FINDING GRACE was a strange story for me. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I will say that I did not like the narrator, the main characters, or how the story unfolded. There was a lot of potential for a beautiful love story, but instead there was convoluted plot to make something happen. This is a hard pass from me.

Wow. Let me start by saying that the synopsis for this book does not do the story justice. The story that I thought I was going to get went right out the window in the first chapter, and trying to figure out what story I was going to get is what drove me to read chapter after chapter. Now that I’m done, I’m still not sure what to make of what I read.

First, let me say it’s almost impossible to write a review without any hints of spoilers, but I will try my best. This book takes place from Honor’s POV, a unique perspective that I thought made the storytelling unique. Seeing Tom’s story play out, I started very sympathetic to his story, even after Grace is introduced to us. That’s when the story started to lose me.

I could *maybe* understand Tom’s hesitations at the start of their relationship, but the longer their story played out, the more uncomfortable I felt with what was happening. For awhile, I thought maybe this storyline would play into learning more about Tom and his struggles with his past, but then we got the ending and it was…messy? Then a little too tied up in a bow considering everything we read in the pages before.

I’m left confused with what to think of this book because, there were parts of it I really liked. I also really liked that it was the opposite of what I expected and it’s so rare to be surprised with a book nowadays. However, I wish this book focused more on the character’s development than trying to find things to shock the reader. I think there was a lot of opportunity to tell Tom’s story without making it as messy as it was. As much as the writing entertained me, I’m left wishing I got a deeper story. 2.5 stars (rounded to 3 for GR).

**Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. I appreciate the opportunity!**

This book started out with a young couple Tom and Honor-their daughter visiting Paris at Christmas time. When a suicide bomber kills Honor and Chloe (the little girl), Tom is left to deal with friends who try to set him up with other women. The book goes 4 yrs forward, when Tom is a single parent raising Henry, the child born by surrogate and a donor egg(Honor was unable to conceive).
Although Honor is deceased, she has a role in the book which is interesting as she gives her viewpoint throughout the story.
I liked the book, although it was a little predictable- the author developed Grace nicely and brought Tom some resolution to his grief.
There were a few plot twists, which were unexpected and several unlikable characters. It did get a little slow in the middle, and I was upset with Honor's friends reactions to Tom's choices, but I liked the ending.

DNF @ 60% | The first half of this book had so much promise. I loved the unique perspective from which it was told, as well as the two big reveals in the beginning chapters. But there was one direction I didn't want it to go in, that I was afraid it would, and I was right. I honestly hate where this book went but am giving it an extra star because I was immediately hooked and really enjoyed the first half.



SPOILERS AHEAD
I absolutely hated that Tom basically stalked Grace and coerced her into dating him under false pretenses and that it WORKED. I'm sure at some point the fact that she is his egg donor, and therefore the father of his child, will be revealed. And that most of what attracted him to her in the first place is that she looked exactly like his wife (ick). It just felt both too easy and didn't sit well. I talked to a friend who finished it and she confirmed my fears, as well as revealed the ending, one that only made me even more made at this story.

Beautiful novel! Be ready to get hocked out of your chair righty on the first chapter!

The end was, of course, premeditated but the story is very entertained and hooked me completely. Finished the book in less than a week.

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild is a stunning debut that begins with a gut punch and unfolds into a beautifully layered story of grief, memory, and second chances. Rothschild’s lyrical prose and morally complex characters keep you hooked, even when the story veers into uncomfortable emotional territory. A quiet yet powerful exploration of love and identity—this one lingers with you for a long time.

Tom and Honor are a young, loving couple with a four-year old daughter, Chloe. Honor is obsessed about having another child and has turned to IVF when all else has failed. Tragedy strikes when the family is in Paris over Christmas and both Honor and Chloe are killed by a suicide bomber. Shortly after, Tom finds out the surrogate is indeed pregnant and he is going to be a new father. Skip ahead four years and Tom is a single dad raising his son, Henry, when he mistakenly receives a letter that reveals the identity of the anonymous egg donor who helped conceive Henry, Against his better judgement, Tom seeks out Grace, the donor, who has a remarkable resemblance to Honor and is harboring a strong sense of loss of her own. Grace and Tom immediately hit it off but Tom continues to keep the reason for their meeting a secret, which is ultimately revealed and causes more grief and distrust amongst everyone involved.

A large portion of this book is narrated by Honor from the grave which puts an interesting spin on the story. Enter Honor's best friends and her untrustworthy mother along with Grace's group of loyal and somewhat eccentric friends and you have a very entertaining and thoughtful storyline that deals with grief, forgiveness and moving on.

Go into this blind! I knew nothing of what it was about and was hooked by the end of the first chapter. Highly recommend!

A unique book with an even more unique premise . This book explores family , morality and ultimately potential redemption .

This book knocked me off my feet and carried me along with it. I was advised and able to go in blind and I highly recommend it if you can. With the first sentence of chapter one, I knew I was reading something special. Honor's candor, wit, and raw emotion bleed through each page. When I got to the gut-punch of the final sentence of chapter one my jaw actually dropped. I usually read books in one or two sittings, but I found myself leaving and returning to this one, wanting to give the characters the time to process and develop in my head before diving back in. I loved everything about this book and I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the Advanced Reader Copy.

Honor, Tom and their daughter, Chloe, are in France for Christmas having an argument about having a second child. Honor is desperately hoping that their surrogate will be able to hold the pregnancy while Tom just wishes to enjoy the holiday before returning to London. In the midst of their fight, Honor and Chloe are killed in a bomb attack. Honor now watches her husband’s turmoil after their death.

When I first started reading this, I did not know what to expect. I didn’t really read the full description, I like reading the first sentence and seeing if that intrigues me. Well, this story did. When I started reading it, the relationship was set. A serious marriage that is taking a slight turn. What I didn’t expect was the emotions after it. I have a daughter, so seeing Honor and Chloe die, and Tom having to handle the situation brought me to tears.

Through the entirety of this book I felt anger, sadness, somewhat betrayal. Even when Tom began to heal and find new love, the title Finding Grace I knew I was in for another roller coaster. This story was lovely from beginning to end. This story will make you emotional and having you craving more. I could not put this book down.

I would read this story again. I can’t wait for the future works of this author, if there is any, and I would suggest everyone to read this book. Hopefully you will fall in love with it as much as me.

As one review stated, “The description on the back did not prepare me for the first chapter. And the first chapter did not prepare me for the rest of the book!” The main character of this story is Tom, who is trying to deal with grief and life as it is, when an unexpected opportunity falls into his lap. How he decides to deal with it will alter the course of life for his close friends, family, and a few strangers who are soon to be more. This is a story about grief and getting through it, but also about love and friendship. It also delves into secrets (of many kinds) and the harm they can cause, even when we think we’re keeping them for good reasons.
It’s hard to rate this book as it seems pretty different from a lot of books I’ve read, mainly based on the narrator/writing style. It grabbed my attention from the beginning, and I wanted to keep reading to know what was going to happen to the characters. You did know from the beginning of the main event that the secret was going to have to come out, so that did make it a tense read at times wondering when/how the secret would be revealed! Overall, it was a good, interesting read and I would recommend it to others.
It has already been published, so grab a copy from your favorite book buying location.
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #FindingGrace

I received Finding Grace as ARC from NetGalley. I was excited by the premise of the book, but was disappointed half way through, The story is told from the perspective of Tom's dead wife, Honor. While I enjoyed the story telling through Honor's eyes, by halfway through it was hard to continue to watch Tom bumble his chance with Grace. And for a man that was written as being dismissive and almost cruel to his now dead wife, for him to be so overcome with grief for so long was hard to accept.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of Finding Grace in exchange for my honest review.

After literally the best "first chapter" of a book I've read in a very long time, I was so excited to continue with the story.

But after a great start, I felt like the story fizzled and became a bit predictable. It was good but not great.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and I promise not to give too much away as a surprising choice is made that shapes the entire story. Very early in the book, the reader is given information that is quite shocking and we get to see how the story unfolds. The whole time I was reading I was wondering how it would end when/if/how the truth is revealed. The main themes are family, what is morally/ethically right, and finding a way to heal from a loss. I was hooked from the beginning!

The story is intriguing and I enjoyed the plot, but the characters weren't very likeable and I did not enjoy the narrative style either. This was a hard one to finish.

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild was explosive from the very first chapter! My jaw dropped and I literally gasped out loud at the end of the first chapter. Honor Wharten has it all, the husband, the daughter and is on vacation in Paris. But she longs so much for another child. What follows this is gripping and dramatic, a story that will have you tearing through the pages to see what happens next.
Honor’s narration creates an emotionally resonant yet static perspective. There are secrets, a love triangle and tackles tough subjects such as miscarriage, grief and forgiveness. I don't want to give ANYthing away, I hope you go in blind like I did, so that you can truly enjoy this debut in all its glory. The characters are captivating, and the writing style will definitely have me going back for more.
4.5 stars. Thank you to Rothschild, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I know this one has been controversial. I enjoyed it, but was definitely surprised by the early twist. Honer and Tom seem to be the perfect couple, but they are unraveling as Tom is working all the time and Honer is obsessed with her struggle to have a second child, so much that she seems to be ignoring her daughter Chloe. If you don't want to know what happens, stop reading now:












Early in the book, Honer and Chloe are killed. The rest of the book is told from Honer's perspective, as kind of a friendly ghost. Several years pass by, and Tom has made some decisions about his life that are quite questionable. The book is an easy read, and the different narrator perspective is fun.

This book was a bit of ride. I wasn't expecting the beginning. I wasn't expecting the middle. I wasn't expecting the end.

I guess that makes it a good story. The twists and turns.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first chapter of Finding Grace had me hooked, I was certain it was going to be a 5 star read. And then the story went off the rails… The narration is from a very unique perspective (highly recommend going in blind) and the story follows unlikeable Tom as he navigates a new life, parenthood, and a relationship with someone he never should have met. An easy page-turning read, but I was left with the feeling that I had wasted my time…

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.