easily felt and made more tangible through the eyes and voice of Katie.
He struggle and sacrifice was at the same time hard to read and impossible to put down.
Very well done!!

This was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy! I loved everything about it including the well drawn characters, the suspense, the e and the heart felt story. Laura is one of my favorite authors and i will grab any book of hers once it is out! Love her books!!I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I am such a fan of this author. I've read all of her books and they just keep getting better! All of her books are so heartfelt and you will fall in love with the characters. I devour every one of her books. She writes with such love and compassion. She has great knowledge of the topics. I loved this book and it will stick with me for a long time. It spoke to me in several ways and was tough to read at times, but so worth it. This is a must read and I highly recommend it!

A well written book about OCD. Characters well developed. You can feel the woman's pain in this book as if you were there with her.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
Thank you, Netgalley!

I have a friend who suffers with harm OCD and this was a fascinating insight into how this affects her thoughts, conversations and waking moments. Katie is a sufferer who has learnt how to survive and control her OCD but this control came at great cost. Many years before, after the birth of her daughter she suffered flow blown OCD and depression and thought about harming her daughter constantly. Instead of a supportive husband, she found him to be fearful and unhelpful and felt the only way to keep her daughter safe was to run away. Now, based on a chance encounter she is back in her daughters life and not so willing to walk away.
The story had so many levels and I liked how the other characters also go some background. There were a couple of twists I didn't see coming and the book is painful memories of childhood and mental health. The illness was written about with compassion and honesty. Worth a read.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC. This is my honest review.

I’ve read Barbara Claypole White’s work, reviewing The Perfect Son some time ago, and The Promise Between Us is another excellent novel where the uncomfortable truth of mental ill-health is laid bare.

One of my big bugbears in the media and society, is the flippant use of OCD as a term for people who are a bit particular or hygiene-conscious when in actual fact, and as this book depicts, it is a serious and debilitating mental illness.

At first starting this book, it’s tough to put yourself in Katie’s shoes as her fears for her daughter – or that she might harm her daughter – come to a head as part of Post-Partum OCD, but as we follow her several years later, Barbara Claypole White puts us right inside her head as her intrusive thoughts rise up and she tries to keep them at bay.

What I liked about The Perfect Son is also evident in this book – a real understanding of the complexities of good or bad mental health and no quick fixes to round off the book. Katie is at great pains to point out that, although she has her OCD under some semblance of control, she still has it and will always have it. Help, support and treatment may keep the condition bubbling under, but it will never go away. I feel that this is a fundamental misunderstanding with most mental health conditions – sure, the symptoms may appear to be gone, but the condition is always there.

This book is told from a number of voices, all of whom, have a large part to play in the story and whose reconciliations and forgiveness go some way to rebuild a broken family and the broken lives of the main characters. I think my favourite was Maisie – a hugely intelligent child, with a beautiful personality, she has no-one to talk to when the stinky inside voice begins to make her doubt her world. Although reconnecting with Katie could make things worse, it’s so powerful to read her thoughts on that and be with her in her struggle to stop the voice.

Although clearly this book has been written with a wealth of research, I think what lends it more credence is Barbara Claypole White’s familial experience of OCD. She speaks quite openly about her husband’s and son’s own struggles with OCD and has had the benefit of her son as a beta reader to help show the realities of living with this condition from a really authentic place. It’s quite upsetting at times to think of how exhausting these intrusive thoughts are, and how utterly draining an everyday life with OCD must be.

Despite my comments re the mental health aspects of this story it is, at the heart of it, a family story too and one which has a lot of heart and is incredibly gripping as an unusual family unit tries to mend. It’s definitely worth picking up a copy.

The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White is such a powerful and moving story that really brings to light mental illness that is both heartfelt and honestly written.

Katelyn “Katie” MacDonald walked out of her daughter’s life nearly ten years ago when she could not stop the voices in her head from bombarding her with devastating scenarios. Katie wanted what was best for her daughter and for her daughter to live a happy and healthy childhood without a mother who could not prevent the bad thoughts inside of her mind. Ten years later, Katie accidently meets her daughter Maisie, but she is completely devastated noticing the signs of mental illness in her daughter. Katie vows to help Maisie, but that means exposing her biggest secrets of all to the family she left behind.

Barbara Claypole White has penned such an emotional story full of such heartbreaking choices one mother makes in the face of mental illness. White takes on such hard topics such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, depression and anxiety attacks. What really drew me into the story was my personal experiences with OCD and I admit to having my own little rituals that I have done over and over again and while I have stopped doing most of them, I still carry over some of them from when I was a teenager. My mother also suffers from repetitive actions and has for many many years. It is a lot to deal with and find myself obsessing over things my mother does. White really hits home with how Katie and Maisie want to stop thinking this way and stop the obsessiveness and how it leads to being ashamed or embarrassed.

The story is not only about Katie and Maisie. Maisie’s dad and katie’s ex-husband, Callum is going through his own issues internally while newly married and awaiting the birth of a new baby. Callum’s best friend Jake also shares a good part of the story as well as Callum’s new wife, Lilah. I felt that all of the characters were written well and were three dimensional and I could not help but want the best for everyone involved who loved, Maisie. While not everyone was happy with Katie’s choices, I could see how everyone grew in both character and the journey they all took to help family.

The Promise Between Us is a riveting story that brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Barbara Claypole White writes with such heart and soul and brings to light mental illness which is neither shameful or embarrassing. This is definitely a story you will not want to miss. A definite five star read from me.

Barbara Claypole White has written an emotional and eye-opening story. Katie suffers from OCD, after her daughter Maisie is born she realizes that her mental illness is putting her daughters life in danger. She realizes it is in her daughter’s best interest that she leave and eventually she also revoked her parental rights.Years later and a strange twist of fate Katie is in a position where she is interacting with her daughter. However, Maisie is not aware that Katie is her birth mother. When Katie shows signs of OCD and Maisie she is conflicted as to what to do. Can she help her daughter? Can she tell her daughter the truth?

Miss Claypole White suffers from OCD herself, I thought that gave this book such an authentic feel. This book was told from multiple perspectives, I thought that added so many layers to the story. Not only did we get the perspective of Katie and Maisie, but we also got the perspective of Maisie’s father, stepmother, and uncle. I found it so interesting not only to really learn about OCD, but also learn how it is to live with it and how it is to live with those who are living with it. One of my best friends son suffers from OCD and I have to admit sometimes I don’t completely understand his actions and this book made me a little more understanding and compassionate.

This story was so beautifully told and I could just feel the authors heart poured into these pages. This is also a book that begs to be discussed, I have so many thoughts rolling around in my brain and I have no one to discuss them with. I think this would make for a very good book club read. Simply put this was a lovely story filled with heart and hope and even a little touch of suspense.

*** many thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book***

A great story about a mother who makes a tough decision to leave her husband and infant daughter behind. Kate realizes she is sick, so sick she fears harming her own child.
OCD has a terrible way of amping up your fears and making you second guess everything in your life. Learning to work through her OCD, Kate realizes her daughter has OCD also. I loved that even when Kate thought she couldn't be the perfect parent for her daughter, she turns out being exactly the parent that Maisie needed!

My review for this book is posted on the New York Journal of Books site.


"The Promise Between Us" by Barbara Claypole White
Lake Union Publishing
January 16, 2018
10-1542048982
Contemporary Women's Fiction
384 Pages


“Many mental and emotional illnesses are unfortunately swept under the rug, so it is refreshing to read a novel integrating down-to-earth, real-life characters who are struggling to make it through a day.”

No one really understands the impact of mental illness unless they live through it. Katelyn MacDonald suffers from obsessive compulsions making her want to harm others by the "voices" she hears in her head. This escalated after giving birth to her daughter, Maisie. She totally loved Maisie and her husband Callum, but her fear of harming her child made her flee her home in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Now, nine years later, Katelyn is an accomplished metal artist going by the moniker Katie Mack. After being mentored by Ben Holt, she lives in Durham, NC, sharing a warehouse studio with Ben and others where they produce their creations.

Quite by chance, Maisie is chosen to be a docent (public guide) at the Contemporary Art Museum where Katie displays her sculptures. Katie is shocked when she meets Maisie and realizes who she is. Even though she forfeited all rights to her, she never stopped loving her or lost interest in her, always wanting to know more about her. At first she connects with Maisie surreptitiously, first explaining her artwork, but with further contact, Katie notices signs Maisie displays that alarm her. She recognizes Maisie bears the same illness as she and understands certain things can trigger her to make situations worse.

Katie's condition is called OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) along with depression—a scary mix that can mess with anyone's mind. But Katie's ailment doesn't display the most common symptoms of the illness, which many believe consists of excessive hand washing or being overly neat. Katie's includes thoughts and fears of violence. This is why all those years ago, she believed the best thing to do was to leave to protect her family in case her obsession came to fruition. Though divorced, one proviso was she promised never to contact the girl, but Katie now realizes Maisie needs therapy so her illness does not escalate.

Since she left, Cal raised Maisie alone until his best friend and Maisie's godfather, Jake moved in to help Cal. Now, with Maisie about to attend middle school, she is going through undue anxiety which is exacerbated by change. In addition, Cal is remarried and his wife, Lilah Rose is expecting a baby. These two stressors are coming to a head and could cause a meltdown for Maisie. Katie cannot let this happen.

Jake, learning Katie is back in the area, confronts her insisting she return to Asheville, where she had been for years.

"'Maisie is not your responsibility. She's in a loving home, and Lilah Rose is a good woman. If Maisie has problems, which I'm not saying she does, Callum will deal with them.

"'The same way he dealt with mine? I have obsessive-compulsive disorder. . . .'

"'Do you have any idea how it feels to be tortured by violent thoughts that make you question everything you know about yourself? No? Welcome to my world, Jake. OCD can make you doubt your sexuality, hint you're capable of murdering a person you love, raping a child, or—. . . .'

"'. . . .Left untreated, it's an illness that gets worse and worse. In my case, it was nearly fatal. I've spent the last decade struggling to live with anxiety, and I'm telling you, Maisie is overly anxious. Without treatment, she could end up living nightmares even an actor can't imagine. You want to risk that?'"

Katie's angst increases as Maisie displays signs of this debilitating illness, which are brilliantly detailed in the text. Given the chance to talk to Maisie, Katie reveals she knows what she's going through and she offers her "tricks" to thwart the demon in her head.

What works for Katie is repeating: "A thought is just a thought; it has no power." By using this mantra, and teaching her deep-breathing techniques, she shows Maisie how she can deflect these "voices." But her main concern is to make Cal realize what is happening with their daughter and getting her help.

Many mental and emotional illnesses are unfortunately swept under the rug, so it is refreshing to read a novel integrating down-to-earth, real-life characters who are struggling to make it through a day. It is also heartbreaking to see how a great mother's love is to have her forsake her child to guarantee her life would be better without her, which is true sacrifice and self-sacrifice. This novel is moving as well as educational by offering information that may be unfamiliar for many, possibly giving hope for those going through this and wondering what is wrong.

This is a beautiful story of love and redemption. It also tells the story of OCD and the fear and unbalance it creates in a person's life. The book is heartfelt and and it gives a powerful look into the mind of OCD. Very well written, as are all of Barbara Claypool White's books. It was an eye opener for sure!