Wow,what a great book. Tragic but hopeful. I became frustrated with the main character at times but that was what was supposed to happen. Unique idea and written so well. The narrator was amazing. I will recommend to everyone

2.5* rounded up.
This debut started so strongly - what a first chapter! But the direction where it went was unappealing. It was sometimes maudlin with a lot of repetitive navel-gazing and then a section of beautiful writing made me continue. I would love to read the Rothschild's next book because of that beautiful writing. The narrator on the audiobook was excellent
Thank you to #netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

I throughly enjoyed this novel. The story starts off with a twists and develops into a love story. A fantastic family drama. I went back and forth between the written copy and the audiobook and it was seamless. The narration was done well. I really enjoyed how the story was told from the wife’s point of view.

Thank you #NetGalley, #St.Martin’sPress, #MacmillanAudio. #LorettaRothschild, #FionaButton and #FindingGrace for the advance copy for my honest review.

Wow, this book was not at all what I was expecting. It started off with a startling event, and it just spiraled from there.

I’ve been hearing about this book and thought I would take a chance with it. I was very happy with my choice! This story is very unique, it is told from the perspective of Honor, who you meet immediately in the beginning. I loved that the author choice her to narrate this story.

The way the author wrote this story was fabulous. It is told in present and past. And it really keeps you on the edge of your seat because Honor’s husband just keeps spiraling and you anticipate his every move throughout the book.

I don’t want to give anything away because it would be super easy to spoil this book. But I would recommend going in blind because it is well worth the surprises.

***Thank you NetGalley and McMillan audio for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

I was enthralled with this book from the very beginning! The storyline is so unique, yet relatable in many ways. Really makes you think about how you would respond if ever out in a similar situation. Always something that kept me interested to learn how things would play out. If you’re a fan of Liane Moriarity you will love this book!

This book really goes there—grief, loss, trauma, infertility, surrogacy, toxic relationships, and the ripple effects of every choice made in the wake of tragedy. It’s a lot, and at times, maybe a little too much. But I still found it moving.

What stood out most to me was the way Finding Grace explored the long-term emotional fallout of sudden loss, especially from the perspective of surviving parent. Rothschild captures the highs and lows of grief not as something linear, but as something that loops back on itself, complicating new love and second chances. I appreciated that complexity.

That said, some of the relationship dynamics were wildly toxic, and while I think the book wanted to acknowledge that, it didn’t always go deep enough into the emotional consequences. The ethical layers around surrogacy and egg donation were compelling but also raised so many questions—this could've easily been two novels' worth of content.

Overall, though, it was good. A bold, messy, emotional debut that left me thinking long after I finished. Definitely one I’d recommend going into blind.

📚 Finding Grace 🎧
✍ Loretta Rothschild
📖 Fiction
⭐3.5/5
🌶️ 🌶️

🙏 Thank you to Macmillan audio, NetGalley and the author for an advanced listener copy of Finding Grace. All opinions are my own.
◾
My thoughts: This book started off with a bang and I was convinced for a hot minute that it was going to be a mystery- but it most definitely wasn't. It was much more of a winding fiction novel about the unconventional way a man connects with a woman tied to his late wife. While I wasn't a huge fan of Tom, one of the main characters, I loved the unique point of view and way the author chose to tell this story. I tend to find that many of the books I read have grief as a central theme but many of them seem to focus on experiencing grief and then moving on from grief whereas I found the way grief tied into this plot in waves with distinct highs and lows over time really poignant. The ups and downs of sadness in grief and its ability to be interrupted by bouts of happiness have always really struck me as powerful and I think this book captured a lot of that strange sadness/joy relationship. The audio on this was really well done and I recommend it because I think it brings the POV out in a novel way. I didn't find this as profound as I thought I would but it was still a good (and very interesting) read.
◾
Read if you're intrigued by:
*unique POVs
*complicated relationships built on lies
*poignant takes on grief and moving on without losing love
*fertility journeys
◾
See also: Till Death Do Us Part, The Love of My Life, Within Reach

Alright, so... I did not expect for this book to F**K with my heart and my emotions the way that it did. Shame on you, Loretta Rothschild! And you damn well know what I mean. This is a volatile time in our country, I'm already on edge and very vulnerable for you to torture me with this way.

Anyway, this was a beautiful debut and it will mess with your heart, and your mind, but there's beauty in the process.

Fiona Button’s narration was exquisitely executed. Special thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the free audiobook. Fiona Button does a superb job narrating this story and making it come to life!

A couple on vacation in France are the victims of a terrorist attach. The mother and child are killed leaving the father beyond grief. Upon his return to England, he discovers that their surrogate is pregnant and he will be a father. Through happenstance, the egg donor clinic accidently sends him the anonymous egg donor's contact and she is a dead ringer for his lost wife.

I absolutely loved this story and I do not read romance. I was surprised by how well written this story is and that its the first publication by the author. There are twists and turns in the book that are so unique. Very well written with likable characters and very relatable. 5 stars!!!

I'm often critical of plots that jump the shark, and maybe if you read a synopsis, this seems like it would. But, honestly, I thought it worked well and was clever.

No quotes as the final copies aren’t out in the world, but there are some bangers in here.

🎧 Thank you to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

Out June 10!

I have a feeling this is going to be a read of the Summer for lots of people. The story opens following Honor, a children’s book author, her husband Tom and their daughter Chloe, in Paris. She is a woman who, after years struggling with infertility, is surrounded by love and friendship, but her attempt to conceive another is heavy on her mind. This twisty, and often tense, contemporary will compel you to just keep reading, but it also isn’t a typical “domestic thriller”, this is — at its core — a story that navigates grief, and the decisions we make when we are wrapped up in our own struggles. It ponders on love, forgiveness, and secrets but also motherhood, families and friendship. Because of the sensitive nature of the topics of fertility, specifically, I was worried that some scenes or conclusions might be handled poorly, but at every turn I found the author to have an honesty, and integrity that always centered the position of the person struggling. I loved Honor and Tom’s friend group, that might as well be family, and the people that come into their orbit over the course of the novel were also delightful. The writing was beautiful, and many of the scenes poignant and emotional. I really enjoyed this and it spurred many conversations about ethics and parenting. So if you’re looking for a page turner with a lot of heart, this is it!

A note on the audiobook… it’s great! Fiona Button’s narration is both believably acted and very animated. It really added to my reading experience, bringing the characters that much more to life.

The story starts with a bang. Jaw dropping. Did that really just happen? No way.
I have never read a story that started this way before. Instant turn to chapter 2.

However, the middle of story begins to drag. The concept is incredible. The grief feels real. Yet, the attraction, the chemistry, the falling in love feels forced yet also too quick. The reader does not fall in love with the love interest. Perhaps that is because it is not told from the POV of the main character, yet instead is told from the POV of his late wife.

The POV of a dead wife watching her husband re-fall in love is interesting. I liked it, but it was also a bit boring as it didn't evoke much emotion in the reader.

Overall, I adore the concept and hope to have more books like this published. It did make the reader grapple with feelings of guilt / almost cheating when falling in love after death isn't cheating but still feels weird

I enjoyed the narration.

I read A LOT of books so it's really really rare for me to find a book with a premise I have never seen before. And this one took the cake. By the end of the first chapter, you're like WHOA did not see that coming. And then you're spending a bunch of the rest of this book reorienting. I know people will have mixed feelings but I loved it. I liked the twist and then the turn the story took. I liked how the author played with the way stories are told. I liked how the characters grew and surprised you both with their stupidity and humanness.

I think this one will be controversial, people will love or hate. I am of the former camp. And I loved listening to the audio.

with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this!! I thought the narrator did an amazing job bringing Honor, Tom + Grace to life. I thought the narrator of choice was completely interesting and I love the way the author organized the chapters giving us both the past and present in each chapter! I was on the edge of my seat for most of this story and it was overall just an amazing read!

A stunning book that I know will be an instant best seller. I loved the story so very very much!!! I will give away 0 plot, let this one unfold without any premise. I was lucky enough to get both the audio and the e print from NetGalley.

3.5 stars

This book made me so uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it, but that's not a criticism; I think that was part of the - or maybe the whole? - point.

The synopsis includes the detail that "a shocking event changes their lives forever," and that dramatic statement is accurate.

When the novel begins, Honor, her husband, Tom, and their young daughter Chloe are hoping to add another child to their family. They are in the thick of this conversation/experience when that aforementioned event occurs.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about this book is that the only correct approach is to know as little as possible before starting. In vague terms, there are some innovative (and strange?) things happening with the narration. The various truths and lies and characters' treatments of them gave me a lot of anxiety. I had - and still have - many feelings about the various choices characters make, their culminating outcomes, and how I feel about their motivations. There is stuff that I unquestionably did not like, but I do like the fact that this book made me think and provoked a lot of deeper consideration.

The most important thing this listen did for me was introduce me to this debut author, whose work I am certain I would like to read more of in the future. I have VERY mixed feelings on the content, but positive thoughts about the ambition.

*I'm not including any TW or CW here for specific reasons. Prospective readers who appreciate this info (I'm one of them) should take a look at a detailed set of warnings as there are some.

from the first chapter i was intrigued with this novel. Tom's choices throughout the book were frustrating at times, but I think it was still a well-crafted debut. The narration was unique and beautifully written, unlike anything I've read before.I wish Tom had made different choices, as his ending felt a bit undeserved and too neatly wrapped up. However, I understand the reasons behind his actions. Overall, it was an ok read

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

This book has a very interesting storyline, and I was hooked by the premise—secrets, family drama, and a decision that changes everything. The writing kept me engaged, and I liked how the story unfolded between past and present. However, I found some of the character decisions frustrating, and at times, the pacing felt uneven. Certain plot points felt a bit predictable, which took away some of the suspense. Still, if you enjoy domestic dramas with emotional twists, this one might be worth checking out!

"Finding Grace" is a rare find.

Be prepared to laugh, cry, and feel your jaw drop.

From its explosive start, this knockout domestic drama was riveting, gasp-worthy, unpredictable, and unputdownable.

Poignant, compelling, twisty, and character-driven; the author brilliantly explores love, heartbreak, parenthood, and resilience throughout the entire narrative.

TW: Secondary infertility.

This is talented author Loretta Rothschild's first book and it is a very, very impressive debut.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Fiona Button.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All the stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of my besties of 2025!

Finding Grace grips the reader's attention by the first chapter. It was so unexpected that I raced through this novel. I found the POV to be unique and the writing to be well done, but I had trouble connecting with the MMC and understanding his choices. I am also ultra-sensitive to some of the subject matter, so I likely judged this book harsher than the average reader.

Narration performed by Fiona Button was outstanding.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.