This is an emotional story of family, love, and grief. It's based not off a specific event, but the period of UK history (recent - 1980s) when lesbians would often lose any and all access to their children, the court claiming cutting these women out of the children's lives would protect from immorality and save them from the shame of having a gay parent and the public ridicule it might bring.

Heron has raised Maggie by himself since she was 4 years old, and the book opens with him, now in his sixties, receiving a cancer diagnosis. Chapters rotate through 4 POVs, and a big chunk of them follow Maggie, now 43 years and dealing with many things this reader found relatable - aging parents (and in her case, having to face a parent's mortality head on), marriage along with all of its features and bugs, raising children (including a patronizing teenager), and never feeling like there is enough time.

"She is prone to thoughts like this lately, about time passing too quickly, or running out altogether. About everything slipping out of her grasp. When she told Conor she felt this way, he said it was just her age, textbook midlife crisis. Maggie had advised him, on the grounds of his own health and safety, not to offer that as an explanation again."

Another line I liked:

"There ought to be more to life than washing machines and emails and remembering to put the recycling out on the right day. But life is also this. It is all of this."

Other chapters follow Dawn, Maggie's mother, in 1982. Dawn is married and has a young daughter when she meets Hazel.

"Dawn couldn't understand it, the way Hazel made her nervous. The feeling that her mouth was full of all the things she would say if she wasn't too embarrassed to put herself into words."

An affair is scandalous enough, but two women falling in love was even more taboo at the time. In an effort to still be able to see her daughter, Dawn suffers through indignity after indignity, like the court officials grilling her on the specifics of her sex life.

There is a lot of beautiful writing in this book, but my one complaint is that it seemed uneven in its telling. The beginning had a heavy focus on Heron and his illness, and then by the end this trail of narrative seems to kind of peter out. Maggie and Dawn have chapters throughout, but last parts of the book belong much more to the two of them. And then those just sort of end as well, without much of a climax or any sort of denouement. There were also several Britishisms that threw me a bit, but obviously that is not a fault, just something to be aware of.

I wish the parts of the story, Heron's mortaltiy/navigating family life/what makes it all meaningful, etc etc, and Dawn's love story along with its tragic and infuriating outcome, were brought together more cohesively. As it is, it seems kind of like two separate stories, requiring one to be dropped partway though in order to tell the other. But I really did enjoy the writing and the sentiments - Heron knowing the hardest thing about his cancer is watching his daughter watch him dying, Maggie understanding that it is important and necessary for her children to grow away from her in some respects, and Dawn's reckoning:

"Later-I mean years later-I realized the worst thing had already happened to me. When I worked that out, I was invincible."

A beautiful heartache of a story that ultimately offers hope.

My thanks for for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review. My Goodreads review is live now, and I will share it on my blog and Bookstagram within a week or so of the release date.

An engaging, powerful, and moving read about a family and the secret that will change everything. The author does a wonderful job of creating sympathetic characters and building tension and mystery with the two timelines. I loved the conclusion.

Thank you very much to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Story told in duel time lines. Heron, a divorced man lives alone with his daughter Margaret and family nearby.
When Margaret learns about her father's medical condition, her husband tells her perhaps now is the time to
find out more about her mother Dawn who vanished from her life. Details about Herons and Dawn's life are revealed
and the cause of the breakup. Showcases how 19800s society impacted custody laws. Story of family, love, compassion and regret.
#AFamilyMatter #Scribner #NetGalley

I almost have no words for how powerful this book is. This historical fiction novel is so well written with such vividly drawn characters that I experienced the gambit of emotions throughout the short 240 page book. Based on research of actual court cases, this debut novel explores the injustices in family law as it relates to the Lesbian community and the heartbreaking experiences of those impacted. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced reader copy.

Such an interesting story and perspective - kind of wish it developed more in the end with her relationship with her mother I was definitely wanting more.

So sad. This book is inspired by UK LGBTQIA parents who lose their access to children when their identity is made public. Worse if they are teachers. Something that took its time to change hurting many people. People's ignorance shows true colors.
It's a short read but very powerful, also themes like motherhood, single parent, sapphic love, the action of lawyers and courthouses, Trauma, The book has a lot of great quotes.

Not often do I read a book with such a heart-wrenching emotional impact. I was torn between being happy it was a shorter book to get off the emotional rollercoaster and being disappointed because I didn't want this story to ever end.
I loved this book. It is a very well-written story about forbidden love and how society dictates what constitutes the image of a family in everyone's head. The story is written in a past and present timeline. Sometimes, this confuses me, but it works with this story. Miss Claire writes with such powerful words that you feel them to the core of your being.
Thank you to Scribner and Claire Lynch for the gifted advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

4 stars. This was quite the emotional family drama that centers on family, relationships, divorce and life-changing revelations. An excellent character-driven novel of the heartbreaking pain of a mother going through divorce whom has a differing life than what’s considered “traditional,” the effects of divorce on a child, and the terrible lie the father told and kept from their daughter for four decades. He must now reveal his secret to her due to his terminal illness. With this being a shorter book I appreciated the thoroughness, larger insight given as is told in two timelines-1982 and 2022, and various POV’s. Slower-moving but packs a powerful punch. Pub. 6/3/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, #Partner @scribnerbooks @simonandschuster and @netgalley, for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 6/3/25.

Well, I so wanted to love this book, but it just fell flat for me. This book was very character driven, and the writing style was just to dry for me. This was a heartbreaking novel that dealt with some important topics, and I wish I had enjoyed the writing style more. This book is already getting really good reviews, so I still recommend reading it because you might love it.

1982: Dawn is keeping a secret from her husband, and she is trying to find the best time to tell him that she is in love with a woman.

2022: Heron just found out that he is dying, but he doesn't want to tell anybody, including his daughter Maggie. Heron also has other things he is keeping from Maggie.

The two stories collide and secrets are revealed, and the ending will be one you won't forget.

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch is an emotional debut novel set in England, written in dual timelines. In 1982, Dawn is a young mother in her twenties who has an affair with Hazel. This complicates things for her because she is married to Heron and they have a daughter named Maggie. When they divorce, Heron is awarded full custody because of Dawn’s romantic relationship with another woman. In 2022, Maggie slowly learns that her father is gravely ill. She also learns more about her family history. She has never been told what happened to her mother.

The novel is a quick read at 240 pages. The pace is slow initially, but I didn’t mind that. The characters are not likable, except for Maggie. I felt sympathy for them, as they all seemed miserable. I’m not sure the novel went deep enough for me to form any lasting type of engagement with them in my mind. Maggie and her father are very close; this is communicated well throughout the book. Maggie eventually finds out the whole history about her mother. It’s a sad book for many reasons. When I reached the last page, I was not expecting it to end so abruptly. We never found out what happened with the father, even though the book focused almost solely on his health issue when speaking of him. This is odd considering how close he and Maggie are. The book highlights important societal concerns and shows the history of societal attitudes regarding same-sex relationships. Unfortunately, these ideas were not fleshed out adequately because the book is shorter. There were times I found myself highlighting passages to save for later. The writing is pretty, concise, and glaringly honest. The author has wonderful talent, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this, appreciating the quiet subtlety the author so deftly added to the narrative. It took me a little while to figure out the time lines (old age bites), but once I did, things were pretty clear. Having lived through these times, I can attest to the veracity of the mores of the times as presented.

The book felt personal and heartfelt. I do wish that there would have been a chapter with Heron's reactions afterwards. That would have added a different spin on things.

I loved the cover.

Would I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Maggie's dad Heron is keeping a few secrets from her. Heron and her mom divorced back in the early 1980s. Times were different in London then and Maggie was never told the whole story surrounding their divorce. Now Heron has had a medical diagnosis and is trying to tie up loose ends before his time is up. Maggie has always been told that her mom left them and never looked back. That's just not the case. When Maggie is going through some old papers she learns some things that could change everything. How will it go when Maggie goes to find her mom? She could be in for a few surprises. This is an awesome debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is not based on a true story but it is based on the many cases that were similar in Great Britain at the time. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Growing up in the 80s, two-parent families (mom and dad) were the norm. Friends living with only one parent due to divorce were rare, and I never saw friends raised by two moms or two dads. Reading A Family Matter opened my eyes to how society viewed these situations. I remember rumors suggesting that being raised by same-sex parents would negatively impact children, making them "turn into one of them." It's astonishing how long it takes society to accept change and stop viewing these situations as abnormal. Unfortunately, even today, views on these matters are inconsistent.

A Family Matter delves into this topic when Dawn, Maggie's mother, develops a relationship with another woman, Hazel. This relationship tears the family apart. Dawn's husband, influenced by societal pressures, takes her to court for sole custody. The court scenes and Dawn's treatment broke my heart. Ultimately, Dawn is banished from raising Maggie and loses all contact. To complicate matters, Maggie grows up unaware of the true reason behind her mother's departure.

The book explores complex and emotional situations, and the author skillfully brings these to the reader. I appreciated how the author examined each character's perspective, helping us understand their actions while also revealing the impact on others. The novel addresses complicated family dynamics and dysfunction, further complicated by societal norms and views. While not a light read, the author weaves hope into the story, offering a potential for healing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#AFamilyMatter, #ClaireLynch, #NetGalley

I felt every word of this story. It was written like I was right there in the story. I loved every word. This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review. This review is mine.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I think based on the book blurb, it's going to be difficult to write a review without details that may be considered spoilers. So, I'll just say, i thought this book was fine. I liked how it went back and forth between the 80s and (mostly) the present I liked learning how insane laws were in England in the 80s, and ot is refreshing to know how many things have changed since then. I liked getting the perspectives of several different characters throughout the story, and Maggie was definitely my favorite.
I thought the book ended a little abruptly and I really wish I could have known more about how everything progressed after that final chapter with all characters involved. Overall, it was a decent read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a family drama type of novel.

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch is a thoughtful, emotionally honest memoir about family secrets, identity, and the lasting impact of the past. Lynch writes with clarity and compassion, unpacking complex relationships without bitterness. Quietly powerful and deeply human—perfect for fans of Educated or The Glass Castle.

Three and a half stars rounded up to four. Dawn is a happily married woman with a young daughter. Then she falls in love with Hazel, and her world turns upside down. Fast forward to the future, when Heron finds out he has a terminal illness, and he tells his daughter, Maggie. Maggie had always thought her mother had abandoned her, when Heron reveals the truth...
I liked this book, but didn't love it. I had a hard time feeling emotionally connected to the characters. An average read.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was recommended to read this on NetGalley- thank you to the publisher for the ARC— in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read and somewhat difficult subject matter.

Multiple timelines- 2022 Heron, recently diagnosed with cancer and his adult daughter Maggie. He has been divorced for 40 years, Maggie has no memory of her mother, Dawn.

1983- Dawn and Heron divorce because Dawn is in love with a woman, Hazel.

We already are aware, because of the structure of the book, that Dawn’s decision to leave Heron makes her completely absent from Maggie’s life. In the 1980’s during divorce proceedings most gay parents were not given custody, and this is a tragedy; the homophobia of the time is still not giving us a lot of hope, but we can’t forget about what used to be.

That said, Dawn had to continue living and learn to let go.

Honestly, it is very sad, but the plot felt a little lacking- perhaps it would be an excellent short story; plus you kind of know right up front how it is going to end because you have the dual timelines. I didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters, but I think it’s also an ambitious topic for a debut author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC. Book to be published June 3. File under LitFic

Well that was absolutely heartbreaking! This was one of the more interesting books I have read insofar as the format of the prose and I really enjoyed it.

I read this one as an eARC and I am glad that I did. While I can’t say for sure I think I would have been a bit overwhelmed if it was an audiobook because there is a lot to keep straight.

While it was written very well, I did have to refer back a few times to sort out where I was and relationships etc.. This book is fast paced and short so you can read it in a few hours. That’s probably a good thing because boy was it emotional. If you have triggers please make sure to read the description as it is a lot.

I’m sure others will mention that this book is very character driven and the author does a masterful job at unfolding those characters and makes the reader question so much. I recommend this book to anyone that is in the mood to be touched in the feels.
This book comes out on July 3, 2025

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Scribner through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This is a relatively short book with a compact storyline. I probably started off with a 2.5 rating and ended closer to a 3.5. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.
It’s written with a somewhat detached style but as the story went on the impact of what was happening became increasingly powerful. The authors note provides context on the times and how things have changed in the past 40 years…a time when I came into adulthood and can also reflect on how attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have shifted (seismically) and how awfully people were treated then.