Wow, this was such a great read, gripping the reader from page one and not letting go. I will read more of the author in future.

The mother I could have been... I guess every mother, looking backwards, feels like she could have dealt with some things differently or reacted differently. Should you have regrets? If it's about minor things, I would say no, because you are only human and are allowed to make mistakes.

Children should maybe ask themselves that very same question. I guess not every child is an angel each and every day either and sometimes they can really drive you up the wall and they have to deal with the consequences.

Sometimes it's maybe hard to love a child if they don't want to be loved and find fault in every thing you do and feel wronged all the time.

Sometimes other people take over the care of your child and tell you over and over again you are not fit to be a mother and they know better.

Nobody is perfect and people who love each other, accept the shortcomings of the others and always try to mend bridges no matter how far the banks are apart.

When you are left with choices, you have to pick one and what seemed right at that specific moment, might feel wrong afterwards.

For me the green eyed monster is responsible for a lot of heartache in this story, but also people trying to run someone else's life is the cause for relationships collapsing beyond repair.

This is a very emotional story where a lot of people get hurt due to the actions of a few individuals, but there is a lot of room for love and a bit of romance too. 5 stars

Thank you

Really enjoyed this book. It's emotional but a real page turner. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future!

This was a particularly difficult book for me to read, being a bit too close to home in some ways. Saying that, in true Kerry style, it was truly excellent with wonderful characters

It was obvious Kerry had done a lot of research into the painful topic of estrangement within families and the various reasons it occurs but it was written beautifully with a lot of thought.

Once again, a wonderful book, even if it did make me cry buckets, but also gave me a little hope one day I’ll see my own daughter again

Vicky Hall has just finished university, she’s excited to be graduating and looking forward to the ceremony. When her mum calls to tell her she want be able to make it, Vicky feels let down, her mum has remarried, and has two younger children Emily and Joey. Vicky has never met her father, she feels like her mother favors her younger children, she's disappointed and then she gets mad. Vicky goes on a holiday to Corfu in Greece with her friend, her mum sends her a message asking when she’s coming home and she ignores it.

Vicky meets William Cottingdale, he’s house sitting a villa in Greece and when she falls pregnant they return to England. The young couple stay with William’s parents Barbara and Derek and Vicky still doesn’t contact her mum to let her know she's back. When little Theo is born, Vicky's a nervous new mother and Barbara offers to help. Before she knows it Barbara has taken over, things get out of control and Vicky leaves the house when Theo's two. She doesn’t return, Barbara has deliberately made Vicky feel like she has failed as a mother, she has told Theo she’s his Mamma and poor Vicky has no idea. By leaving she has given Barbara, exactly what she’s wanted and Vicky has lost her son.

Vicky's working at Applewood Farm, owners Caro and Gilbert Campbell have employed her to help run their accommodation business and they become much more than her employers. With the guidance of Caro, Gilbert and their son Fergus, Vicky gains her confidence back, she’s given the opportunity to raise her son, it’s not going to be easy to make up for the six years she has lost, it's a huge change for Theo and with the help from the Cambell's, mother and son eventually form a bond.

The Mother I Could Have Been is a story about Vicky being young and vulnerable and Barbara taking advantage of her. Vicky made mistakes, she should have kept in contact with her mother, she judged her too harshly, and she was very immature. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, the story was a little far fetched and three stars from me.

What a great book
This book was written so well and the author has such a way with words.
The characters are both flawed and complex.
A good read

It's a page turner!

The Mother I Could Have Been is beautifully writen and I love that the author offers the point of view from a daughter and mother.
As a daughter and mother myself I can fully sympathize with Vicky, I also understand Caro point of view, but not so much about India, Caro's daughter.

I would recommend this book for daughters, and also mom with teens and adult daughters as a refresher and also offering other point of view.

Thank you netgalley for the arc.

Wow, this was such a great read. What an awesome storyline. This book grabs you at page one and doesn't let you go. I really like her writing style. This is an author I will definitely continue to follow. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.

The Mother I Could Have Been is SUCH an emotional-filled novel about relationships and communication and how important it is between those you love - especially mothers and daughters. It also involves how we allow our self worth to be determined by other people's opinions and views. Focusing on two mothers, Vicky and Caro, this is a well written story involving innocence, jealousy, heartbreak, forgiveness and ultimately hope. It kept me turning the pages until the very end!
Thanks to Kerry Fisher, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Readers should know The Mother I Could Have Been is not what you call an easy read. There is so much heartache in this story, but it is beautifully written. There is pain and loss and you will most definitely feel every single bit of it.

Vicky Hall is twenty-one when she travels to Greece and falls pregnant with Theo. Estranged from her family, she vows to always be there for her son. But Vicky is insecure and life as a new mother is tricky, failing to work out as she planned.

Meanwhile, Caro is a grandmother desperate to see the grandchildren her daughter, India, is equally determined she will never share. The Mother I Could Have Been by Kerry Fisher is an exploration of the mother/daughter relationship and how easily words misconstrued lead to tension and heartbreak that last years.

Fisher is skilled at conjuring believable characters with snappy dialogue that rings true, and I immediately recognised and understood Caro, with her heart-wrenching story. However, at times, I became a little frustrated by Vicky and her reluctance to reach out to her vulnerable young son, who endures so much. Despite that, the two halves of the storyline blend expertly, creating a touching examination of family feuds, loss and forgiveness.

A very interesting book. I really enjoyed reading a book by this author for the first time. I would recommend this book to anyone

A lovely heartwarming story of Vicky, who is estranged from her mother and goes on to have a son, and then ends up estranged from him. So well written with characters I loved to get to know and loved reading their journey

‘The Mother I Could Have Been,’ is another solid novel from Kerry Fisher. It tells Vicky’s story as her upbringing shapes her choices in her adult life. I did find it difficult to relate to Vicky however Vicky’s story is interwoven with Caro’s and is much more relatable.

I love Kerry Fisher's work, her books are so well-written with stories that really resonate and echo real lives. This is an emotional and sensitive story with characters that jump off the page. Highly recommended!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC.

Unfortunately I didn't have opportunity to read/review this one due to other commitments, but I will feature it on my page. If I get the chance to review this one I will make sure to come and update it here. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for my gifted copy.

What a lovely storyline covering a flawed and broken relationship, love, loss and the fragile relationship between a mother and her daughter. Vicky’s father died and her mother remarried and went on to have two more children. When Vicky graduates and her mother rings to say she can’t attend as one of the other children has been admitted to hospital, Vicky then decides that her mother doesn’t love and want her and decides to have her own family in a few years time. After her graduation Vicky goes on holiday with a friend and her family and decides to stay there where she meets William and falls pregnant. They move in with his family and Barbara, William’s mother, helps out by looking after Theo, their baby. But Barbara takes control and Vicky is convinced that Theo doesn’t thinks she is a good mother as he screams every time she goes near him, so she decides to walk out of their lives. The story then turns to Caro and her daughter India, who decides that Caro is unfit to look after her children and cuts off all ties with her. The stories are then combined when Vicky comes to work for Caro and becomes one of the family. The characters in this book are amazing and the story takes us on an emotional journey . Kerry writes with compassion and with a deep understanding of the complex relationship between mothers and daughters. I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down and will certainly be reading more books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.l

What a story! I was drawn into it from the very beginning and could not put this down. The twist and turns will have you charging through the pages to see what happens.

The Mother I Could Have Been is an emotional psychological novel about relationships between mothers and daughters. This story is an emotional roller coaster, and you will want a box of tissues nearby.

OMG, another phenomenal book by Kerry Fisher, the story is well written and the characters are so real. This story will stay with you long after you finish it.

There are no spoilers from me as you have to read this book yourself!!!

I highly recommend this book and it is going on my top books to read this year.

An emotional story of how family ties can break, never to be repaired. Kerry Fisher keeps the story moving, showing how you cannot tell what goes on in a family while looking from the outside. From highs to lows are shown from several different families, they all become linked in the end. The Mother I Could Have Been evolved from a neglected child's pain filled proclamations to an all inclusive ending that was a very good read.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book I've read by Kerry Fisher, although I have The Silent Wife lined up next on audio.
This book really tugged at my heart strings. As a mother of 3 and stepmother of one, I have definitely asked myself too many times if my kids would be better off without me, especially in those sleep deprived post partum stages. This book really makes you see just how delicate families relationships are.
I loved every minute of this book, and highly recommend it. Thank you to netgalley, Kerry Fisher and the publisher for the arc of this book.