This story will hold you in its thrall long after you read the last page. Once again Barbara Davis spins a tale so original, so gripping, that it is impossible to put down. The dynamics between Mallory and her mother go straight to the heart and from the first time we see them together, we know there is a darkness that can't be overcome. The twist that reveals all will leave you gasping. With a unique storyline that questions some of the deepest issues we face in life to the intriguing lineup of characters, this book is headed straight to the top of the bestseller list. I highly recommend you read it.

Really enjoyed it and would give the book 3.5 stars. Helen's story was my favorite part, along with her interactions with Estelle. I liked how the book alternated between characters. Primarily it was Helen and Mallory and only a few times with Estelle. Knowing Estelle, she doesn't like to be left out and needs to control everything. Mallory was my least favorite character in the book. I didn't love her storyline with Aiden, work, her mom and pretty much everything in her life. Mallory definitely was not suited to be a counselor. She actually needed someone to talk to with all her issues. Mallory always blames everyone else for what happens in her life and is always angry. She always runs away and never deals with the problem. She only tolerates Helen. I can't believe she read her mom's journal. If Helen did that, Mallory would be furious. Mallory's reaction and response to Helen's confession is ridiculous. What she accuses Helen of is awful. Helen definitely made mistakes with her daughter and she wasn't perfect, but at least she's trying. I was definitely shocked when the truth about Helen was revealed. I never guessed who she was writing to in her journal. I was shocked when the truth about Helen was revealed. She shaped her whole life around what happened in that motel room. For all the animosity that surrounded Estelle and Helen, Helen was there for her. The story was full of love, loss, forgiveness, second chances, family dynamics and so much more.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, writing style and story. By the end of the book, I actually liked Mallory. I enjoyed Helen's collection of keepsakes from her patients, except the creepy Victorian dolls. No one wants to stumble upon a bunch of dolls staring back at them. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You know those stories that simply take your breath away?
That’s exactly how I feel every time I pick up a Barbara Davis book.

This is a story about second chances, broken souls, family secrets and the power of forgiveness that will capture your heart completely. I think I have a new favorite book from her, I loved every page.

This book touched every emotion… and was so freaking good! Relationships, traumas, families, different dynamics… it will touch or make you feel something and the ending just … is so good!

Incredible and worth the read- I would recommend to any/all readers!

This is such a complicated story. There are lots and lots of secrets. Some secrets the reader is aware of but the character who is affected does not know yet. Then there are the secrets that are hinted at but it takes time for the reader and the character(s) to learn of them.

There is a love story from the past in journal form, but pertinent details are not revealed until the time is right.

It’s about a mother/daughter relationship which is not harmonious. And, it's also about a mother/son relationship which is also on the rocks. It's about second chances. It’s about accepting the past. It's about forgiveness.

There's more, but to add it here will only make it confusing. It is a complex story with a lot going on but it is written in such a way that it is easy to follow. The characters are interesting and realistic. Certainly not perfect.

I got to a point where some of it became predictable but not all of it. But most of the plot points did not wrap up until I was approaching the end. A few surprises along the way, which is always good.

Sometimes people’s lives get messy. Sometimes there's so much going on in people's lives that is hard to know which way to turn. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. This story is an example. And it's refreshing to read a story that imitates life. And, the ending made me happy. Always good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

This was my first Barbara Davis book and I'm so happy to say I really enjoyed it. I was really invested in these characters. A story about an estranged mother and daughter who are trying to rekindle their relationship. Mallory heads home to the Rhode Island coast to her mother's house, to try and heal from an upsetting death. Her mother, Helen, had always put her career above her daughter, which has caused the distance in their relationship. So when Mallory shows up, can they reconnect? This deals with mistakes from the past, secrets that are kept, and forgiveness. I always enjoy mother/daughter relationship plots and this one really pulled me in. At 400 pages, I actually flew through it. Such a heartfelt book and I'm happy to have found a new author that has many backlist books that I can add to my list.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Helen and Mallory have never had a good relationship- with Mallory always feeling as though she's come second to the people her mother works with. Now, though,, she's come home after one of the teens she worked with dies and the two of them confront their pasts and move to the future. Much of Helen's story is told in journal entries and it's surprising. Mallory must also deal with Aidan, the boy next door she loved once upon a time - and there's a secret there too. This was more than I expected it to be and no spoilers about the twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling made this a good read.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face—and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

This is a gem. While it's about death and grief, it's also about healing and closure. This one will touch you at your core. It will stay with me for a long time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbra Davis reveals many layers of different relationships.Social worker Mallory Ward is having a difficult time after the devastating death of a client.She goes back to her mother’s home in Rhode Island and struggles with old tensions between herself and her mother Helen..Also there are unresolved issues between herself and her ex fiancé and his mother who live next door.You will want to keep turning the pages as the story gives details of decisions made in the past,regrets,losses and forgiveness.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

Mallory is a social worker for at-risk youth. When one of her patients is found dead, Mallory takes it very hard almost to the point of a breakdown. So her boss and friend Jevet puts her on a leave of absence for the summer. With not enough funds to go anywhere else, Mallory heads home to spend the summer even though she has a very tense relationship with her mom, Helen. While home, she runs into her high school sweetheart, Aiden, and learns things she never knew about her mother. She is tempted to flee. Will she run or will she stay and reconcile? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis is a highly recommended domestic drama.

Mallory Ward is a social worker who works with at risk youth in Boston. Due to a tragic and stressful situation there, Mallory is encouraged to take time off from work. She decides to returns home to Little Harbor, Rhode Island, and stay with her mother, Helen, a death doula who cares for terminally ill clients. The two have had a tense relationship but hopefully they can mend it.

Making Mallory's visit more complicated is that Aiden is back in town visiting his mother, Estelle, in the house next door. He was the love of her life who who broke off their wedding plans ten years ago. The two have unresolved issues.

This is an extremely well-written novel which examines the complex relationship between mothers and their children, dying with dignity, repairing broken relationships, and confronting long held secrets. The narrative is told through Mallory's point-of-view as well as Helen's which include long descriptive letters she wrote to the love of her life who is gone.

The characters are fully realized, complex, and depicted as unique individuals with strengths and flaws. The past and present experiences of these characters all contain mistakes and secrets, but they all also long for a resolution and connection. What they seek may vary depending upon the relationship, but they all must admit to or confront their past to obtain the trust and reconciliation they currently need.

There are several big reveals and twists in this family drama. One huge twist was surprising but it also required setting a large amount of disbelief aside. Helen's long letters were also a bit too lengthy at times. Every Precious and Fragile Thing started out strong for me but lost some momentum along the way.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This book was an emotional one, but in a good way. There were lots of broken relationships in the beginning:

Aiden & Mallory
Aiden & Estelle, his mother
Mallory & Helen, her mother
Helen & Estelle
Mallory & Estelle

10 years have passed since Mallory & Aiden lost their baby and Estelle maneuvered the end of their relationship. Now they are both back home at the same time and inevitably cross paths.

Through the book, the broken relationships are explored, and we get to see beautiful stories of forgiveness and redemption.

The end of this one had me in tears. Davis has a natural way of writing deeply emotional stories and I loved this one.

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for an advanced eARC of this book!

I love Barbara Davis and was so happy to see she had a new book! I became a huge fan thanks to 'The Echo of Old Books' and 'The Last of the Moon Girls.'

After social worker Mallory is asked to take a leave from her job following the death of a client, she retreats to her childhood home despite a strained relationship with her mother. Next door is her ex-fiancé and his mother. Mallory most definitely does not have any closure from this relationship.
We quickly find Mallory's mother sharing parts of her past to which Mallory had not been privy, but it's clear to Mallory some key pieces are missing.

As much as this story is about Mallory, it is about her mother, Helen. As her story unfolded through journals, it was clear my predictions were incorrect and such a beautiful story played out. Saga-like truly, but in a more manageable length ;)

Themes of love, loss, second chances, and death with dignity and respect contributed to a moving story and was just what I was needing to read.

Thank you to Barbara Davis, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would call this book an engaging study of relationships, family dynamics, and what keeping secrets and manipulations can do to them. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt for the characters and their various dilemmas. While not exactly a mystery, there are some surprises along the way, which made the book more interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this book to my friends, though not all of them will appreciate some of the turns that it takes. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read book.

I am not sure where to start. This is the most amazing book I have ever read! It is the story of a mother and daughter who are mostly estranged. Neither understands the other. Mallory travels home very seldom but something happens at her workplace so she decides to go home for the summer to think about her future. Mallory’s wedding plans to Aiden fell through but she discovers he is back home. Estelle is Aiden’s mother and has always disapproved of Mallory and her mother. But a tragedy abruptly changes everything for all four of them. It is a most beautiful story of love, loss, forgiveness, grief and family. This story touched my soul and will stay with me forever.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the emotional story of Mallory as she deals with trauma related to her work as a social worker with at-risk youth, and as she confronts her past when she goes back home for an extended leave. She tackles tensions with her mother as well as ghosts from a past relationship that ended poorly. But, Mallory begins to sense that feelings may change as she starts to watch her mother's unique line of work, and begins to engage with the community herself.

I have read a lot of Barbara Davis's books. I think Every Precious and Fragile Thing is one of my favorites. This is about a love story on so many levels, regrets, loss and second chances. This was such an enjoyable read that you just can't put it down.
Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is her calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Mallory doesn't realize her ex-fiancé is also back in Rhode Island until she runs into him in the local book store. Mallory just wants to run back to Boston and not face the pain that she experience 10 years before. Her mother convinces her to stay. Will this be the right decision or should she have left. The characters will have you loving them and the stories from their past. You will love this as much as I did and find it is a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Sometimes it’s OK to judge a book by its cover. This book has beautiful cover, and I also was intrigued by the title which led me to request it. This book really digs in deep to all different types of relationships. It does a nice job of telling the stories of the different characters by taking us into the past and showing us what happens in the present. There’s definitely a theme of forgiveness that I think works well with the plot. It takes you through a lot of different emotions and even made me laugh a couple of times. It was a good read, and I would recommend it to my friends. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ” Every Precious and Fragile Thing” in exchange for my honest opinion.

Every Precious and Fragile Thing begins with Mallory Ward a social worker who loses a client due to a tragic death. The reader experiences heartache and shock right along with her and reader discovers this isn’t the only time she has been faced with lose of life in more ways than one. Not only that, Mallory and her mother Helen’s relationship is tattered and Mallory holds on to resentment beginning from her childhood into adulthood. She refuses to see that she is spiraling and her boss (who is also a friend) forces her to take the summer off work to deal with her unresolved issues and healing. With no where else to go, Mallory returns to childhood home on the Rhode Island coast and she is immediately is confronted with her fragile relationship with her mother and an unexpected person from her past that drove her away long ago.
Helen Ward has devoted decades of her life caring for the terminally ill and helping people prepare for their last moments on this earth. Her home is filled with keepsakes from her clients and she has always put her clients and work first leaving her daughter to feeling neglected and unloved. Unexpectedly Mallory appears and Helene has a chance to mend their relationship.

This story is told in multiple point of views with dual timelines that reveals secrets, horrible assumptions, loss, and heartache that threatens the healing of two families. Will they be able to forgive each other and come together to heal what is broken before it is too late?
I felt every thread of the character’s emotion at the very core of my being. There were moments in the story that my vision was blinded by tears and as I write this now, I’m tearing up.

There are layers of themes in this story and one in particular is a something that has been on my mind for a long time: mortality. Over the years I’ve been studying many time periods in our world’s history and how approaching death or how one’s last moments in this life varies over time. Our relationship with death and how we approach those last moments shapes the very fabric of civilizations. This story put me front and center of this theme was superbly weaved though it’s pages.

I can not praise this story enough and find myself still playing the scenes in my mind that impacted me so. You know a story is worthy and unforgettable when it has moved you so much, you hold the characters in your heart.

Book review for Every Precious and Fragile thing by Barbara Davis. This book is so good. I love the relationships in the story. The relationship between family, with friends and romantic. It’s heartfelt, emotional and full of surprises, and also some sorrow. If you’re a mother or daughter, a person who hopes, a person who loves, a person who grieves or feels alone. This book is for you. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read early! #bookstagram #booktok #ilovereading #barbaradavis #everypreciousandfragilething #hope #goodread #NetGalley