“Finding Grace” is one of those stories with first chapters that will startle you, and any further discussions of the plot are all pretty much spoilers.

It’ll all be a bit divisive for readers — there are many fans of the melancholy magic of “The Lovely Bones” and the same readers who stood apart from the mystical piece, looked at the plot with more discerning opinions and were irked. “Finding Grace” is one of those hard to characterize books. Part romance, part psychological thriller, filled with large amounts of grief, loss, and love. It’s a phenomenal debut by Loretta Rothschild, and it’s brought to life by narrator Fiona Button. I admit feeling uncomfortable about the storyline most of the time. It may have been that I wasn’t in the mood for such a heavy book — be prepared for an emotional onslaught. 3.5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced reader and audio copies!

WOWOW! This book broke in the first chapter. I honestly didn't know how to go on from there. But I was so happy I did because I ended up truly loving this book. It's so unpredictable and different from any other book I've ever read. Would recommend to all!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Wow! Such an unusual story! The creativity of the plot and how it’s delivered give this “mostly romance” novel a superior edge. The blurb is actually really vague so I don’t want to say too much that will give away the shocking event that I never saw coming at the beginning of the book that then sets up the complicated and engaging plot. The author manages to incorporate some real dilemmas involving romantic relationships and friendships, grief and sticky moral issues. The choices around how these complex issues are presented by the surprising narrator is genius! I really enjoyed this aspect. The character development is good, the characters aren’t always likable but that’s real life. While I really liked the uniqueness of the book, I was disappointed with the use of the usual “romance novel” trope of couple falls in love, communication gets in the way and the breakup happens. That pattern made the ending too predictable and it also felt rushed. But overall, a great read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was very good - great voice inflections and portrayal of heavy emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in return for an honest review.

It’s difficult to review this book without spoilers so I’ll just say I truly enjoyed it. I listened to this as an audiobook, and really liked the narrator. Her voice suited the story well.

Solid 4 stars. Very well done.

Honor loves her adorable daughter Chloe and her handsome husband Tom, but is desperate to have another baby.

Years later Tom makes a choice to do something while trying to keep a secret....that just seems to grow bigger and much harder to control the secret.

This book started off with a big jaw drop in the beginning that kept me reading. That said, this is really ALL the reader needs to know about this book. Go in as blind as you can and ride this storyline where the author leads.

I was glad I had the audio to pair with the book - it was helpful to follow the characters and time periods.

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

3.25 ⭐️

Honor and Tom are part of the elite Londoners, vacationing in Paris for Christmas. Honor desperately wants a second child, and they have started the IVF process with an egg donor and surrogate.

The publisher doesn’t give much away in its description, so I was gasping at the surprise at the end of the first chapter.

➕There’s a unique voice throughout this novel.
➕I think this novel approaches grief in a refreshing way.

➖Aside from the first chapter, the rest of the novel is very slow-going. As someone who is usually fond of slow-going, I was surprised I got a little frustrated by the slow pace.
➖I also got frustrated by Tom. So much so that I don’t think I was ever rooting for him.
➖There was a bit of a whackadoo plot element (that you kind of see coming) around the 85% mark that I also wasn’t fond of. I didn’t feel it was resolved in a good way.

While I appreciated what this novel was trying to do, I don’t think it worked for me in the way it was intended because I never became fully invested in the characters, particularly Tom.

I listened to this one, and I enjoyed the upper-crust British narrator (Fiona Button). She created a great atmosphere and had the perfect voice.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and MacMillan Audio for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes June 10, 2025.

I have many thoughts about this debut novel. First, the characters are lovely. I enjoyed Honor, Chloe, Colette, and Grace. Loretta Rothschild created some wonderful storylines for the women in this book. Our story begins within the loving relationship of Honor and Tom whilst in Paris for Christmas. They are joined by their toddler daughter, Chloe. Honor is preoccupied with thoughts of their surrogate's pregnancy results. Her secondary infertility is heartbreaking. Her childhood lays the foundation for her desire for Chloe to never be alone as an only child. Infertility comes up a lot in this book. Tom and Honor's relationship is starting to crack under the weight of Honor's worry about their growing family. Tragedy befalls the family.

Tom is left alone, contemplating death. When he arrives home to London, he receives a reason to live. I love this part of the story and his change of life circumstances that allow him to be a full time parent for Henry.

Grace has such a cool intro into the story. I love how intentional Honor was here. This part felt surreal and serendipitous.

Everything in between is well done! The trauma, grief, and loss. I loved that Colette got a redemption that I never knew her character needed! Honor got her memoir in her POV retelling of the story.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

To review this book without spoilers: This was a well-written novel. I was intrigued by a lot of the reviews, specifically the ones making certain claims about the main male character, and the premise overall.

To review this book with a slightly more loosey goosey concept of spoilers: While I think the book was well-written and intriguing in concept, and I LOVED the unique perspective we were granted through its narrator, it was largely unsatisfying from all angles. People seem to fall into two camps with this book: Beautiful Heart-Wrenching Tale of Love and Loss, and Tom the Devil. For me, neither of those were particularly true by the end.

Tom the Devil is a reactionary caricature painted by people who, I think, really can't fathom the depth of grief and what that does to a mf. It really was bonkers bananas what he did. But he's not like. A sociopath lmfao. People painted this book as a horror novel, and I am sad to report that a horror novel it is not. I don't want to defend a man but these people have made me do it.

Beautiful Heart-Wrenching Tale of Love and Loss is... well, it's definitely about love and loss. The beauty is negligible. I really, truly, deeply believe that I would be further in this camp if the last chapter didn't exist. That was so bizarre. So bizarre. Put the book down at the penultimate chapter, and it will be a much more satisfying read.

I hate playing centrist, so let me clarify that this isn't a "both sides wrong" situation; it's a "secret third thing" situation. As in, this book is not Beautiful Family Tale, nor is it Horror Story Women's Lit - it's a secret third thing. This could have been a phenomenal horror story, and I'm not even talking about the narrator. It's got all the hallmarks. It's dusty and atmospheric, the setup was absolutely perfect, and the actions taken by the husband... like, I do get why people read him as an irredeemable monster.

But it didn't want to be horror. It wanted to be a story of healing, somehow, and thanks to that last chapter, it really did not stick the landing. Frankly, the last chapter somehow makes it more horrifying, but also deeply dissatisfying, because that wasn't the authorial intent.

You may be asking yourself why in god's name am I yapping on and on about the impressions of reviewers and not just the book itself. Well, everyone and their brother has agreed that saying just about anything about this book is spoilers, so this is what we've left. Furthermore, the reviews were what interested me, because the summary plays coy with us for the same reasons people aren't talking about much within the book itself, so I figured my review might come in handy for those like me.

And for those who are like me, I will leave with this: If you want a well-written book with an intriguing premise and narrator that sounds like it was a long-form Reddit drama post, this is the one.

An emotional story! It’s best to go in blind, but no that it’s not a light story. Characters were frustrating at times but if you enjoy messy characters with lots of emotion, give this one a try.

The synopsis of this book got me, two women's lives intertwined, a shocking even that changed their lives, and secrets. I can't really say much without spoilers, but I really was shocked at the events that took places, never saw it coming. But...I feel like I just couldn't really dig into the story and connect with the characters. I did like the narration, it was an easy listen and the point of view it was from added to the story.

The synopsis of this book is a little vague and I wasn't sure what I was going to get, but I knew after finishing the first chapter that I was in for a hell of a story. I genuinely gasped — loudly enough that my dog gave me a look like, "Are you okay?" Honestly - I was shooketh.
 
The thing about this book is: I can't — and won't — say too much about the plot. I know that's frustrating if you're someone who likes to know what they're getting into, but trust me on this one. Part of the power of this book is going into it a little blind. I want everyone to experience the rollercoaster the same way I did — raw, unprepared, and completely at the mercy of Loretta Rothschild's storytelling.
 
On the surface, the synopsis might make you think you're picking up a domestic thriller or a twisty mystery. And while there are twists and emotional gut punches, that's not what this book is. This is much more of a slow-burn character study — a deep dive into grief, obsession, loss, and regret. It's a story about the coulda, shoulda, woulda moments of life. About how a little honesty at the right time could have spared so much pain. About how sometimes we cling to things — to people, to memories, to guilt — long after it's healthy.

I was surprised to learn that this is Rothschild's debut. She writes with the confidence and emotional intelligence of someone several books deep into her career. She captures all the messy, complicated emotions of love and loss so authentically that you can't help but see pieces of yourself — or someone you know — reflected in these characters.
 
Honor, the main character, is a fascinating case study all on her own. She seems to have it all at the beginning: a husband she loves (even if he's married to his job), a daughter she adores, and lives a pretty privileged life. But there's a yearning in her, a sense of incompleteness, that sets everything in motion. When tragedy strikes — and trust me, it strikes hard — the decisions that follow ripple outward in ways that no one could have foreseen. Years later, new characters are drawn into the mess left behind, and it's so compelling to watch it all unfold.
 
The pacing is perfect. The author never rushes things, but the story never drags either. Rothschild knows exactly when to let moments breathe and when to tighten the screws. It's beautifully written without being flowery — straightforward prose that still manages to be sharp and lyrical when it needs to be. And the ending? Satisfying. It's not a fairytale bow-on-top ending (which would have felt wrong here anyway), but one that felt earned and right given everything the characters had been through.

I also want to talk a little about the narration style because it's different, and I think it may throw some people off. I can't say much (again) without spoiling things, but I will say that it took me a bit to settle in. The choice of narrator struck me as odd initially, but after a while I had settled in and it made sense as to why the author chose to go the route she did.
 
Also — a quick shoutout to the audiobook, which is narrated by Fiona Button. She nails it. Her voice captured every nuance: the longing, the anger, the aching sadness that simmers just beneath the surface. If you're an audiobook fan, definitely consider listening to this one. Fiona's performance elevated an already great book.
 
If you love quiet, character-driven stories that aren't afraid to break your heart a little (or a lot), this book is absolutely worth picking up. Just… be prepared for that gasp moment early on. And maybe have tissues handy, just in case. This is an impressive debut. I will definitely be checking out this author's future books.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild.

The cover of this book is so beautiful, but also lends itself to the possibility of many genres. Is this a thriller, a story about a stalker, some kind of sci-fi clone story? Turns out it's a romance, but told with an unlikely narrator, it was unique and I enjoyed it.

Honor is being consumed by her desperate desire for another child. She of course adores her husband and daughter, but her fixation for a second pregnancy is starting to affect her relationships.

Years later, after a shocking blow, Honor's husband is now navigating the world a changed man. Upon inadvertently stumbling into a woman's group, he meets Grace, a woman who is familiar to him in more ways than one...

I mean, this is an incredibly unlikely story, and another one of those instances where one SIMPLE conversation could have shortened this story down to about three chapters. However, the style in which it was written, and all of the romantic tension definitely served to make this interesting and enjoyable.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I'm really not sure how this could be described as a love story, it was pretty morbid. I just couldn't get past how disturbing the whole idea was.

Wow! The only thing I am sad about after finishing this book is, that it is not being published until June 2025 and I have no one to discuss it with! This book is a debut novel from Loretta Rothschild and it was amazing! There is a shocking moment in the first chapter that made my jaw completely drop. I cannot even tell a synopsis about the plot of this book because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I don't even know how to categorize this novel: slow burn thriller family drama??? The plot and narrator of this book were so unique, that is just all I can say.

I highly recommend this original story for a book club because there are so many details to discuss.

I read this book on audiobook and the narrator was incredible.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved it and will recommend it to several of my book friends. #NetGalley @Macmillan.Audio @MacmillanAudio #FindingGrace

FINDING GRACE is a story that I won't stop thinking about anytime soon. In the first chapter, something happens that sets the tone for the entire book. I think the author is brilliant and I'll be reading more of her books. I would definitely go into this one blind. It's hard to discuss without revealing too much of the story! Enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews closer to publication date.

I absolutely can not believe this is a debut! Floored!
Finding Grace will make you gasp in the very first chapter, cry in the next, and then fall in love all the way through.
The characters have this beauty and complexity.
And I lovedddddd the POV. It made it so interesting and unique. Rothschild’s imagery is intoxicating. I just soaked this story and her words right up.
I honestly don’t want to give anything away in this review and I feel like I easily could, so I’m going to leave it at here.
Read this gorgeous piece of fiction by Loretta Rothschild, someone I will be anxiously awaiting another book from.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins press for the Arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am not sure how to give a review on this one as there are parts of the book that I really liked and then parts that were like "as if". Honour, her husband Tom and their daughter Chloe are in Paris over Christmas and even though it should be a magical happy time, Honour & Tom's marriage has been struggling lately as Honour has been obsessed with having another baby and they have found a surrogate to help them. Instead of enjoying the trip like Tom wants her to Honour keeps checking her phone for messages to see if the surrogate is pregnant or not. Honour and Tom are arguing again and as he storms out of the room she yells unthinkable words at him that she can never take back. Honour & Chloe head out to see the huge Christmas Tree decorated in the lobby and Tom decides to stay in their room. Minutes later there is a life altering moment that will forever change all of their lives. I can't expand on this review as it will give the whole story away so I will just say..... Enjoy!!!

A husband and father who loses his wife and daughter in a devastating act of terrorism searches for love once again when he meets someone completely unexpected. This has an original and intriguing plot line. It is not the typical type of book I read. It is more of a romance than anything, but it is a feel good story. I got a little tired and bored with some of the protagonist’s repetitive behavior and wanted the plot to move along a little more quickly at times. Fiona does an excellent job narrating and helps bring the characters to life. It reminded me a little bit of Bridget Jones’ Diary. This will appeal to readers looking for something light and uncomplicated with a fresh storyline.

“You can't boycott grief, unless you want to boycott happiness with it. You don't get the meat without the bones”

Grief is messy, and this book gets that. Finding Grace is one of those rare debut novels that sneaks up on you. I went in blind—no spoilers, no expectations—and within the first chapter, I was completely hooked. Loretta Rothschild writes with quiet power and emotional clarity, and the result is a story that’s deeply human, uncomfortably honest, and utterly absorbing.

This is literary fiction that leans into the emotional slow-burn: alternating between past and present, unraveling characters layer by layer. There’s a touch of mystery, a heavy dose of heartbreak, and a steady, deliberate focus on character development that pays off. Grace, Honor, and Tom aren’t just names on a page—they feel real, flawed, hurting, and trying. Their relationships are messy and complicated, but that’s what gives the book so much weight.

“However you want to dress it up, every mother lies to her child… We all protect our babies in the way we think is best”
I’ve seen some pushback on Tom, and I get it—his choices aren’t easy to forgive. But grief does strange things to people. Sometimes we lie to survive the moment. And then the lie spirals until even we don’t recognize ourselves. If you’ve ever made a mess trying to hold yourself together after everything falls apart, Tom’s story might hit a little closer to home than you expect, for me it did.

The audiobook deserves a mention too—beautifully narrated, with just the right level of restraint. There were a few moments where the tone didn’t quite match the emotional beat of the scene, but overall, the audio enhanced the experience, especially with such introspective prose. This isn’t a thriller, though it dances around the edges of that genre. It's not just a family drama, either. It's a meditation on what it means to love someone when you're broken. A story about how we find our way back—if not to who we were, then to who we’re becoming.

Beautiful, haunting, and quietly bold. A strong debut, and one I won’t forget anytime soon.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook and to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced physical copy of this novel. Available 6/10/25

The last sentence of the first chapter took my breath away and sets the structure for the whole book. I've only read maybe one other book from this perspective, and I really like the way the story is revealed. I did find myself frustrated with one of the main characters for omitting information readers will be screaming for him to reveal! Overall, I was entertained and would recommend to others. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!