This is not what I was expecting and it just didn't work for me. I think other readers may enjoy it.

[3.5 stars rounded up]

A beautiful debut, Finding Grace is a novel about grief, and the time following grief where you find yourself again and love again. This is one of those novels with a major twist event happening at the end of one of the first chapters, so events within the book will be spoken of very broadly here.

This book is a liar revealed trope. I, personally, do not enjoy reading liar revealed tropes. This is the main drawback of my rating as, though the book kept my interest the whole time, it snagged a bit in the middle and lead-up to the climax as these features of the trope made up the majority of the story. However, this is one of the best executions of this trope that I have seen. There is no wasted time in this book. Each chapter works both as a contained episode of the character’s lives as well as building the momentum of the plot. We don’t waste time on extended failed attempts at fourth-wall breaking humor or anything of that like nor do we have to suffer through lengthy secondhand embarrassment towards Tom (though, naturally, there is a touch of that).

If you like the dread, tension, humor, secondhand embarrassment (but not too much), and everything else that a liar revealed plot gives you, then you will love this book because it has the best instances of each of those things that I have seen done.

Each character, main and side, are distinct and given the perfect amount of pagetime. I started to get worried near the start, especially once the ladies of the wine club were introduced, but those fears were quickly dissuaded as the author’s skill at handling everyone came through. The women of the wine club (sans Grace, of course) are the least developed personally, but they work best as a conglomerate device while also being really charming. Each of Tom’s friends are given the perfect amount of time to develop and, especially in Lauren’s place, run through a believable and well-written character arc. Colette surprised me the most as I assumed that she would not stick around so often, but I really appreciated her being there. Her character became very enjoyable over the course of the novel. The main characters are, of course, in nearly every scene and utilized well.

Some characters come off as irritating, though I never hated anyone (other than maybe Honor). How did I not hate Tom? I am always the first person to hate the man when he does these things in other novels, but, somehow, the author did such a good job of writing him that I didn’t hate him. Honor had some very unbearable moments, but over time they dissipated. Same with Grace at multiple points. Mostly, these made the characters feel more human and well-built, but this still created a few moments of frustration and thoughts of "I would not be friends with these people in real life."
Narration style is done so effortlessly that I had to take the time to appreciate it during my reading. I have read some very good and very bad attempts at this narrative choice, and this is definitely on the very good end of the spectrum. It’s, again, so effortless that you don’t ever question it. It also allows for so much creativity with what we as the audience know or don’t know.

She's also a very tight writer. I mentioned much earlier that no time was wasted. It’s hard to describe, but we get off-handed mentions of what Tom will do to resolve or plan something without showing us every little filler interaction. The story is constantly moving and things are constantly building up to the climax, but it’s never rushed or crammed in there.

The author writes grief so well. The first several chapters of the book were gut-wrenching in their descriptions. It's palpable through the pages. I’m so glad that Tom could cry without being judged or deemed weak. It’s refreshing compared to the amount of stoic non-feeling male leads I’ve seen in the past. I would love to see this author write more around this theme.

The ending is really interesting in that I, and apparently a good amount of other reviewers that I see, would not have forgiven Tom. But, that does not make it a bad ending at all. I felt slightly underwhelmed at the reaction to the reveal by the side characters, but the actual conversation between Grace and Tom carried the scene, as did the reveal about Lauren.

A very mature ending. If these characters were in college, then this would have ended with the collapse of the entire friend group. Instead, we get a very mature and reflective ending. If it were not for my personal dislike and boredness of the main trope of this book, it would have been an easy five stars and I do think that, for so many other readers who like the areas I addressed, it will also be for them.

Finding Grace follows children's author, Honor, and financier, Tom. They love each other madly, but their relationship is suffering from a lengthy battle with secondary infertility. We open to Christmas in Paris where all should be magical, but the two are fighting over Honor's obsession with their surrogate's pending pregnancy test and Tom's insistence that they should be focusing on their daughter Chloe.

When a suicide bomber tragically ends Honor and Chloe's life, Tom struggles to move on. His story is told from Honor's POV--focusing on Tom's nature and with all the love and guile of a long term partner. Shortly after Tom is widowed, their pregnant surrogate produces son Henry. Tom has the support of Honor's friends and is doing, ok. Right?

A clerical error unveils the identity of Henry's closed embryo adoption, and Tom is so curious to meet the woman. Ethical and moral lines are blurred as the two begin an affair. This book is sad, sweet and discussed grief in the most tangible and sometimes humorous ways. Finding Grace made me nostalgic for all the little ways I would be missing my partner if I were Honor.

Loretta Rothschild wrote a stunning debut here and I cannot wait to read her next novel. Fiona Button beautifully performed the voice of Honor. Her soothing posh, London voice and serene veneer brought love and levity to the entire story. Thank you MacMillon Audio and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this gorgeous debut novel.

🎧Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild
🎙 Narrated by: Fiona Button

This debut novel impacted me deeply, in the best possible way. It’s haunting, reflective, and told in such a unique, compelling format. Grace’s narration—drifting between past and present—felt like peeling back layers of memory and emotion, and I loved how beautifully that structure worked to reveal the heart of the story slowly.

I listened to this on audio, and Fiona Button’s narration was perfection. Her pacing was spot-on and her tone carried the emotional weight so effortlessly—it gave the story legs and brought Grace fully to life. Total immersion. Zero regrets.

✨ Tropes & Themes:
Nonlinear storytelling
Family secrets
Introspective character journey
Grief, memory & healing
Quiet strength of women
Finding identity and truth

Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely—especially on audio! This is the kind of story that lingers. And for a debut? Rothschild knocked it out of the park. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

this was so different and i really enjoyed it. the audiobook was amazing and i would definitely recommend it!! this was my first book by loretta rothschild

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and MacMillan Audio for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The publisher synopsis was sufficiently vague, because this book was written in such a unique way that to say certain things would give away a major plot point. So, I will try to do the same. The first few chapters of the book reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, but I won’t tell you what parts–sorry!

I didn’t quite connect with the characters in the book, but I was still compelled to find out the whole story. Red herrings, Maguffins, this book has it all. It definitely will make you react emotionally. What emotions it evokes depends upon how much you like how the story unfolds. I really can’t figure out how to tell you about this book without giving spoilers.

The audiobook was narrated by Fiona Button, who did an excellent job. I would definitely listen to another book narrated by her.

Very impressive debut- such a unique structure and plot device. Had to find out what happens. Interesting characters and journey. Fantastic narration.

5 stars!

I liked the book (read the ARC a while back), but I loved the audio. The narration really brought the story to life! It's hard to discuss the book without giving it away. As I posted in a TikTok video, the biggest takeaway I had was that keeping secrets is like building a house of cards - you never know when it's all going to crash down on you!

Wow definitely a top contender for my favorites of 2025 and an amazing debut. Starting with the shocking first chapter, this book delves into grief, heartache, family, friendship, secrets, and a lot of communication breakdowns! Despite the heavy, tear jerking subjects there were a lot of laugh out loud and poignant moments as well as well developed characters that made it propulsive.

I listened to this partially and read it and thought the audiobook narrator did an awesome job distinguishing different characters and keeping the forward momentum.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

This book started off well and literally shocked me not far in. As it continued it became a bit more of a love story than I usually like, but I loved the narrator and it was a good story.

Finding Grace was an unexpected, unique story starring Honor, her husband Tom, and Grace. The book started off with a bang, but I'll avoid a plot summary because it's best to go into this one blind and uncover the surprises for yourself.

I noticed a decent number of reviews commented how they disliked the characters, but I enjoyed them for all of their flaws. The biggest microscope was set on Tom, and yes, he made a lot of impulsive, dumb decisions, but I can more or less see why he took the path that he did. In addition to being a great look at character growth, this book focused a lot on grief and how it settles into your daily life. Even if years go by, the loss never really goes away, and I enjoyed following these characters as they all dealt with this in their own manner.

The narrator also did a great job with Honor's voice. It felt very believable and moved the story along.

Many thanks to NetGally and the publisher for an advanced audio version of this book.

Wow, what a debut novel! The author did such a great job crafting the characters and the story.

It's virtually impossible to say anything about the plot without giving spoilers, but suffice it to say that the POV is quite unique. The narrator, Honor, draws the reader in immediately. I loved all of the relationships, and watching them unfold over the multiple timelines was incredibly touching. The overarching theme of parental love is portrayed incredibly well, and I had to stop, breathe and wipe away tears several times. The romantic relationships played out really well too. And the friendships in the story were incredible - between couples, between women, between son in law and mother in law...phew! Honor, Tom and Grace are the main characters, but I actually loved the characters of Annie and Colette the most. They felt like real people to me. This book really had all the feels.

I have to say that when the "villain" of the story is revealed, I was truly shocked...maybe I am just too naive. Gasp!! And Tom makes some very questionable choices throughout the story, which make it really hard to sympathize with him. But that all contributes to the plot line and it really was done well.

As far as the audiobook goes, the narrator is excellent. I love listening to anyone with a British accent, but hers is particularly expressive and lovely.

I would definitely recommend this! 4.5 stars!

“Finding Grace” is a striking debut novel with one of the most intriguing narrators I’ve encountered in a while. The story unfolds in two timelines, both told by the same woman, one while she’s alive, and the other after she has passed away. That alone makes for a captivating narrative structure.
I picked this one up purely based on the cover through NetGalley, having no real idea what to expect. To my surprise, the book dives into much deeper and heavier subject matter than I anticipated.
At its core, this novel explores themes of love, fate, family, and redemption, and it does so with a unique voice and concept. The storyline is both original and thought-provoking, and the narrator’s perspective adds a haunting layer that stays with you.
While I found the premise brilliant and the structure refreshing, there were moments that didn’t quite land for me. I was hoping for a different ending, and the romantic scenes felt a bit out of place, they didn’t add much to the overall impact. On the other hand, the first chapter was a standout: completely unpredictable and gripping right from the start. It set the tone beautifully.
“Finding Grace” hits shelves on June 10th, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what Loretta Rothchild writes next. She’s clearly a fresh voice with bold ideas.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Is there someone you know?
You’re loving them so
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away
And they don't hear the words you long to say
I would give anything I own
I'd give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again
Just to touch you once again ~ Everything I Own written by David Gates, performed by Bread.

The publisher kept the premise extremely vague, so I will do the same.

Tom, Honor and Chloe make the perfect little family, and Honor is focused on adding another baby to their family. If only they could have foreseen the future…

Simply put, this book is about love, loss, and renewal.

The book starts off with a big bang, then settles into a steady flow. I was deeply immersed in the storyline and thoroughly vested in seeing how this was going to work out.

This was a debut from Loretta Rothschild. I would definitely be interested in reading her future books.

🎧 the audio is narrated by Fiona Button who gave a brilliant performance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

Addictive, memorable, and frustrating in the best way possible — I loved this book!

I was hooked from the very beginning and loved the emotional rollercoaster that this story took me on. I felt every emotion on the spectrum.

The fact that this is a debut is phenomenal. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The audiobook was incredibly well-done and I loved the narrator! 10/10 recommend the audiobook!

Title: Finding Grace
Author: Loretta Rothschild (Debut Author)
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Fiona Button
Genre: Family Drama
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Audiobook Pub Date: June 10, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages 332

Story from the PIOV of Honor – before and after Paris

We first meet the happy family in Paris. Honor, Tom, and their four year-old daughter, Chloe, are at the Ritz to celebrate Christmas. Honor and Tom appear to be the perfect couple- wealthy and beautiful. Only Honor is obsessed with having another child. She has had five miscarriages and the last results in the removal of her ovaries. Now she is consumed with finding an egg-donor. Finding a surrogate wasn’t difficult but Honor wants their child to look like both she and Tom. So she has been searching for someone who looks like her. She finds Grace who indeed looks like Honor and is fine with being a donor. She was adopted so understand a couples desire to be parent.
Their first morning in Paris Tom and Honor have a disagreement regarding Honor’s obsession and just wants to enjoy Christmas and not worry about their second baby. Their disagreement lead to nasty words and Honor takes Chloe out for breakfast without Tom. However Honor and Chloe end up in the wrong place as a suicide bomber attacks the Lobby and Honor, Chloe and so many others are instantly killed.

Tom, of course, is consumed with grief and is upset that he and Honor were arguing the last minutes of her life.
Tom has considered suicide. But his life changes when he gets notification that the surrogate has just given birth. Tom has a beautiful baby boy he names Henry.

Four years later Henry is in Preschool and questions who and where his mother is. Although Tom has been an amazing father – always putting Henry first, he has not told him what happen to his mother and sister.
One day Tom mistakenly receives a letter that should have gone to the anonymous egg donor.
He cannot resist opening it and discovers where Grace the donor lives.

When Tom meet Grace he is immediately attracted- but is he attracted to Grace or Honor’s doppelganger?
The middle of the story seems to go on too long as Tom continues to tell lies
But I was consumed and feared I kept shouting at him to stop ~ Tell the Truth!!!
I knew the truth would be revealed- However, I had no idea it would be revealed in such a dramatic way!

I was glued. Although slow at time the audiobook narrator Fiona Button was perfect in performing the characters and she made me feel I was there – part of the story.

Although there were things I did not like about this story – there were more things I liked – they far outweighed my dislikes thus my rounding up.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early audiobook.
Publishing Date is scheduled for June 10, 2025.

Whew this book started off with a bang that I really didn’t see coming. I feel like the first half of this book had me on my toes trying to see how it would pan out… but the second half? Well it didn’t really go as well as I was hoping.

The way the story was told was interesting, but I just didn’t believe in the romance. It felt a little too instant love and I was hoping for more pining, more depth in the relationship.

I think that the ending is what I was expecting, but the best part of the book was the author exploring grief.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

This was an easy to binge book. There was a twist at the start that came out of the blue. After initial wondering what just happened, it set up the rest of the story and sucked me in. I wasn’t expecting the perspective that was shown throughout the book. I was surprised and delighted that I saw this story through different eyes.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but by the second half, I was ready for the plot to resolve and to see some maturity. The pace slowed down, and I became bored the more frustrated I got from choices being made. Although, one of the main characters was frustrating, I liked many of the secondary characters. There was an unusual friend group that was a highlight to the story. I love a great friend group, and this one was fully present.

The story revolves around grief, but it felt like a plot device instead of a natural part of the story development. I realize that everyone grieves differently, but for me, this felt like grief was an excuse for poor choices.

This book will be very emotional for some people, and they’ll love the messiness of it. Mixing grief with romance can be a draw. I usually love these types of books, but the last half of this story was a miss for me.

I enjoyed the audio of this book. It kept me listening even when the plot slowed down. It wasn’t a standout audio but was good.

This book contains scattered strong profanity and has some descriptive intimate scenes.

The narrator was great and brought the proper tone to the story.

The story itself, however.. While it started out intriguing and with a horrible twist, what follows just sort of drags. I will admit general fiction is not my favorite genre but I DNF’d at 10%

This was not the book for me. I DNF’d at 15%. I was not able to connect with the characters. I will likely give this book another try in the future.