I went into Finding Grace not knowing what to expect, and I’m so glad I did. The first chapter completely caught me off guard in the best way and pulled me right into the story. I loved watching everything unfold, even if Tom drove me absolutely crazy (which, let’s be honest, was probably the point). A strong and engaging debut from Loretta Rothschild. I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review.

This book, about a widower in England raising his young son, is a perfect choice for book clubs. There is so much to love about this book and so much to hate which will make it worthy of discussion. I was immediately drawn in, but had trouble with how the book was narrated.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review. I’m very conflicted with this book and how to review but here goes. The book started out with a horrible tragedy. The moral of this tradegy is to never leave your loved ones upset upset. After the tragedy, the story was a journey of a loved one left behind and their grief. This was definitely understandable but the momentum became lacking and slow to me. I did enjoy the story even with the issues.

I enjoyed this read. I won’t go into plot specifics for fear of spoiling a twist that deserves to remain unspoiled for future readers.

The story was unique, gripping, and somewhat “cozy” despite its heavy themes. Grace and Colette’s characters were my favorites.

I did find the main characters difficult to relate to (my husband doesn’t have a hedge fund to sell off at a moment’s notice, we don’t own an Aga), causing many eye roll moments. Some sex scenes felt over the top (but maybe I’m a prude). The ending also felt a little too buttoned up imo.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

2.5/3. This a book that’s hard to review without spoiling, but here we go. The premise follows an eye roll of a trope. Someone unintentionally starts a relationship based on a lie. They come to deeply value said relationship. They keep lying to keep it all together (slippery slope blah blah blah). The lie unravels eventually and fallout ensues. I was exhausted by these characters and this plot by the end. It felt like a bad, dark romcom. I found myself thinking “oh, COME ON,” more than once. Would not recommend.

A few positives…
- The first chapter! It was A+. I audibly gasped at the last sentence. Sadly, the rest of the book did not follow suit.
- There are some parts about miscarriage, secondary infertility, and mothering in the midst of these experiences that I found relatable and heart squeezing.
- The choice of narrator is interesting. It didn’t always work, but I appreciated it, for the most part. It was a creative choice.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Finding Grace will break your heart in pieces, warm it like winter cocoa, break it again, and heal it like warm sunshine. My emotions were in a roller coaster, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! It definitely pulls on the heartstrings and makes us as readers dig deep to remember what truly matters… cherishing the smallest moments that end up to be the biggest memories with those who make us feel truly alive. The narrator did a wonderful job with inflection, voice and pacing to convey each individual character’s uniqueness. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an ARC. This review is my own opinion.

Finding Grace is a stunning debut novel that poses the question...which is a heavier burden to carry: grief or guilt?

After reading the blurb, I was very intrigued and thought I kind of sort of knew what kind of book I was heading into. Maybe a love triangle. Or cheating. Perhaps a broken marriage all in the name of a much longed for second child. Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional journey Loretta Rothschild was about to take me on!! And that was only the first chapter!

This one is poignant, unique, and was hard to put down. My only gripe is the pacing. Somewhere in the middle it began to feel repetitive. I'm sure due in part to my lack of patience and need to know where this story was headed.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for early copies in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars.
& some spice.

4.5 stars.

A short review is necessary to prevent any spoilers. HIGHLY recommend this brilliant novel!!!

The emotional beginning of Finding Grace is jaw-dropping and completely unexpected. The characters are three-dimensional with realistic flaws and strengths. One of the perspectives is unusual but adds an incredible amount of depth to the unfolding story. The first few chapters are packed with deep emotions. The storyline is unique and has a “waiting for the other shoe to drop” element due to one of the characters’ decisions. Loretta Rothschild’s debut is utterly captivating from the stunning first chapter to the heartwarming conclusion.

My coworker told me I absolutely had to read this but wouldn’t tell me anything about the story. She mentioned that she had never read anything like it… Once I dove in, I could see exactly what she meant. The book totally shocked me with a big twist at the beginning and kept me hooked the rest of the story. I was a little stressed reading it as I wanted everything resolved but realized I was totally hooked.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

In Finding Grace, Honor has it all- a loving husband, a wonderful daughter, and a beautiful life. But her longing for another child shakes the foundation of it all. When a shocking event changes everything, the choices made in its aftermath send ripple effects through two families. Years later, secrets resurface, love is tested, and lives collide in unexpected ways.

I literally had to do a double take at the end of the first chapter. Nothing could have prepared me for that twist. From there, I was totally hooked. The story is emotional, messy, and full of moments that made me stop and think. Loved the characters, even when they made frustrating choices. Just a really good, thought-provoking read.

How to review a book without giving anything away? Because this IS a book you must read without knowing much! I loved how the story was told and the narrator used. I loved how the reader is hooked right at the beginning of the book! Sadly, the rest of the book didn't maintain the standard set by the beginning and as it went along, the story started to feel like a very predictable train wreck. But, I need to admit, it was a train wreck I could not look away from! I think this will be a terrific book club read! So much to talk about! So many feelings!

4.5 stars. If I can tell you anything about Finding Grace, it’s this: Go into it completely blind. The synopsis gives very little away, which is as it should be. This is a book that works so much better when you know as little as possible about what to expect.

I myself went in blind, and to be honest, I almost stopped reading after the first chapter. It was so shocking and so unexpected, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted to go on. Because I didn’t look at reviews or know anything about the plot of the book, I think I had the impression that this was going to be domestic suspense – and it’s clear very early on that it’s an entirely different type of book. But I’m so glad I continued reading, because I ultimately loved Finding Grace so, so much.

I’m going to be intentionally vague about what I loved most, because I want to avoid spoilers at all costs. It was the wistful, poignant way the story was told that utterly blew me away; it was like nothing I’d ever read before and elevated the entire book. Finding Grace takes the reader through a vast array of emotions; there were parts that had me crying and a couple of parts that made me snort (or should I say “hoot” – owl mask, I’m looking at you) with laughter. The characters are so flawed, complex, and human, and I was rooting for all of them. There’s a complicated moral dilemma at the center of the story, which Loretta Rothschild explores deftly. It’s not easy to choose a “side,” but it was all too easy to put myself in the characters’ shoes and wonder what I would do in their position.

The ending feels a bit abrupt and disingenuous to all the complex character work and relationship drama leading up to it, but other than that, Finding Grace is a phenomenal debut that really made me think about all the messy gray areas that exist in the realm of human experience. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the early reading opportunity.

It’s best to go into this book without knowing much, so I will be brief.

This book starts off WILD and then settles down quickly into a book on what is truly important in life. Finding Grace is a book about grief, healing, and the importance of honesty. It’s a very sad literary fiction, love story about ALL different kinds of love. The entire book is very melancholy and emotional, and isn’t a quick read, but I do think it’s an important one, because it will leave you with the reminder that you should never take a single thing in life for granted.

I was excited to see this is a debut and look forward to whatever Loretta Rothschild writes next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sally Rooney’s writing style or just generally enjoys heavily character driven reads.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author, Loretta Rothschild, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a well-written and engrossing debut novel that reminds me of Jodi Picoult, for its emotional depth and a plot involving a major moral dilemma. The catalyst for the story is well-executed and surprising – the synopsis of this book is deliberately vague, and the reading of the story is better for the lack of spoilers. I don’t want to ruin the opportunity to read it blind like I did, so I will just say that this is a story of love and heartbreak, resilience and forgiveness. It has flawed characters making questionable choices with major repercussions. Yet those decisions are revealed and explained with such emotional clarity and understanding that they feel inevitable.
Finding Grace has a natural flow and is a pretty fast read. It balances tension well with an explosive start, followed by a slow and steady build. It is an emotional and thought-provoking novel, and I am glad to have read it.

Tom and Honor are married with one daughter. Honor longs for another child but circumstances make surrogacy the only option. They take a trip for Christmas and the unthinkable happens and Tom is now a widow. He lives with his son who was born after Honor died. He accidently finds out who the egg donor was and starts a relationship with her. However, he is lying every step of the way. What will happen if she finds out the truth?

This book is raw and emotional. We definitely feels Tom's loss. You will see where he is coming from and how hard it is to move on after a death. He also wants for this to work very badly. This book felt really personal. I would highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #LorettaRothschild, and #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book.
#FindingGrace

The premise of this book was really intriguing and definitely kept me going. I was anxious to get to the end to see how things resolved. I think the first half of the book was better than the second half, as there comes a point when Tom’s bad decisions really reach peak creepy/bad. However - I loved the style of the point of view of the narrator, it added a really interesting birds eye view perspective that felt fresh and different. I enjoyed the found family aspect and how both Tom and Grace and people in their corners rooting for them. This is an odd book at times but it carried me through quickly and enjoyably. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finding Grace
Author: Loretta Rothschild
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: July 8, 2025

Finding Grace is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I can’t give you a spoiler-free summary. The first chapter alone left me breathless. I suggest you dive into it without any prior knowledge or reading reviews. Readers are already sharing too much about the plot. Just know that this story is about a family, love, loss, grief, infertility, lies, guilt, IVF, depression, and grace. It’s packed with twists and turns, and this tale of redemptive grace is both moving and heart-wrenching. While I had a different preference for the ending, it didn’t overshadow the book. I genuinely believe this will be a massive hit for Ms. Rothschild, and I can’t wait to read her next book. I must admit, I left this story feeling drained, but it was worth every minute.

#fiction #romance #literaryfiction #grief #loss #adult #love @lorettarothschild #FindingGrace @netgalley @stmartinspress #book #bookreviewer #bookstagram

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

Man, what a banger of a first chapter. Just truly pulls the rug out from under you.

But I think the book goes down hill from there. I truly disliked the main male character so I feel like that made it hard to root for him or enjoy his story.

I read it in one day though so that definitely tells you something. I loved the writing and the way the story was told. Definitely looking forward to reading what Loretta Rothschild puts out next!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Holy cow! This novel did an absolute number on me. After finishing the first chapter, I thought I may never get through the rest because I was so emotionally shocked and upset. I absolutely loved that this novel was still told from Honor's point of view. It gave such a unique perspective to the entire novel. I was a little concerned at first when Tom found Grace and didn't disclose who he was but their love grew in to something magical and pure. It was such a breath of fresh air to watch Tom fall in love with Grace but still respect the love he had with Honor. You felt the tension throughout Grace and Tom's love story because you just knew that it was going to implode. But having Grace come back to Tom at the end was a Chef's kiss! I need more from their story!

What an interesting book where a mother is lost and her spirit is left behind to watch over her husband. Before her death Honor was waiting to see if their surrogate mother was pregnant with their second child. Since Honor herself can no longer provide eggs, they got the baby from an anonymous doner. Fast forward around five years the baby in fact does take and Honors husband Tom receives a letter disclosing the name of the original egg doner. He then decides he wants to know more about this person only to end up being in a relationship with them. The only problem is Grace starts to open up to Tom and he continues to hide his past from her. This is a poignant tale of two people both dealing with past traumas and can they come to place where the past no longer haunts them. It is a very interesting read and one I feel like would be suitable for a book club.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.