Thanks, St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read a review copy. Unfortunately, I found the main character grating and couldn't get engaged in the story with her narrating. The big twist at the beginning was jarring and threw me out of the story. I wasn't a good fit as a reader for this one, but I have seen many favorable reviews.

Of note, the audiobook's narrator sounded perfect: a crisp, posh British accent.

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (book cover is in image) unfortunately was not the book for me. The plot was cringy and the narration by Fiona Button came off as monotone and found myself easily distracted. Since I had the eBook as well, I switched over to that, but still found it hard engage in this book. I am sure that there is an audience for this one, but I am not it.

Thank you to St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 2 Stars
Pub Date: Jun 10 2025

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FINDING GRACE is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I strongly believe it’s best to experience this book with as little information as possible.
The publisher’s synopsis is wisely vague and I’ll follow suit. Here’s what you should know: this is a story about motherhood and longing, the weight of buried secrets, and the shocking way two women’s lives become entwined.
Gripping, unsettling, and completely unputdownable, this debut by Lorretta Rothschild will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page. It’s the kind of novel that begs to be discussed. Fionna Button brought the audiobook narration to life!

READ THIS IF YOU:
don’t mind diving into a story with minimal information
can’t look away from a slow-motion relational trainwreck
love a story told from a fresh, unexpected point of view

RATING: 5/5
PUB DATE: July 8, 2025

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

I made a mistake and entered the wrong review here. I am currently reading this one and will revisit this page to enter my correct review and rating. The rating will be either 4-5 star. My apologies!

Finding Grace
A Novel
by Loretta Rothschild
Narrated by Fiona Button

Finding Grace was a challenging yet beautiful listen. The story, exquisitely written and masterfully narrated, felt deeply authentic. The main characters came to life in such a vivid way that I didn't just see them as mere figures on a page; they felt real to me. The execution was so compelling that it resonated profoundly. Themes of infertility, the emotional turmoil surrounding it, hidden secrets, and the loss of a marriage struck a personal chord. I must admit, they were somewhat triggering for me.

As a result, I found myself listening in brief bursts. It is so well written and narrated that I experienced the main character's pain as though it were my own.

I would describe Finding Grace as honest, raw, and authentic.

This book is for anyone seeking a serious read that prompts deep thought and reflection on its many themes. I certainly wouldn’t categorize this novel as a typical summer read. However, if you’re in search of a book for your reading group, the depth of this story offers endless possibilities for discussion.

Again, Finding Grace is a beautifully crafted work of literary fiction that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking a profound and serious read. The choice of a first-person narrator is truly outstanding, allowing for a deeply immersive experience. I'm uncertain whether reading the text would be easier than listening to it; regardless, I believe that I would need to approach it in small segments to fully absorb the weight of its serious themes.

Summary:
In Finding Grace, a gripping moral dilemma intertwines with profound emotional depth, crafting a sweeping love story that delves into the cost of new beginnings, the way our past influences our future, and whether redemption can be found amid the ruins of what we've lost.

Honor appears to have it all: a radiant and cherished daughter, Chloe, and a charming, handsome husband, Tom, despite his demanding schedule of over a hundred hours each week. However, her deep longing for another child casts a shadow over her happiness—until an unexpected event alters the trajectory of their lives forever.

Years later, Tom makes a decision that sends shockwaves through their families in ways he could never have foreseen. As the consequences of that pivotal choice unfold, the destinies of two women become inextricably intertwined. Yet when old flames reignite amid fresh beginnings, who will emerge unscathed? And what unfolds when hidden truths rise to the surface?

In Finding Grace, a gripping moral dilemma intertwines with profound emotional depth, weaving a sweeping love story that explores the costs of new beginnings, the intricate ties between our past and future, and the possibility of redemption amidst the fragments of what we've lost.

Thanks are extended to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.

This debut novel blew me out of the water with the last line of the first chapter. It was setting the stage for the story of a marriage grown strained and nearing its end...I thought. But I was wrong.

This is a story about deep, sacrificing love. About grief. About second chances. The characters were not perfectly lovable (some not even likable at times), but they were oh so human. It’s hard to say more without giving away too much.

I almost passed on this one because I didn’t like the cover (but I’m the odd woman out here, because most people do!). Just goes to prove the old adage about judging a book… 📔

I listened to this on audio, and Fiona Button was a fantastic narrator! I loved her cadence throughout. I usually speed up an audiobook, but Fiona’s voice was too perfect to rush.

If you’re a sensitive reader, do your research before picking this one up. There are lots of big events and emotions here. I won’t spell them out because of spoilers.

This book is out July 8th, so get your library requests or pre-orders in now!


Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Loretta Rothschild for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

Thank you to Macmillan and St. Martin’s Press for the review copies of Finding Grace. This is one I’ve taken some time to sit with, as I think it will land differently for each reader. I highly recommend going in blind—but also with the understanding that this isn’t a book to pick up when you're looking for an escape. Instead, it’s ideal for a book club ready to dive into emotionally complex and layered narratives. While the audiobook is well-produced, I personally found the physical copy easier to process, as the intensity of the themes felt more manageable on the page. Rothschild creates a tense, moody atmosphere and uses dramatic irony effectively, even if the plot occasionally felt repetitive and some character decisions were hard to follow. The unique narration added texture but sometimes pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in. Still, I couldn’t fully step away. It’s raw, heartbreaking, and messy—and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since finishing.

This book will trigger because it is quite manipulative. It whitewashes very serious issues and glamorizes and idolizes other potentially even more problematic ones. It is a 'poison' that goes down fairly smoothly though. I will definitely seek out future books by this author. Also 5 stars for the narrator.

Can you fall in love with a person, like truly and deeply fall in love with another person, just by looking at them? And what if the very moment you met was created under the false pretenses and then one lie led to another, one manipulation after another. And what if the person you are interested in reminds you of someone else and that seems to be the only reason you pursue them. And of course the presence of a very cute innocent child is supposed to excuse some of the issues.
The book does not pose those questions, even though they all inevitably come to the surface, it just rolls with a narrative that love conquers all, and that pregnancy can solve the lack of trust. And maybe in theory love does conquer all however the way the book depicts "love" is hugely problematic. The first person narrative from Honor's perspective is clearly to greenlight and excuse all those problematic situations.

Unfortunately, "Finding Grace" was a difficult listen for me. Loretta Rothschild is undeniably a beautiful writer. Her prose is elegant and thoughtful, but I struggled to connect with Honor, the protagonist, simply because of where she is in her life and where I am in mine. Sometimes, timing just makes all the difference in how a story lands.

That said, this is a richly layered, introspective novel that would be excellent for a book club. There’s a lot to unpack in terms of character, relationships, and personal growth, and it invites meaningful discussion.

Fiona Button's narration adds an additional layer of polish, her voice is smooth, steady, and well-suited to the reflective tone of the novel.

Thank you to Loretta Rothschild, Fiona Button, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Tom and Honor take their daughter Chloe on a trip to Paris. As mother and daughter wander the Ritz’s foyer, a bomb detonates, and the two die. Tom returns to America and pieces together a semblance of a life. His depression consumes him, but he receives news that his and Conor’s surrogate is pregnant, and Henry becomes his sole reason for continuing. Later, Tom accidentally discovers the supposedly anonymous egg donor’s contact information and seeks her out. As Tom befriends Grace Stone, an owner of a wine bar who also grieves her late husband, he keeps his knowledge of her part in Henry’s life a secret. The secrets swell as the two fall in love, and Tom proposes with Honor’s diamond ring by accident. At their engagement party, a lifelong friend of Tom’s sabotages the merriment because of her unrequited love for Tom. Grace leaves Tom for 6 months but takes him back when he apologizes because she’s pregnant with their child.

After Honor’s death, her ghost narrates Finding Grace, reminding me of Wyld’s The Echoes. Similarly, I did not enjoy the ghost narration, a ghost who sometimes holds all-knowledge and sometimes learns. I try not to read abstracts before starting a book; if I had known the story would center on the idea of romantic love, I likely would’ve tried another title. Moreover, the premise—dating your kid’s egg donor without your partner knowing—gave me icky feelings. This may have been all issues with me rather than Rothschild’s work as such.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC. I shared this review on GoodReads on June 14, 2025 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7431154464).

What a heartbreaking and innovative book.

Honor has a beautiful life, a handsome husband and a sweet four-year-old daughter. But she wants another baby. Exhausted by her constant worrying about the surrogate, Tom asks Honor to stop bringing up whether or not the surrogate is pregnant while they are celebrating Christmas in Paris. When tragedy strikes, the characters must work their way through and prove that love is enduring.

I did not expect this book to be what it is. I recommend going in pretty blind because it emotionally rocked me.

The writing is superb and the story was not what I expected at all.

The audio narration is perfect and handles the pronunciation of a variety of words, including Italian and French with ease. I will admit that I was unsure whether the main character was named Anna or Honor due to the way some Brits pronounce Anna, but was able to look at the description to determine.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Just when I thought I’d found my favorite women’s fiction book of 2025… along came Finding Grace. What a phenomenal, engrossing, and deeply touching story!

The brilliance of this book begins before you even open it. The title Finding Grace is a clever double entendre—one character is literally searching for someone named Grace, while another is on a journey to find grace within themselves.

This book is everything at once: heartbreaking and hopeful, tragic and tender, sorrowful and uplifting. It’s full of unintentional lies, unexpected truths, and the kind of forgiveness that takes your breath away.

It’s been a long time since a book actually broke my heart while reading, and this one did it early on. From that moment forward, I was hooked and couldn’t stop until the final page. The beautiful voice of Fiona Button really brought the deep feelings of this book to life; hearing someone read a story aloud is a much different experience than silently reading it. And this listening experience hit me harder and deeper than reading it. She did an incredible job!

Without a doubt, this is one of my FAVORITE women’s fiction reads of 2025. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I keep adding to that list—there are so many incredible female authors writing such poignant, unforgettable stories this year.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Loretta Rothschild, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to Finding Grace ahead of its proposed release date of July 8, 2025

Honor and her husband Tom seem to have it all. Money, great friends, and a wonderful young daughter. Still, Honor desperately wants another child. She's so hyper-focused on it that it's angering Tom. Then a tragedy strikes while the family is on vacation, and it changes their lives completely. Fast forward a few years, and Tom makes a decision that again changes several lives. This book is blurbed in such a way that you think there will be an earth-shattering twist, but there really isn't. The story ended up being pretty slow-moving, and I was constantly angry with Tom for passing up so many chances to do the right thing. I was glad that I received both digital and audio copies of this book from NetGalley because I don't think I could have finished it without the audio. I enjoyed the audio narration quite a bit.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a review copy of Finding Grace.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of Finding Grace.

Finding Grace is beautifully written with a fascinating narrator and a story best experienced spoiler-free. But fair warning: if miscommunication makes you want to throw a book across the room, maybe wear a helmet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.

4.25/5. Wow! I was not prepared for this. From an opening chapter that I will never forget to a truly unique story by a debut author, this book will stay with me for a while. While certainly flawed, I really enjoyed reading this novel.

Wow, this book is unlike anything I've ever read before. The end of the first chapter was jaw dropping and had me hooked. I don't want to give anything away so I'll keep it vague but this book is definitely a page turner. The audio version was really well done. I loved the narrators accent. Highly recommend!

“Grief’s iron grip never weakens. You just become accustomed to its hand around your throat, moving forward but never moving on.”

So this book starts off with a BANG. I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to see where the author was going with the story.

But then it stalled a bit. And then it stalled a lot. I kept going waiting for some major twist or plot point to happen to keep me engaged. But that just didn’t happen. I believe with a tad more editing and a few less pages this book could have been great! It was still enjoyable, though.

I did enjoy the audiobook in addition to the ebook. The narration is great (beautiful accent) and really got me through those slower bits.

“After a certain age, no one ever gets into bed alone. There’s always someone else in the room in some form or another. Whether it’s holiday memories or drunken mistakes or ghosts, the past cannot be rewritten.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts and to St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary eARC.

This will be an unpopular opinion - and it may quite possibly just be me - but I didn't really care for this book. I truly like the beginning and thought there was great promise for this to be something special. But as the book progressed, I found that none of the characters were at all likable.. Not just that, the direction that the storyline went in really bothered me. I had some intense opinions about who the narrator was and the subject matter of the story. There are parts that just felt completely disgusting and icky to me.

Overall, I believe this author has talent. I just didn't like the storyline that she chose to use in this book. It was one that I personally did not connect with and truly felt wasn't at all realistic in many sections. I do hope that this author puts more books out. I will definitely give another one a try in the hope that this was a one-time fluke for me.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration was solid for the audiobook. However, given I didn't really like the subject matter and the storyline, it brings the rating down a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

Publishing TODAY!
4.5

First off, this is a truly impressive debut, I can't wait to read what the author creates next! The narration by Fiona Button was superb.

This book is in fact GRIPPING. It's sad, it's uncomfortable, and I felt dread and anxiety about the choices made when the characters felt they had no other paths to take. It's also optimistic and left me feeling that love and grief can be transformative.

Be mindful of your trigger warnings on this one, though I'll hide them from this review. [(spoiler)Infertility, miscarriage, death of a child, death of a spouse, terrorism (hide spoiler)]

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

How is this a debut!?

I went into this one blind, and I encourage you to do the same. I was enraptured and shocked within the first chapter. This is about loss and grief, about a love found, and the ghosts that linger of those lost, and all the missteps in between. I experienced a range of emotions as I read this, and I’m still grappling with some of my thoughts—that's a sign of a great book.

🎧Fiona Button does a beautiful job narrating the audiobook. It added another raw and emotional layer to my reading.


Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.