There are times when reading something uncomfortable and not altogether happy still gives you an admiration for how the human mind and spirit work. This book is one of those times. The story is not of one person but of a family. This family is not traditional in any sense. Each individual of this family is tied to Maisie, the core of it all.

Each person who is trying in some way to be a parent to Maisie( who herself may not be safe from grown up troubles) is carrying a burden.The mental weight that dictates most people's actions are the root cause of the dysfunction. Katie is the mother who never was, Lilah is the mother who is. Jack and Callum are the men who have tried to nourish Maisie for the last nine years since Katie ran away. This is not a book with too many twists, just a few. The conversations between them to sustain equanimity defines the book.

It is a well written tale and has all the right elements to grab and keep our attention. My next plan of action is to dig up more of the author's works.

Once again, Barbara Claypole White takes us into a world of mental illness that we typically don't understand unless we're affected, and educates us. She writes Katie Mack as a mom who made a decision she was believed was right for her child, while in the throes of a battle with OCD that she didn't know she was fighting. Ten years later, she realizes it may not have been the right choice after all. Barbara creates characters that you empathize with and cheer for. I lost far too many hours sleep thinking "just another chapter."

There are many books on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and chances are we've come across the compulsion that triggers people to check door locks, turn off taps, switch off lights or even the most common one-wash hands, but with this story, the author delved into the core of OCD and one of the lead characters, Katelyn, had to give up her daughter, husband, job, relations and everything she loved because of it and the story provides insight into how she lives with OCD. I found that more intriguing, that I could understand her fears, anxiety, need to check and constant fear of triggers through Katie's experiences.
This would make a great family read. I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC because it was one insightful and positive look at not just a person with OCD, but also what happens to suppressed memories, trauma and coping with grief.

“The Promise Between Us” by Barbara Claypole White

When you think of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) what comes to your mind? Obsessive order, obsessive washing ones hands or doing an action a specific number of times, such as four times, right? Maybe agitation or even anxiety if the person doesn’t reach four or their behavioral action isn’t available. But what about rage or harmful thoughts? Has anyone met someone with anxiety/harm OCD? This is the story of a woman with postpartum OCD. Harmful thoughts OCD and anxiety. And the lengths she went to protect her child from herself. Not because she would harm her. Anything but that or to anyone else. But the repetitive thoughts made fear she would harm her. Creating anxiety and behaviors to ensure she never would at any time. She and her ex-husband even legally ensured she would never be able to harm her daughter by never having contact with her...ever. A legal promise they made with one another. Until 12 years later...when Katie (Katelyn) meets her daughter by chance. And she notices things about Mazie that no one else except her step-mother begins to see. Something that needs to be dealt with soon. Something her father couldn’t handle about her mother 12 years ago and is “blind” to see it in his daughter. Something multiple events lead to Katie being there for Mazie when no one else could be and eventually brings them back together with a Promise Between them and promises between others.

A vividly written and meaningful novel. Barbara Claypole White has written a true gem of a novel with characters full of flaws, love, and so very human there is no way the reader will not be able to relate to each and every one of them. She brings the storyline, her characters, and the scenery to life in such a way the reader is in the same place the characters are, even when two or three are in different places. The relationships between the characters, the present and past history between them, and the interchangeable dynamics within each character and from multiple characters is so vivid it is easily felt and relatable.

A phenomenal five star read that any reader, man or woman, will fall in love with. It is engaging, enthralling, captivating, educational, honest, and a window into harmful thought OCD, anxiety, and how it affects the person, their family, the individuals around them and the lengths they will go to protect themselves and others.

Rating: 5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts, opinions, and ratings are my own.

First I have to thank NetGalley for the honor of reading this book. Also a big thank you to the author, Barbara Claypole White for such an awesome, wonderful, touching, sad, happy book.

This book touched me in a way no other one ever had. It helped me in ways that I never would have believed. Finding out that OCD has so many different forms, one of which I have, sure helps when you think you think and have thought for many years, that you was literally losing your mind. That you are a bad person for getting angry over things out of your control. It put things in the perspective that I personally needed. Thank you Ms White for that. I needed it so bad.

This story is about a mother Katelyn(Katie) who pays the ultimate sacrifice for what she thinks is the safety of her child. Her husband to me started out a jerk. He should have stood by her and got her help. But then he had many problems of his own. They agreed to let their daughter think, when she was old enough, that her mom died. But Katie was not dead of course. She had just ran away. To protect her child and because her husband turned his back on her.
Katie Mack left home 9 years before and finally found her place in the world as a metal artist. She works along side Ben who is a pretty nice guy and not bad to look at either. But Katie does not have time for love anymore. She has anxiety and terrible OCD to deal with. OCD has been with her since she was very young, but she didn’t know that at the time. After she had her child, Maisie, it was triggered big time. She had such a fear of hurting her baby that she had to leave. It was a real fear. You have to give her credit for that. Most mothers stay and hurt you. And lots of them do not have any kind of OCD or anxiety. They are just mean. Katie was not that kind of mother. She never forgot her baby girl. She loved her even though she was not part of her life anymore.

Maisie is a wonderful young girl who has problems that are getting ready to surface. She is a happy child and loves her dad, who raised her alone. She has lots of little quirks, for lack of a better word, that should be a sign that something is not right. But no one seems to notice. She has a wild fashion sense, fears of things happening to people she loves and hates math. What child doesn’t hate math though right.

Lilah, the new stepmom/mom, cares deeply for Maisie and noticed something in the child that her father didn’t see. A girl that would rather be home doing homework on a weekend that out with her best friend. Rather spending the night since she was not old enough to be out. Still, Lilah knew something and Cal didn’t. Lilah is pregnant with her and Cal’s baby.

Cal, the dad, ex husband and fairly new husband to Lilah. You will end up liking him. He has lots of emothional baggage of his own. Some floored me. It would obvious to me that he had some anxiety and I thought a touch of OCD. Not as bad as Katie or Maisie, but it was there. He loves his child and his new wife more than anything. He would do anything, almost, for them. But when it was suggested Maisie needed therapy he could not come to grips with that. He didn’t believe, or want to believe, that she had any problems.

Jake. What do you say about Jake. He’s the hunk of the story I suppose. From his description at least. He is a self centered sex addict in my opinion who has lots of problems too. He’s loyal to Cal to a fault and loves Maisie with all of his heart. He has a opinions about Katie and does not care to express them. But he also has a heart. He was a struggling actor who came back to help Cal after Katie ran. Cal needed his help and of course he would do anything for him and Maisie.

Delaney, Katie’s sister. There was a sort of history between her and Jake. But she has moved on to find happiness with someone who is better for her. She is always there for Katie and loved Maisie like everyone else did. But when Katie ran and Cal finally found her he called Delaney to care for her when he should have himself. Delaney loves her sister and even though it hurt she agrees to care for her and give up her rights to see Maisie also. Maisie is Her niece.

This book was done in a wonderful way. It gives insight to something that many people suffer from and may not even realize it. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was one of the very best books of the kind I have ever read. I think Ms White did a wonderful job of showing exactly how anxiety and OCD work. How it makes you feel and the things you hear in your head that you may think are a different kind of illness but are OCD.

Last, I believe with all my heart that Katie is “THE BEST KIND OF MAMA.”

Barbara Claypole White has written an informative book about issues with OCD.
Imagine leaving your new baby, because you are afraid you will hurt her. You ask, how could a mother do that? 
Everyone has a story and it isn't always what it seems. 
I enjoyed watching this story unfold, the characters growing and coming together....for love.

This book made me uncomfortable in a positive way. The author truly understands OCD and it was evidenced in the true to life writing of the characters of Katie and Maisie. As someone who has family members struggling with OCD the writing was just so real to me as a reader. I felt that edginess I feel when I am interacting my OCD family members. Ms. Claypole-White has created another cast of quirky characters, just the type that I have grown to love in her past books. The story was very unique, yet plausible. It's clear that she thoroughly researched what it takes to be a metal artist. There is even an element of mystery with some surprising twists and turns. No one can show us inside the family struggling with mental illness better than Barbara. Thank you to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I just finished reading an e-ARC of The Promise Between Us. I just loved it. I guess love is an odd word for a book dealing with OCD, but the characters were so very real and several I fell in love with. Others, were okay, but I could see why they did things they did that made me feel they were just okay as people. Maisie, OMG Maisie, what a little love she is! I have already recommended this book to several friends. I'm so glad I got to read it.

The Promise Between Us tackles what can be an extremely difficult but ultimately debilitating condition: OCD. For the main character, her untreated OCD pushes her to leave behind her five month old daughter for fear of harming her. Years pass and a chance encounter places mother and daughter together. What is a mother to do? These engaging characters will keep you turning the pages to see how their lives unfold. A very poignant, yet enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Barbara Claypole White's latest novel is extraordinary, it brings such compassion, truth, love and hope to the story of a mother who suffers from postpartum OCD which led her to abandon her own child in order to save her from her own terrifying thoughts of harming her. The silent mental illness of OCD renders Katie powerless to escape her relentless fears. She can not be certain she would not harm Maise her daughter. She constantly needs to recheck her 'what if's' thoughts. She leaves home, promising her husband Callum she will never return. An accidental reunion shocks Katie as she meets Maise and recognizes she also has troubling compulsive behaviors. There are multiple layers in this story told in different points of view from each character and how each are affected. The events that collide are suspenseful, heart breaking and heart warming that made me cry, smile and laugh out loud for Barbara's unique skill for writing quirky characters with depth and passion. There are invaluable insights in this book about the nature of OCD and some helpful behaviors. Her writing always shows her love of nature as also seen in the tender viewing of a hummingbird spirit as well as her rich descriptions of gardens and forests she brings to this story. This deeply emotional novel is one I highly recommend. Engrossed in the minds of the characters, I am reluctant to leave them, as I read the last page. Thanks to the Secret Ninjas and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. Mostly, thank you Barbara...I love all of your books, and anxiously await your next one.
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I don’t have much experience with OCD but this book made me feel like I do now. I loved the characters and loved watching them develop. There were so many ups and downs in this emotional journey and it came to a very satisfying conclusion.

I really enjoyed this book- it was thought provoking and really gave me a different perspective on mental illness and the daily struggles for both the individual as well as their family. I found myself really rooting for Katie Mack throughout the book. Her courage in facing her fears was admirable and the love she had for her daughter was a driving force in overcoming other inner challenges. I was provided with an ARC through NetGalley.

The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White is an amazing story that brings attention to the issue of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Maisie is a child character whose quirky personality the reader will immediately fall in love with. She is precocious and witty. Katie is the mother who left her shortly after she was born because her OCD convinced her she would harm her newborn. Maisie’s father, Callum, and his best friend, Maisie’s “Uncle J” have a myriad of issues themselves. Together, they have done their best to raise Maisie. Lilah Rose is Callum’s new wife who is expecting. All of the new situations in Maisie’s life are hurtling her toward a breakdown. Katie and Maisie unexpectedly meet and Katie recognizes that some of Maisie’s tics could be precursors to full-blown OCD. She is afraid for Maisie (whom she has not told is her daughter) and this fear propels her to get in touch with the Callum even though they have an agreement that she will never make contact with Maisie. This was an amazing story of the power of love and forgiveness, and the importance of seeking help for mental disorders. Readers who enjoyed Colleen Oakley’s Close Enough to Touch will love this book too!

“Perfection stops you from enjoying the work of what is.”
Wow!
An amazing,insightful novel that will have you picking your fingernails, laughing, crying and thinking “ OCD is a beast!” This is a fantabulous read!

Katie did the absolute worst thing a parent would do. Abandoning her daughter Maisie, as an infant. Why? The voices basically tell her “ I am the worst Mother. You are not worthy of having this precious gift.”
She resurfaces back into her family’s life, quite by accident, 9 years later and realizes when she meets Maisie, that Maisie has inherited this beast and needs help quickly .
The world as Katie knew it, has changed, but she is learning to channel and squash the nasty thoughts to find a way to help her beautiful Maisie, and in the process,works to gain the love and trust of people she never thought she would face again. "Today she has found a different kind of faith: faith in herself.”

A 10 star book, that will eat at you for days. The character’s are so real and I would love to reconnect with them in a few years and see how their lives are playing out.

Wow! This might be my favorite BCW book! She really does a. Excellent job on the reality of OCD and how it can change ones life. The characters in the book felt so real to me. I bet we've all known a Jake (a favorite of mine). Katie and Maise and their relationship is so touching. And Lilah and how she handles things with such grace. I love the NC setting, the characters, the lessons to be learned about OCD in various forms. I just LOVED this book!
I received an ARC for an honest review. Don't miss this one!!

I was immersed in this book. I thought BCW did an amazing job explaining OCD and mental health issues left untreated. The book focuses on family, second chances and forgiveness. I learned a lot and was left thinking with a better understanding.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.

I loved this book. Barbara Claypole White has a very special gift for writing about mental illness. She is giving a voice to those with mental illnesses and helping to take to the stigma away (at least in my opinion). BCW educates and explains about mental illness as she develops her characters.

This is my new favorite book by BCW. This book is about forgiveness, redemption, family, mental illness, and love. This book starts with Katelyn(Katie) abandoning her 7 month old daughter, Maisie, and her husband Callum after having images of hurting Maisie. We rejoin the MacDonald family when Maisie is 10 years old, with a new stepmother and about to gain a sibling. Maisie is having trouble adjusting to this change. Callum is also struggling with these new changes and afraid that history might repeat itself. As we get into this book we find out that Callum has his own secrets and hasn't dealt with his own demons.

Katie has reinvented herself and is an artist. She is dealing with her OCD as best she can. Katie agrees to a docent program at the CAM and meets her student Maisie MacDonald. It is here that Katie is reintroduced to her daughter and where she sees that Maisie may also be dealing with OCD.
Through Callum best friend, Jake, Katie and Callum come together to help Maisie but only after everyone's normal has been destroyed. There is so much in this story about how loving someone so much makes you do thing you may not normally do to protect them. This theme is repeated through out this book.

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What an amazing beautiful story of hope and persistence. I found this book to totally consume me. I found it to be enlightening about OCD and how it can manifest itself. I think it brings to light the need for more mental health awareness and services.

BCW once again brings a story of messy people that are believable and beautiful.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book, its characters, and how touched I was by their stories...characters whose lives were broken, characters who showed strength in circumstances that would have defeated others, characters whose resilience and hopefulness get them through the darkest of times. At the heart of this book is family, and how different families can look, how many ways there are to be a mother and to care for a child, and what sacrifices a mother and father will make in order to save their child. Barbara Claypole White has the amazing ability to write about characters with mental illness, exposing the ugliness of the disease without sacrificing compassion and empathy for her characters. I loved that this book was written from 5 points of view; each of these characters has a story to tell, each of them have their own distinct voice to tell their own version of events that shaped all of their lives. The author has tackled the difficult, misunderstood, often-trivialized subject of OCD and anxiety, in such a way that it will educate readers without being preachy; and so that readers can really feel what it's like to be in the head of someone who suffers from this devastating illness. No punches are pulled when it comes to exposing emotions; the scenes between the characters, their conversations honest and raw. From the brilliant opening prologue, filled with fear; through all the ups and downs as relationships break and heal and break again; I read this book with my heart in my throat, pulse-pounding, tears in my eyes. I'll be revisiting this book again and again, because I will never be able to walk away from these characters and their stories. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.