This begins with a couple, and an unforgettable event, one that leaves a family shattered. A woman who is determined to add another child to their family, despite having a daughter, and so she decides to find a surrogate, hoping for the right person. But ultimately, a catastrophic event interrupts her dreams, and her life, leaving her husband, Tom, to fulfill those dreams.

This is a story of family, of loss and love, and coming to terms with grief, as well as finding your way back to a life with a degree of acceptance of what has been lost, and what remains to be found.


Pub Date: Jul 08 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

Finding Grace is a general fiction about love, loss, grief, infertility, and secrets, and it was the emotional roller coaster of a book that I didn't see coming. At the end of the first chapter, I audibly gasped and quickly moved to the next chapter.

The main male lead, Tom has his life thrown into a tailspin as he tries to figure out how to grieve so much sudden loss while moving forward with a new purpose. We see Tom's post-tragedy life through a voice from the past which adds an emotional perspective. The plot includes intriguing secrets, unexpected twists, and heartwarming friendship. It is a book that makes you ask, how do you move on after loss? And how do you redefine life when the one you are living is so different now that everything has changed?

Overall, this story was about starting over, defining life, finding purpose, being honest (with yourself and others), and you really are never prepared for the curveballs that life throws at you.

Solid 4 out of 5 stars read for me. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Finding Grace

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s for the opportunity to review this novel.

This is a beautifully written debut novel, imaginatively structured, with an omniscient narrator of a very memorable kind. It’s difficult to review precisely for that reason. What happens in the first few pages of the first chapter introduces the narrator and her place in the story in such a way that commenting on that here threatens a major spoiler. I don’t think it is, but stories aren’t easily spoiled for me. I’m the kind of reader who will read to the end even if I know it in advance. Besides, this isn’t even that kind of spoiler. Tempted though I am, I will concentrate on what happens after the opening chapter.

What happens is that Tom, now an affable, affluent young widower, has sold off a substantial portion of his investments in order to stay home with his young son Henry and his dog Duke. He immerses himself in Henry’s life, making healthy meals, ensuring he’s appropriately dressed, driving him in time for the start of preschool. He dutifully keeps up the friendships he and his wife had enjoyed before her death, specifically with the divorced single mother Lauren, who lives on his street, and the childless couple Oliver and Annie. They loved his wife Honor, love him and Henry as much, and they look out for him. He gets along with his French mother in law Colette, though she and her own daughter did not.

Honor had wanted a child to the point of obsession, even after multiple miscarriages, failed IVFs, and the loss of her ovaries. Tom was ambivalent, at times fed up with Honor’s unrelenting pressure, despite the challenge and expense of lining everything up just right. After much research to find the right candidate—Honor was especially keen to find one that resembled her—the couple accepted donor eggs to be carried by a surrogate mother. The donor is, and will remain, secret by her own choice. But Honor has a CD with her baby photo and interview, based on questions she provided to the agency.

Convinced that Honor was his one true love, Tom refuses, for years after her death, to allow himself to ´move on,´ as his friends encourage him, with a new love. He receives a misdirected letter concerning Grace, an traces her to a cute little wine shop. She is grieving the recent sudden death of her husband. They fall in love, Grace and Henry fall in love, even Colette accepts Grace. Only the friends who had actively tried to find him someone are wary. Because Tom is hiding a very big secret and refuses to come clean with Grace for fear of how it will damage, perhaps destroy, his ‘second chance. ‘

None of these characters is especially likeable, coming off as the kind of lucky rich folks who can seemingly buy anything they want, the way they want to. Tom and Oliver are the perfect modern husbands, good at everything. Honor, a children’s book writer, spouts bits of Baudelaire from her Oxford undergrad days to prove her intellectual merit, and is so whiny and self-absorbed it’s hard to feel real sympathy about her infertility or her tragic demise. Her friendAnnie is all high moralism and Lauren is a twisted opportunist so focused on nabbing Tom that she does some truly awful things to him, Grace, and ultimately Henry. Some of the secondary characters, like the women in Grace’s Blue Sunday group, Zara the potential set-up for Tom, even Colette who gets some tragic secrets of her own, don’t seem that relevant. Grace doesn’t seem real; it’s almost farcical that she is the last to know, especially given the clues dropped all over and the fact that everyone is always whispering about the big secret when she’s in the vicinity. Meanwhile the guilt-stricken Tom knows what he has to do, and has a veritable Greek chorus reminding him about it. When the blow-up comes, in spectacular fashion, he acts as though he is the true victim and waits until the resolution literally shows up at its door. The resolution has a certain fairy tale quality that also made it seem a bit fantastical.

This book is definitely thought-provoking, and the matter of the moral dilemma at its heart is a complicated one. Some will see Tom as an absolute fiend, others may be more convinced, as he is, that he deserves that second chance and only by having Grace in his life. Although the plot goes up and down the same paths after the high drama of the opening chapter and the accidental letter, it still kept me reading.

The first chapter took my breath away and then, within the next few pages, I figured out the plot (which is a bummer). I thought, overall, the book was fine. It became too sappy for my taste and followed a predictable plot line. I appreciated and enjoyed the author's choice for the "narrator" and her POV throughout the book. I think this book would be a good one for a beach read - doesn't take heavy lifting to read and follow the plot. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

What a powerful debut—I’m so glad I didn’t overlook this one. I nearly passed it by, but the cover caught my eye and I’m thankful it did. From the first few pages, I was completely drawn in. The emotional depth took me by surprise; I actually found myself tearing up as early as Chapter Two.

It’s hard to describe this book without giving too much away, but part of its magic lies in going in without knowing too much. Just start reading—you’ll quickly connect with Honor, Tom, and Grace, and feel every bit of their heartbreak, love, and transformation alongside them.

This story stood out to me as truly original. It explores grief and healing in a way I haven’t quite encountered before, and I came away not only moved, but also unexpectedly enlightened—I even discovered a new favorite poem: Hymn to Beauty by Baudelaire.

At its heart, this is a story of loss, love, and starting over. I loved every minute of it. Add this one to your list—it’s absolutely worth it.

Finding Grace is a book you will want to pick up knowing as little as possible. The first chapter sets the tone for the rest of the novel, showing the reader that it is about grief, trauma, forgiveness, and love. I was captivated by the first chapter, reeling from what I just read, with a pit in my stomach. From then on, you are given a story about what a life looks like when it's trapped in immense grief, learning how to take care of oneself and those around you. Simultaneously as much as this book is about grief and loss, it's also about infertility and the somewhat/sometimes debilitating desire to have children. This book depicts a woman's struggle with infertility as well as surrogacy in an educational, empathetic, and raw way. After reading Rothschild's debut, I cannot wait to read what she writes next.

4.5 stars (seriously, don’t read this review, go in blind)


. . .

What a stunner of a debut. Finding Grace caught me out and had me shook from the very beginning. I went in blind, and when that first twist hit—my jaw dropped. It’s shocking, to say the least, and completely changed the trajectory of the story in a way I absolutely didn’t see coming.

The tension in this book gave me massive anxiety (in the best way possible). The lies, the secrets, the constant shifting of truth—it was all so claustrophobic and intense, I couldn’t look away. I read it in a single day, completely consumed. If you’re planning to read it, I highly recommend going in blind to get the full impact of the initial twist.

Honor's life seems nearly perfect—she has a bright, beautiful daughter, a husband she loves (even if he’s rarely home), and the dream of expanding their family. But one shocking event changes everything. Years later, a decision Tom makes sends lasting ripples through all their lives, entwining the fates of two women in ways neither could have foreseen.

I’m not even sure how to classify this book—it doesn't fit neatly into one genre. It blends a gripping moral dilemma with a sweeping, emotionally charged story of love, loss, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for a new beginning. The ending felt a tiny bit rushed, but it was still satisfying and, honestly, the only way it could have ended.

Twisty, emotional, and impossible to put down—Finding Grace is one of those books that stays with you. A bold, unforgettable debut.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my new favorite romance novel.

Plot: I am SO GLAD that the publisher chose to keep the blurb vague - I will as well, as it is partially why this book was so impactful. Honor, Tom, and their daughter Chloe are spending Christmas in France to see Honor’s mom, awaiting the results from their surrogate to find out if Chloe will become a big sister. When tragedy strikes, their lives are changed forever. Many years later, an unexpected letter shows up, once again changing everything.

Review: The first chapter of this book had my jaw on the floor, and the second had me sobbing… I didn’t even know the characters yet. What I loved about this so much was that the characters were not so clearly good or bad… much like real life, they were somewhere in between. The conflicts felt understandable, raw, painful, and compelling. I fell in love with the side characters. I couldn’t put this down and had to know what would happen next.

I just loved this. I’ll be thinking of this book for a long time. I don’t know if a romance novel will ever hit me like this again!

5⭐️

This novel completely mesmerized me. It starts with an unforgettable opening that hits hard—seriously, your jaw will drop. What follows is a slow-burn journey into grief, obsession, and how one revelation can ripple through so many lives.

The characters are messy, human, and raw. You’ll love them, want to shake some of them, and stay glued to every decision they make (especially when things go sideways). The pacing is spot-on—not rushed, not dragging—and the emotional impact lingers long after you’ve finished.

If you’re drawn to character-driven stories that blend heartfelt emotion with intense plot twists, this is one to devour. Just be ready to gasp right from the start—and maybe grab tissues too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance. Contrary to a lot of reviews here, the early on twist was not for me. That said, the excerpt I felt was very misleading to the plot. I understand going in blind but because of how early the twist happens, it may be worthwhile to reframe the excerpt so the reader has a more accurate understanding of the plot line.

The end of the first chapter of Finding Grace hooked me immediately and I could barely put this book down!

I almost always read a synopsis before starting a book. A lot of times it helps me decide if I even want to read it, but I highly recommend going into this one blind and enjoying the ride!

Finding Grace features complicated relationships, moral dilemmas, intense emotions, and has a great level of building tension throughout the story.

FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild is a remarkable debut that’s bound to receive a lot of great buzz this summer. People will definitely be talking about this book, that’s for sure. It’s also the second book I’ve read this week that’s been difficult to review for the exact same reason. You really can’t say too much about the plot without totally ruining it for other readers. The publisher’s synopsis is quite vague, and thankfully doesn’t give anything away, but I still advise you to go in blind. Don’t peek at too many reviews! Trust me! Just prepare yourself for a complicated, morally grey, train-wreck type of situation. Ha! It also has strong themes of marriage, motherhood, and friendship. I will say that the male protagonist had me pulling out my hair with his awful decision-making. My gosh! Here’s a few phrases I whisper-screamed at him all throughout:

“𝙉𝙤, 𝙣𝙤, 𝙣𝙤, 𝙣𝙤!”
“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩!”
“𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙝!”
“𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚!”
“𝘿𝙐𝘿𝙀! 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜?”
🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

If you’re in the mood for a juicy, shocking, and addictive read that you’ll find impossible to put down, this is definitely it. The narration is top-notch, so I highly recommend the audio route if you do decide to pick this one up. Overall, it’s a very impressive debut. 4/5 solid stars for FINDING GRACE! It releases on July 8th! Highly recommend!

Finding Grace is a page-turner with depth. The story is engrossing, the writing is solid, and the characters are well-crafted. The plot is filled with complex moral dilemmas, and as a reader, I was right there in the middle of it, cringing with the ambiguity of every white lie, dreading the weight of unwanted secrecy. Amidst the angst, it’s a love story, as well as a grief story, and the story of an unlikely family.

I tore through this in a few days and really enjoyed it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Loretta Rothschild for an ARC of Finding Grace. I can’t believe this is a debut?? I am not okay. This is one of the books that will stay with me forever. This was so beautifully written and with so emotion. I’m honestly speechless how phenomenal this was and did not want the story to end. The first couple pages I was hesitant like maybe it’s not a book to read right now and will come back to it - if you feel the same just make it to the end of the first chapter and you’ll be hooked. I don’t know if there were actual chapters in the book because my eyes were glued and I was just so engrossed in the story. I don’t want to spoil anything - but this is absolutely going to be one of the best books of 2025 without a doubt. Loretta has automatically become an auto-buy author. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store.

This was a compelling premise and had me pretty hooked on the dynamics of the characters. I didn’t find the main characters super likable but I still wanted to know what happened. There’s a super surprising early twist, but this is more of a character study on relationships and love, not a thriller.

4.5 stars. I have to echo what many other reviewers have said: there is no way to share even a simple synopsis of this book without revealing huge spoilers. Trust that it is a great debut novel, one which is character-driven and touches on grief, love, forgiveness and resilience, among other themes. The main characters — Honor, Tom and Grace — are very well developed, and the storyline’s being told through different timelines and POVs adds to the impact this novel has. All in all, this was an excellent read. (It would make a wonderful movie, I think!)

I really enjoyed this book. A very unusual story which I think is best to jump into blind. Honor and Tom seem to have a picture perfect life- she is a successful child author and he is a businessman. They have an adorable little girl Chloe whom they both love madly. Of course all is not well in this seemingly perfect world. Honor struggling with infertility and has sought out a surrogate to have her second child. Things take a tragic turn, and that’s where the story really gets interesting. While a few things were predictable, O really liked how this book health with grief and love and hope.. I also love stories about found family and there are 2 separate examples of it in this book.
Highly recommend this book. Some trigger warnings regarding infertility and violence.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

There’s little of the plot given away in the synopsis, and I’ll carry that through here. I went into Finding Grace based on my intrigue at an unfavorable review — what the reviewer disliked was a pro for me.

This book has some genuinely shocking twists. In the first 100 pages, we head in like, three different directions. I highly recommend going in blind as you’ll know pretty early on whether this book is for you!

The tone and setting reminded me of Anatomy of a Scandal (one of my favorite Netflix shows). If unlikeable characters or moral ambiguity are a deal breaker for you, this likely won’t be a good fit. Personally, I love these kinds of complex stories and gray areas.

Loretta Rothschild really took a big swing here, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen this storyline before. I love when an author (especially a debut) gives us something I’ve not come across previously. Her writing is top-shelf as well.

This is the first ARC I’ve reviewed. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This novel GUTTED me. I’m talking ugly cries, sobbing, box of tissues, the whole works. I just could not imagine Tom’s situation and grief.

It’s difficult to talk about this book without giving away spoilers. The description is purposely vague and I appreciated that when I jumped into the novel. I particularly loved the viewpoint used as it isn’t one I see often at all and it worked so perfectly for this story.

This book has a ton of trigger warnings - infertility, death, terrorism, loss of a child. Again, it is GUTTING. And there were many moments - particularly in the beginning - that I was an absolute mess and needed to take breaks. If you can get through that though, my gosh, this book is so worth it.

There were times I was super frustrated with Tom and some of the story arc was predictable in that regard but again, it didn’t detract from the overall story and this is one I highly recommend.

The audio was excellent (though potentially put me more in the feels) and if you’re an audio fan I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Libro for the copy.

What an interesting concept for a debut novel with great execution! This book is able to bend into several genres in order to make the story unique and immersive.

This story, at its core, is about the decisions we make and the ripple effect they have on our lives. This book really touches on the intricacies of human love and longing and the lasting impact our desires and hopes have on one another.