I really liked that the story was told from Ana's perspective, Tom's first wife. Even though it focuses on Tom and Grace, Ana's voice added a lot of depth. Getting to know her struggles and motivations made the emotional weight of the plot hit harder

Overall, it's a touching look at loss, love, and finding meaning after something tragic, with enough mystery to keep you interested

4.5/5. I really liked this concept with a unique narrator. I think this would have been a 5/5 if the ending was different. I think this a great book for book club discussions and hope to see this as a BOTM month or Read With Jenna pick.

How do you review a book that you can't say much about without spoiling the big stuff?? The publishers are purposely keeping their summaries vague which works perfectly for this one. Here's what I can say:

* You will read chapter 1 and have to set the book down to process what you just read boom

* After chapter 1 you will settle into a story about love, loss, and second chances, mixed with a feeling of unsettling tension. Not to mention one of the most unique POV I've seen in a long time.

* There are plenty of "trainwreck vibe" moments that kept the pages turning- - you can't look away from the disastrous decisions and events that play out.

This is a book you will absolutely want to talk about as you read! It's sure to be a hit this summer.

I was drawn to this book because i LOVE the cover. I was HOOKED from the first chapter. Like WHAAAAT???! I enjoyed this read. It made me feel anxious that Tom was not honest to Grace from the jump. I was waiting for her to find out the entire time. So messy! Loved the ending.

"But there is no word in the English dictionary for a parent who loses a child. They remain the same: a father, a mother, suspended in time. Forever explaining, forever retelling, forever tethered to an indigestible loss." Wow, what a debut! This is an outstanding debut novel full of family secrets. It's about how one lie can snowball into so many lies that you can't remember the truth. A shocking event shakes the lives of a family and two women's paths are combined to have lasting consequences. Old love and new love clash and what will be the outcome? Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book.

This book was a surprise in the best way.

Just judging from the synopsis, I was not fully prepared for all this book had to offer. This was surprisingly emotional, and I was caught off-guard by the events so early in the book. The grief and pain that Tom went through was felt through the page, and I was really rooting for him. I liked the story of him stepping up and trying his best for Henry, and also trying to find himself again. I loved seeing all of this through Honor’s narration, and thought that was a great style choice. Tom and Grace’s story, while not prefect (ahem Tom), was still beautiful, and I enjoyed seeing their growth.

This was an emotional heavy-hitter, but well worth it.

DNF @ p28

Listen. Sometimes you just know when a book isn't for you-- like when it hits a dozen of your pain points in the first 10% of the book. And because I don't really feel like ragging on this book, I'm not even going to list them all.

Except one-- the narrating dead person. (No spoilers here; this narrator from across the veil is apparent very early). I think I have only liked this gimmick one time in the roughly dozen times I've seen it. It's always gimmicky and rarely works. The first I read was Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. I didn't like that book either because I found it gimmicky. So my rule of thumb is, ghost characters? Fine. Ghost narrators? No thanks.

I tend to DNF books when I really feel a low rating might come from finishing it. I won't be rating this one, but I am providing trigger warnings below, because this book needs them.

Notes:

content warnings: fertility treatments, infertility, women's reproductive disorders, childlessness, bad parenting, marital disturbance, explosions, terrorism, death of a child.

Thank you to the author Loretta Rothschild, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of Finding Grace. All views are mine.

Wow! This book kept me engaged from the very beginning. I couldn’t really tell where the story was going but didn’t want to put it down. Toward the end, I felt it was predictable, going around in circles, but I found it enjoyable overall. Bonus points for a very unique narrator. I would describe the storyline as different from everything else I have read, tragic and yet hopeful. There are elements of friendship that I loved, some relationships evolve, and as you gain insight, you see some characters under a different light.
Overall, I would recommend the book to others. It was a 4-star read for me.

The description of this book left a lot to be discovered, so I basically went in blind. And oh boy, this was a dramatic book to do that for. After the first chapter, I knew I was in for a whirlwind. This book was emotional and heartbreaking, but also witty and enjoyable. I loved the unique narrative nature. I’ve never read anything like it, so it was exciting and refreshing for me.
I spent a lot of the time wanting to scream at our mmc, Tom, but I feel like that was the point. I’ve read a lot of books using the trope of messy female characters, so it was kind of nice to see a messy male character without him turning irredeemable like many men do in books.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I cried and felt gut punched a lot, and I’m sure this will stick with me for a long time.

I read early reviews that suggested going in blind to this novel by Rothchild, and I am glad I did. The reader is taken on an emotional rollercoaster with the author exploring themes of loss, grief and regret. I enjoyed the pacing of this novel and the writing style and if you enjoy those quiet character driven novels this is one to pick up.

It is hard to review this book without giving the plot away, but I can say that I read quite a lot of books, but this is something different. It is a love story with unusual twists not your usual romance novel (I am usually not a fan of romance novels). I actually stayed up very late when I was close to the end of this novel The author really makes you feel for the characters. It is hard to believe that this is Loretta Rothschild's debut novel. I eagerly look forward to her next novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the St. Martin's press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. Wow what an emotional read but definitely a great one. A tragedy occurs and changes a family’s life forever. What follows is a decision that’s made that has wild consequences. I was up and down with emotions during the book and loved the character development. The point of view narrating was also very well done. I felt like I was watching the book play out in real time as a bystander and the emotions I felt during each chapter were very deep. What a beautiful story overall!

The setting: "Honor seems to have everything. She adores her daughter Chloe and her husband Tom... But her longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it..." Five years later Tom makes a decision with consequences he could not have forseen. "And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?"

Love, loss, grief, friendship, family, drama, SECRETS. Dual timeline/cat and mouse/back and forth between the past of Tom, Honor and then Chloe, and the present with Tom, Grace, and Henry.

So--like it or not? Often tiresome. Tom, and Grace--the egg donor for the second child, Henry [no real spoiler as it dominates the narrative from early on], as well as various friends constitute the bulk of the book. Add in the Sunday Blues [a group of women] and Tom's mother-in-law for a breather. Mostly told by Tom, but italics are Honor's narrative--from the hereafter.

Positives:
original
an easy read save for moments of mush--which are a disconnect [for me]
some dry humor and laughs
a few great descriptions:
"... my mother's [face], which had always resembled a carved marshmallow, plump and held high by finely sliced cheekbones, all carefully preserved with French moisturizers and a vampiric approach to sunlight"
"...eyes tennis-matched from Tom to Grace"

Negatives:
mush moments
absolutely a need and tidy ending.

Vacillating about a 3.5 [though I would not round up. In the distinct minority of readers, but many will enjoy.

"Do you come from Heaven or rise from the abyss"

I love a good debut! With a brilliant title no less!
Rothschild kicks off the novel in a big way and makes you wonder what the reader is in for. The main male lead is presented with an opportunity for a second chance, but with it comes a moral dilemma. While he wants to do the right thing, he is overcome and spins a tangled web with expectant repercussions. I found myself saying "noooooooo" to his choices. But while on the surface, we may disagree with him, he is also mired in guilt and tragedy...it's complicated, so who are we to judge. I'm not sure I understand the choice in narration, but overall, I was a fan. Beautifully original, complex story about love, loss, guilt, ethics...worth a read!

**SPOILER ALERT**


Where do I begin? Let me start by confessing that the blurb on the book got me hooked: “A father with secrets that come to haunt you.” I thought I would be reading a complex familial drama, complete with a secret love child and all that. However, what I got instead was, for lack of a better word, a creepy, overwrought, underdeveloped, and poorly edited book. This is going to be a long one, so grab a drink and sit down.

The first thirty pages of the book are riveting. It starts with our narrator and her child getting killed in a suicide attack in Paris. It's an interesting perspective since we see things from the dead wife's eyes. I mean, does it get a little creepy? If your answer is yes, it does. The subsequent chapter pulls at your heartstrings as the father prepares for the funeral, especially regarding his daughter. However, the author makes the mistake of telling us too much instead of showing us. It’s an emotionally charged moment, yet I craved more insight into the father’s perspective. Sadly, this issue persists throughout the book, accompanied by unnecessary details that only serve to drag down the already tedious narrative further. But I’m getting ahead of myself.


Meet Tom, our grieving widower, who loses his entire family in this horrific blast. Just before the explosion, we witness a tense encounter between him and his wife. They face a significant challenge: Honor, the wife, is struggling to have a second child. They are already parents to a daughter named Chloe, but Honor is determined to give her a sibling. Due to various unfortunate circumstances, Honor cannot conceive again, leading them to opt for donor eggs and a surrogate. This decision creates tension between them, as Tom is satisfied with their small family while Honor pushes for expansion. Tragically, she dies, but frankly, I found it hard to empathize with her after her incessant arguments.

And let’s not overlook their wealth. The author ensures that we are aware of the Wharton family's wealth. It’s drilled into our heads at every turn: they live at the Ritz Paris (priced at $3,000 a night—I looked it up), wear Hermès boots, and, of course, people of their status don’t just drive cars; they drive luxury brands like Range Rover. The worst part? When someone from a different economic background arrives, their jewelry is often denigrated as “costume jewelry.”


Tom is distraught beyond words. However, on the day of the funeral, he receives a phone call that changes his life: the surrogacy his wife longed for has finally succeeded, and he will now have a child.

Fast forward four years: Tom is a doting father, having sold his hedge fund business, and is now devoted to raising his son in the best possible way. He has the help of his generous neighbors, who also happen to be Honor’s best friends, Annie and Lauren. One day, he receives mail from the surrogacy company revealing the name of the egg donor (who, by the way, had explicitly requested to remain anonymous). Of course, instead of reaching out to the company to address this Issue, he decides to visit the said Donor. Honor was a perfectionist, so she selected someone who closely matched her—someone with blue eyes, tall stature, and blonde hair. It just so happens that the donor, who we now learn is named Grace, recited a poem that Tom loved when his wife used to narrate it.

Tom tracks down Grace, and upon seeing her, it’s as if angels and minstrels sing; she is the exact doppelganger of Honor! To the point that when he returns home, he finds himself tormented by thoughts of this woman who resembles his late wife, and well, he abuses himself thinking of her…. There aren't enough ellipses to end this sentence.

He visits her shop, and by their second date, they are on the verge of kissing. If you’re thinking this is “young love,” think again. They are both in their mid-to-late thirties, if not their early forties (I did read a character refer to it as “young love”).

The only sensible thing Tom does is confess this situation to his friend Annie, who is also Honor’s best friend. Upon hearing his absurd idea, she tells him to wise up and stop. Any rational person would heed that advice. Nonetheless, Tom continues to impress Grace, all while never revealing the actual story. Enter Henry, his son, who, due to the absence of a mother figure, takes a liking to Grace. Naturally, Grace is charming and graceful, but she has her suspicions as Tom spins lie after lie. His “Etonian” charm wins her over, but then their other eccentric neighbor, Lauren, portrayed as loud and cantankerous with a considerable crush on Tom, oversteps, causing the entire charade to collapse.

Can you believe he proposed to her with his late wife’s ring? You’re telling me he couldn’t muster the courage to tell her the truth? What is he, thirteen?

Okay, let me outline my issues (and I haven’t covered half of them yet, so buckle up):

- The blurb is misleading, especially regarding the question, “What happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?” What secret? He consciously avoided sharing the truth

- There is no resolution with the company that made this egregious mistake

- Has Tom even considered therapy after the tragedies of Honor and Chloe? His behavior is deeply unsettling.

- The relentless pop culture references—think Elizabeth Taylor, and the overemphasis on wealth like boarding school, Eton, Cambridge, Hermes boots, and Cartier watches—are intrusive and redundant

-Tom’s swift infatuation with Grace raises serious questions. Is it purely because she resembles Honor? Even Grace seems ready to kiss him by their second meeting. Failing to reveal the truth earlier suggests he sees her as a mere replacement for Honor, which is both disturbing and shockingly convenient
- The author hints that Grace is adopted, leading me to think there must be a more profound connection—perhaps Honor had a twin that her parents gave up, which explains her desperate desire for a second child, or maybe Grace is the result of an affair. Why introduce that plot point and tantalize the reader if there’s no payoff?

- The whole ring situation presented a perfect opportunity for him to come clean, but he chose to lie instead.

- Some of the dialogue lacked a clear beginning or end, and some lines were nonsensical (e.g., Annie saying, “Oh, don’t worry, I don’t have a child, but I do know how to hold a cheesecake.” What?!). They felt included just to reach a specific word count.

- Grace’s friend is a lawyer, yet she contributes nothing to the narrative. I thought her introduction would lead to a legal angle regarding the donor company.

- Why is she friends with Lauren? The narrator frequently criticizes Lauren, who seems to only help them out of tricky situations. Their relationship isn’t great, and she seems to sabotage Tom and Grace’s relationship. In retrospect, Tom deserves someone like Lauren.

The perspective of the deceased wife as the narrator became somewhat creepy, especially during intimate moments between Tom and Grace. And the names—notably Honor and Grace—were too on-the-nose to be taken seriously.

- The ending was another "what the hell" moment. After everything Tom did, he was easily forgiven.

This book needs a thorough overhaul—at least three additional edits and significant refinement. At the same time, the author showed promise from the outset, but much of the subsequent material devolved into filler. The story had the potential to be exceptional, especially with perspectives from Honor, Tom, and Grace, or by adopting a thriller angle where the donor tries to claim the baby. Despite a few commendable exchanges between Henry and Grace, the overall execution is profoundly disappointing.

This book had potential. A love story with moral complexity, grief, and ethical questions around surrogacy and identity? YES, please. But what we got was a messy, shallow, emotionally confused story that needed 3 major edits before hitting shelves.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this incredible opportunity

I went into this book not knowing very much and I highly recommend doing the same for anyone who is about to pick it up. This was an incredible debut that feels fresh and very unique. The narration is doing something very different and it worked extremely well here. Finding Grace is an emotional story about motherhood, longing, and loss. It's an extremely character driven story that had my heart aching for each character. I felt for them because they felt so real to me. The author does a great job of characterizing them from the very beginning. I recommend this book but there are quite a few triggers so that is something to look into.

This is an engrossing debut novel - I read it in two days! An unexpected and harrowing beginning turns into a hopeful story of love, family, friendship and hope. I didn't really like the main characters (especially the husband) but it did not take away my enjoyment of the book.

Finding Grace
Loretta Rothschild
July 08, 2025

Tom and Honor met at a college party years ago. It was just a look that made the couple know they were soulmates. Over the weeks they grew more together. In the coming years they married and had a daughter, Chloe. She is four on their coming trip to Paris. The family had spent Christmas there since they were wed. It was always a magical trip, as if predestined. As the years flew by since Chloe’s birth they had hoped for another child, however Honor became infertile. Her best friend volunteered to become a surrogate for the couple. They waited to hear if the embryo transfer was a success. It was always in Honor’s thoughts but she tried her best to remember the holidays once they arrived in Paris.
Finding Grace will be published on July 08, 2025 by St. Martin’s Press. I was able to read and review Rothschild’s latest publication via NetGalley. It was a delightful tale as Honor and Tom’s story began. It flowed just as readers felt love stories should begin. When tragedy struck it became unbelievable. Readers will wonder how the plot will follow. It is an awesome tale that many will be enraptured by. Do read this incredible love story!

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed their ability to pull me into the story and keep me engaged to the last page. I also enjoyed how this author used details to make the twist and turns come to life. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. This is a story of secrets and a decision that has changed things for everyone. I enjoyed the characters in this story and what they added to the story that made it easy to read. They are connectable and relateable. I enjoyed watching the growth of this story throughout that had me coming back for more. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story that you don't want to miss. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this book.

This one was heavy, unexpected and beautiful. I will think about it for a long time. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!