I hadn't read anything by this author before but after reading 'This Wasn't Meant To Happen', I will definitely be reading more by them. The author's writing is beautiful and even though there were some sensitive subjects they were handled with care. I can't recommend this book enough. I look forward to reading more by the author.

Ali Harris has courageously used her own personal experience to craft a captivating yet highly emotional story about loss, love, grief and how each journey is unique and very much self led.

I can only applaud Ali for the characters and how they grow as the story progresses. What I found truly remarkable was the transformation not only in the main protagonists but in all the characters as they dealt with their grief and their own lives. This made them so relatable and actually I felt quite inspired.

I loved how second chances was incorporated into each characters journey accompanied by understanding and forgiveness.

An absolute emotional rollercoaster of a story that will have you reach for the tissue box multiple times but will also leave your heart full by the end. Best book I've read this year by far.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

This Wasn't Meant to Happen by new to me author Ali Harris, published by Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter is a full length, stand alone novel that packs a punch.
Sofie and Rory are a married couple - when they become pregnant, only to endure some of the worst that can happen to parents. They're through such a lot, can they stitch their marriage back together. Sorry not sorry no spoilers here.
Only so much, this story is highly emotional with flawed characters, heartwrenching and is staying with me for some time now.
An ok read, 3.75 stars.

Wow! An emotional heartbreaking read following the loss of a baby at term. Certainly powerful and brings awareness to the very common subject of loss during pregnancy, early on by miscarriage or later with stillbirth and neonatal death. An unimaginable and horrendous experience endured by many. Gives an insight to helping friends and relatives who maybe going through similar experiences. Maybe not a book for any vulnerable pregnant woman when one is more susceptible to possible things going wrong. Having said all that, what comes shining through is the immeasurable love in the face of adversity.

A gorgeously moving read. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

This is one hell of a story. So moving. I do think it needs a warning for pregnant woman. I learnt loads . Communication is so important in a marriage . One amazing emotional read. Read it .

This Wasn't Meant to Happen is a heartbreaking, incandescent love story. Sofie and Rory meet, fall in love and marry. Although Sofie has never wanted children, a surprise pregnancy transforms her and she joyfully awaits her baby’s birth. Their son Leo is stillborn. In an instant, their dreams die with him. Grief shatters their marriage. Sofie’s pain is raw, physical, and all-consuming, while Rory retreats into quiet sorrow.

This Wasn't Meant to Happen is haunting, beautifully written novel that shimmers with emotion. Drawing from her own experience of the stillbirth of her daughter, Ali Harris brings raw honesty to every page. Rory leaves us with this heart-rending phrase. “Stillborn, still loved.” 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Ali Harris for this ARC.

I never expected This Wasn't Meant to Happen by Ali Harris to resonate so deeply - but it did, right from the very first page.

Like Sofie, I never pictured myself as a mother - until I met my husband and saw what an incredible father he could be.

Even throughout my pregnancy, I carried fear with me. I knew the heartbreaking statistic: 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss.

Friends of mine have gone through that pain. I was fortunate to welcome a healthy baby girl, but I’ve never forgotten that many others are not so lucky.

Ali Harris tells this story with such tenderness and truth, drawing on her own unimaginable loss to craft a novel that is raw, emotional, and incredibly brave.

The way she explores grief its many shapes, how differently we carry it, and how it reshapes us; is nothing short of extraordinary.

This book broke me, and I mean that in the best way.

The quote that will stay with me forever: “One in 225 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the UK. That’s seven stillbirths every day... And now we’re part of that statistic. We – our boy – is that one.”

It’s a gut-punch, and yet this story is filled with so much compassion and hope.

When Sofie starts to realise she can't navogate her grief journey in isolation and lets friends, family, colleagues and even strangers in she starts to learn to live with the loss of Leo and the things she achieves are brilliant.

Watching Sofie’s relationships, especially with her mother and her mother's new partner, slowly rebuild was powerful.

Her journey of confronting her past, uncovering secrets, and learning to forgive herself is deeply relatable - especially for anyone who’s ever lost someone.

This book should come with a trigger warning due to its themes of child loss and grief but it is one I wholeheartedly recommend.

It's an emotional rollercoaster, but one worth riding. Harris has written a story that will stay with me forever.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m so grateful to have read this brave, beautiful book. Ali Harris is now firmly on my must-read list.

This is a rollercoaster of a read, it is so emotional, I cried a lot but it made me smile too. The author has used her own experience of loosing a child at birth, it is a story of immense love and emotion. It is beautifully written and shows how everyone affected deals differently. I found the book hard to put down and became very involved in the characters lives and emotions, it wasn't an easy read at times but it was a book I am glad I did read.

This book will have triggers for some people because of the subject matter. However, whether you have been personally affected or not by a similar loss, it is a story of hope. Highly recommended.

This book was emotionally challenging but it was also beautiful. Ali Harris's writing articulated the many varying effects of grief and the reality that there isn’t a one size fits all solution. Every word I read felt real and echoed many of the sentiments I’ve witnessed shared by individuals in my own life who have experienced loss

Beautifully written by the author who has used her own personal experience of child loss to write a story about love, loss and grief. And how different people cope. This book should probably come with a trigger warning because of the subject matter. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster.

It is such a sad fact that, as the book quotes:

"One in 225 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the UK. That’s seven stillbirths every day. Over 2,600 last year. And now we’re part of that statistic. We – our boy – is that one."

Having had friends who have gone through similar experiences, this book absolutely broke me. But it is so brave of the author to share her story and help other grieving parents. Every person who has lost someone will relate to this book, but especially mothers and those who have also sadly lost their children or child.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel may well form the basis for a manual on how to handle loss, grief and pain. It’s a novel that delves into the minds of how people deal with their loss, in this case a stillborn, full term baby Leo. The coping strategies are different for everyone one, but with support and encouragement, it is possible. So very sad, beautifully written with such empathy from the author’s own experiences. A must read for anyone who has lost a loved one, but particularly a baby for whatever reason.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my views.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this incredible book. I loved how realistic this book felt to read. As someone who has suffered a pregnancy loss it made me feel seen. I think any woman can read this even if they have not experienced loos. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters. I loved the epilogue it made me cry. Great book!

This Wasn't Meant to Happen by Ali Harris is an absolutely captivating read that took me on an emotional rollercoaster. From the start, I was drawn into the lives of the main characters, each with their own unique struggles and challenges. The way Harris develops them throughout the book is nothing short of brilliant. I loved seeing how the relationships evolved, particularly between Sophie and her estranged father, and how they both navigated the difficult terrain of forgiveness and healing.

The plot itself was full of surprises, and I was absolutely hooked as the story unfolded. The twists were so well-done, particularly the moment when Sophie’s secret is revealed, and it shifts everything we thought we knew about her past. Watching her finally confront the truth was a powerful, emotional experience.

But what really sets this book apart is the character growth. Each character, especially Sophie and her family, goes through such a profound transformation, and it felt incredibly satisfying to witness. The journey of self-discovery and the theme of second chances are woven into the narrative in such a thoughtful and impactful way.

I can’t recommend This Wasn't Meant to Happen enough. It’s a beautifully written, suspenseful, and emotionally charged novel that will stay with you long after the last page. Ali Harris has definitely earned a place on my list of must-read authors!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Words can’t describe how much of an impact this book has. The grief, heartbreak, love and friendships truly make it such a beautiful yet soul destroying story. This is a book I feel will stay with me for life, I will be adding a physical copy to my shelf when this is published.

This was an incredibly thoughtful and empathetic read told from the viewpoint of Sofie who has been frightened of commitment since her dad died when she was a teenager and left her fearful of losing someone she cared about. Her husband Rory was so understanding of her fears and worked hard to reassure her over time so when she discovers she’s pregnant after a bout of sickness stopped her pill from working she realises she’s ready to have a baby and grows increasingly braver as the pregnancy advances.

This book starts by exploring Sofie’s feelings about pregnancy and how she blooms as she grows but the main focus is on the life in the immediate aftermath of delivering her stillborn son with the positive experience the hospital helped her have followed by weeks of grief as she tries to process the loss of her son and how her greatest fears have been realised leaving her unable to deal with the upset those close to her are also experiencing. The book explores different ways we process loss and how important it is to grieve but also to talk about what you’ve lost. The relationship between Sofie and her husband in the aftermath was a big focus on this as each dealt with things in their own way and were unable to truly help the other grieve which understandably puts their relationship under strain. Whilst I wouldn’t describe this book as uplifting it does end in positive ways with a focus on support and positive activities you can do to help you process events and start the healing process. Whether you or someone close have suffered such a loss or you want some understanding of such a situation this is a very balanced read told with an understanding that makes Sofie feel so very real.