Ten Little Words

I really loved this! I love the dual story line. I loved that it showed the effects of trauma (whatever the situation was for each character) and loss for every point of view. I almost wish that it showed the consequences for another character that I won't talk about. Each character was real and heartbreaking in their own way.

This was my first by this author, I'll be looking into another.

I very much enjoyed this family drama. The plot was well crafted and the characters were people I could relate to and empathize with. Definitely recommended.

I saw this book on bookstagram and knew I wanted to read it. I absolutely loved it. It drew me in and I didn't want to take a break. Definitely did not disappoint!

My review contains spoilers.

"I am always with you. I will always be here."
Jude broke that promise to her 5-year-old daughter when she walked into the sea, abandoning Ella to the care of her sister.
Her body was never discovered and she was later declared dead.
30 years later, Ella finds an anonymous ad in a paper containing the ten little words her mother always used to repeat to her...
Is Jude still alive? As Ella discovers the truth about her mother's disappearance, little does she know that her life is about to be changed forever.

The story follows Ella's point of view and is entwined with Jude's recap of the events leading to her disappearance.
I admit this was not my usual go-to story, but nevertheless, I quite enjoyed it.
The story focused on emotions, instead of a fast-paced thrilling sequence of events, but it offered bits of mystery as well.
As the story progressed, I found myself drawn into it with the question of whether Jude was indeed still alive.
However, I must say that the reason she had for leaving her daughter didn't seem to provide enough justification for her actions, and therefore I failed to feel sorry for her, even despite the fact that she was a victim as well.
The ending also fell flat for me, it felt too cliched, soapy and too much of a "happily ever after".
Overall, it was a good read, and I'm sure it will find a lot of fans, so I recommend you give it a go.

Ellla's mother disappears and is later presumed dead after promising in 10 words that she will never lave her. Ella is then raised by her aunt Carolyn and moves to London. Music and moving to London help Mia to feel slightly less angry and resentment from how her mother left her until she sees something in a newspaper that shocks her. Those same 10 words appear in the paper and bring Ella back to when her mom died. But is her mom really dead or did she fake her death?

I like that this story shifted between Ella and her mom, Jude. You learn about Jude's younger years leading up to her disappearance. There are many twists and surprises in this book but I feel more empathy for Ella than her mom. It was well written, emotional and a page turner. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 7/7/20

A family based drama with a bit of mystery. The story is told through the different viewpoints of Jude (the mother) and Ella (her daughter). This worked well as the reader often had information that Ella, as the central character did not. You could feel the seething resentment behind Ella's detached facade and feel the change in her as the book progressed.

An enjoyable book, kept me entertained for a few hours during lockdown. I like books that are told from different perspectives.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. A really good book. The story is told in alternating characters and I love reading books like that so that was a huge bonus for me. Would recommend

This was a very enjoyable book overall. I liked the characters and it was an intriguing plot that kept me interested the entire time. It was also well-written, and I enjoyed the rotating points of views/time periods. This book did a great job making the reader empathize with the characters - it was hard to choose a "side" as both of the main characters went through so much, and the author did a great job making you really feel their hardships. I did think that some areas of the book were a little predictable, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment as it was fun to just take in the story and the way it was all weaved together. I loved the ending and would recommend this to anyone looking for something somewhat light, quick, and interesting!

A story about finding family, and the challenges that lay along the way. I was drawn in to the story by those ten words, and became more and more intrigued as bits and pieces were revealed. A novel that uplifts and gives hope.

'I am always with you. I will always be here."
Ella's mothers promise to her, but one day Jude walks into the sea and doesn't return, her body is never recovered, so she is pronounced deceased.
Ella is to be raised by her aunt Carolyn.
Moving to London helps Mia start to mend, she is still hurt and angry but begins to rebuild her life.
30 years on Ella sees something in a newspaper that throws her. The same 10 words her mother used to say to her are written in an anonymous ad, bringing Ella's memory flooding back to her mother's disappearance. She wonders if her mum is alive, if so, why did she fake her death and leave her.
I thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the Author Leah Mercer for allowing me to review this pre-publication novel.

I enjoyed this book. Family based drama with well written characters. My first time reading this author. Would recommend.

Ella believed since she was 5 years old that her mother walked out into the sea. But 30 years later, she sees a post in the newspaper with the ten words her mother said to her every day before she disappeared into the sea.

Ella starts to wonder if her mother really died or if she’s still out there. She finds letters addressed to her mother from a man, love letters written as if she had never died. She goes to Bertie and learns things about her mother. Along her journey, she gains this new confidence and no longer believes that she has to live a life all alone. But is her mother really gone?

I love books with two or more points of view. The chapters go back and forth between Ella and her mother Jude. You learn pieces of Jude’s history before she leaves Ella. You watch Ella gain confidence and learn to trust others. You see a one of a kind love story from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced e-book copy! Keep your eye out for this one when it publishes in June!

Thirty years ago deeply troubled Jude Morgan disappears and is presumed dead. She leaves behind a five year old daughter Ella, who is raised by her Aunt Carolyn and her husband Rob. This story is told in different timelines by Jude from the 1980’s and by Ella in the present day. Ten little words refers to two phrases her mother always said to Ella which remain of utmost importance to her.

Ella’s perspective is the most absorbing as it examines the devastating psychological impact of the loss of her mother. Her mum made her feel safe, so Ella wraps herself in a cocoon, which she then surrounds with impenetrable walls and lets no one in, not even her aunt who loves her dearly. She’s solitary because that’s safe, her only comfort is her cat Dolby. Her job is interesting as an archivist at a music museum in Hastings and through this she is also able to keep herself to herself. The Jude sections are interesting but less engaging although as her story unfolds it all starts to come together and sympathy builds. The characters are well portrayed, clearly depicting their personalities, capturing their moods especially Ella’s growing anger. I really like the setting too - I can never resist a seaside environment! There are some interesting elements to the story too, there’s mystery around Jude which deepens as the story progresses, there’s some intrigue and tension, and a strong love element. Although I think parts of the story are a bit predictable, such as the ending, I do like it even though it’s tied up a bit too neatly with a bow! I think we can all use some optimism and a happy ending at the moment.

Overall, an enjoyable, easy read. I especially like the reawakening of Ella and her shedding of armour against potential hurt and finally embracing life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the arc.

This is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story of love, heartache, fear, trauma and resilience.
Jude walked into the ocean one day when life became unbearable and did not come out.
She is survived by her five year old daughter, Ella, her sister, Carolyn, and a man named Bertie who truly adored her.
How do you choose and decide that "life" is too hard and to abandon your family?

How does a little girl ever accept that her mum has deserted her?
Ella learns to survive and to not get truly involved with anyone. It is safe and so much easier to depend only on oneself.
The world begins to change on the day of Jude's birthday when she sees an advert with ten little words that Jude always told Ella.
Could it be? Who placed this ad?
The search begins!
Well written, and truly kept me reading to find out what was happening for Ella and praying that she would learn to trust and love.

I went into this completely blind, not even reading the blurb before starting as I know when I get a book by this author usually its going to be a cracking read and this one was amazing.

I was totally engrossed in Ella and Jude's story. I loved the fact that it's told from dual point of view and that you hear the back story which lead up to Jude's disappearance.

It was so cleverly written that I was constantly asking questions throughout the story and just when I thought I had it sorted another slight twist would happen and I was left guessing again. If I have one cristism about it is that maybe, just maybe, things were solved a bit too easily and I wanted Ella and Bertie to maybe hold Jude to account more at the end but even with that this story stuck with me.

This is a story of fear, trauma, hope and a love story that spans a long time. It is also a story that will stay with you long after it has finished. Thank you to the author and Net galley for letting me read this amazing story.

This book moved a little slow for me but I kept going because of all the positive reviews it got. Ill give it 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

A good family drama, well written with interesting characters and I can recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Ella believed since she was 5 years old that her mother walked out into the sea. But 30 years later, she sees a post in the newspaper with the ten words her mother said to her every day before she disappeared.

Ella starts to wonder if her mother really died or if she’s still out there. She finds letters addressed to her mother from a man, love letters written as if she had never died. She goes to Bertie and learns things about her mother. Along her journey, she gains this new confidence and no longer believes that she has to live a life all alone. But is her mother really gone?

I love books with two or more points of view. The chapters go back and forth between Ella and her mother Jude. You learn pieces of Jude’s history before she leaves Ella. You watch Ella gain confidence and learn to trust others. You see a one of a kind love story from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher/author for my advanced e-book copy! Keep your eye out for this one when it publishes in July!

I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. While the book was well written And a good story, it was also predictable. I liked that it gave two different perspectives (mother and daughter) but I wasn’t able to connect emotionally with either one. It was like looking through a window of someone’s house: sometimes you want to see more and be invited in. I gave it 3 stars because the book just didn’t draw me in.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for letting me read and review this advanced reader copy.

Synopsis:

“I am always with you, I will always be here.” This is a promise made to Ella by her mother, a promise Ella believes until one day her mother walks into the sea and disappears, her body never found. Raised by her Aunt, Ella accepts that she lost her mother for good but thirty years later Ella spots something that could change everything. An ad in the newspaper, those ten words and nothing else. Ella’s memories of her mother soon flood back and she begins to question if she is dead afterall and begins a search for answers.

Review:
I have read many thrillers lately so a woman’s fiction read was just what I needed. Both the book cover and description caught my attention and hinted that Ten Little words may be an emotional rollercoaster. The reviews for this book also looked very promising so I couldn’t wait to find out for myself.

The opening instantly hit me with a wave of sadness and I instantly began to feel sorry for Ella and her mother a little. As I got to know the characters, I found that most were very likeable especially Ella. She was a strong character who had emotionally built up walls and I was looking forward to seeing how she would develop as some of the barriers she had built were knocked down. I also found Ella relatable due to the fact that she escapes from reality was books, just like mine. As the story progressed and you saw Ella begin to thaw out, some of those moments I found quite touching.

Bertie was another character I connected well with, he was the perfect gentleman, despite me being quite sceptical about him at first, he won my heart and all I wanted for him was a happy ending. As for Jude, Ellie’s mother, I did feel for her in some parts but I felt her actions were not always justified, I felt my connect with her wasn’t as strong.
The story is told from both Ella and Jude’s perspective which I enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to really get to know these women and be in their heads. The chapters were also very clear and easy to follow. However, I did feel the story moved a little too slow for my linking, there was quite a big build up and when we got to the climax it was quite frustrating to know that some of the events could have possibly been avoided, but there again if this was the case then we wouldn’t have a story. I also found that I was able to predict many of the events that would unfold which unfortunately didn’t leave me feeling the warm fuzz I would have liked.

Ten Little Words did tug on my heart strings at times, there were many tender and sweet moments with some lovely true sayings. It also did a lovely job of touching on the issue of mental health. When the story did pick up, there were little twists and turns that did sneak up on you which I liked. I honestly wanted a happy ending for everyone and the power of love was highlighted all the way through this read, without spoiling anything, I got the ending I wanted. So despite this read not giving the wow factor or a buzz, I did think it was a lovely little unique love story.

Thank you for providing me a copy of this book.
Sorry I wasn't able to go on and finish this.
It just didn’t work for me.
I'll try again next time and leave a feedback.

It was a tad hard to understand in the beginning but overall I enjoyed it.although I thought the story line was strange. I did not understand why a Mom would leave her daughter without making sure 100% that there was no issues. It is a beach read.

Ella has spent most of her life believing her mother is dead until a newspaper ad and a meeting with an old man start to make her doubt it. Should she look for a woman who may not even exist and, if she were to find her, how would she feel towards a mother who abandoned her when she was only five? A little drawn out in places, especially at the end, but a good, thought-provoking and emotional read.

I enjoyed reading this book and really felt for Ella after losing her mother. Even thirty years later, she was still plagued by her departure and had trouble moving on from it. Her pain and anger created a barrier around her, as if to protect herself from more pain, but after reading a classified ad, she is left with a sense of hope that her mother might still be out there. She is torn with whether or not to pursue the possibility of her mother being alive, and what she discovers along the way is eye opening.

This book did a great job of showing how our experiences affect our every day lives and how they can in turn affect others. The way that Ella’s mother (Jade) left had such a huge impact on her life, and it all stemmed back to Jade’s painful past. It makes the reader wonder if Ella had been aware of what happened to Jade from the very beginning, would her life still have turned out the same way or would she be more understanding and empathetic of the way her mother felt all those years ago. It’s an interesting thought, and while I expected Ella to remain angry, I think the truth made her open her heart even more.

Overall great read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3329855562

I completely loved the dual story line. Leah Mercer done such an incredible job showing the effects of drama and loss from every point of view. I learned not to judge until I have all cards in front of me and even then, I have to look carefully and observe the big picture.
TEN LITTLE WORDS by Leah Mercer is a family drama with a perfectly crafted plot and characters that are so real, anyone can relate with. The more I read, the more I wanted and I tried to guess what happened, I tried to imagine Jude alive and asked myself why would she run away from her child. Also, getting deep into the story I judged both Jude and Ella for some of their decisions and changed my mind later on. Towards the end, it all made sense and I got to understand just how loss and drama will haunt and destroy your life, how a woman is able to sacrifice her life and happiness to protect her loved ones.

… I am always with you. I will always be here... – these ten little words intrigued me and made me read this beautiful novel and I do not regret it one bit. Family find each other in time and love has always been the key

Totally recommend it

I really enjoyed this novel. Perking my interest from page one I whizzed through this book in a few hours, holding my interest all the way. That's one of my indicators of a great book. We all know there is nothing worse than getting to 50% and still not getting hooked into what we are reading.

The book starts dramatically and grabbed me straight away, I had to know what happened.

The book is written from two perspectives over two different timelines, a mother and a grown daughter telling their stories that intertwine into an emotional narrative. Each character I connected with and got to know as I read, intrigued to know them and where the story was going. Jude, the mother and Ella, the daughter were written really well by the author in that you could connect and see them as real people. Plenty of emotions in this novel and a plot that in part surprised me and also confirmed for me where I thought it may go.

As other key characters are introduced the novel just got more interesting. It covers love, loss, grief, regret, pain, anger, denial, fear and so many other human emotions. If you like novels that tap into flawed people and their mistakes, choices and consequences you will really enjoy this book.

I was fascinated in following both timelines and hearing the voice of Mother and Daughter. Despite having a strong inkling of a key truth in the whole story it didn't distract or disappoint me by the time it was revealed. What was even better is there were still surprises in store. The plot is steady and the writing very readable. The only reason this didn't get five stars as I felt the ending was unrealistic and it had a sense of being rushed and put together that way to get the book to it's ending. The end encounters were just too easy and far-fetched as to happen the way it was portrayed in the novel.

I loved the end outcome, just wish how it was delivered had more realism and depth. Not so flippant. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and the way it tackled how assumptions and presumptions can impact your choices and life direction dramatically. That's what this book really expresses, the outcome of decisions, some made in haste and the consequences of those.

Leah Mercer has written a book that depicts the faults in all of us, taking flawed people and telling a story that keeps you wanting more of their individual tales that interlock at the same time. This was a good read and I would be really keen to read more from Leah.

This book truly starts off with a bang when Jude goes missing. Flying back and forth through time with Jude and Ella, this novel takes you on an adventure that will warm your heart and knot your stomach at the same time. The book kept a good steady pace and although at times it seems a bit predictable, Leah Mercer has a great way of proving you wrong.

"The past wasn't behind us, and it could never be laid to rest. The past was within us. We could barricade ourselves from the outside world as much as we liked, but it would still be there, lying dormant, just waiting for a chance to break into our lives again."

I finished this book within a day, I just couldn't put it down. In some ways Ella reminded me of "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine": she has a regular job and is happy on her own, she doesn't like to have to deal with people and enjoys to stay in and read. She tries to live a normal life without having to think about why her mother left her when she was just 5 years old. Her mother went into the water, but Ella rejects to believe that she died. After years hoping her mother will come back to to keep the promise of "I am always with you. I will always be here" Ella starts to give in and accepts her mothers death to protect herself from being hurt over and over again. But seeing an ad in a local newspaper saying the exact ten little words her mother always told her shook the foundation of her world. Could it be, that her mom hasn't died after all and tries to reach out? Asking her aunt about the details of her mom's disappearance leads to discovering her mother as an authentic person and not just the ideal she had of her in her mind all those years. I loved how the story deals with loss and how it haunts you years, even decades later. It was a beautiful story and I can't wait to read more of Leah Mercer's work.

Thanks netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of Ella and her mom Jude - Jude is the pier singer at hastings and is just waiting to go to London for fame and fortune as a singer. However she meets Bertie and London then takes a back berner, she moves to Scotland with him and is due to get married. A chance to go on tour with an up and coming band stops all wedding plans and Jude goes on a tour of all tours where she is noticed to be a star in her own right.

Ella was left with her aunt when her mom is believed to have walked into the sea. Ella is feeling she cant let anyone in and should lock the world out as she is not worthy. She has her dream job, but does not socialise with any of her work colleagues. Even her neighbour doesn't know Ella. All she wants is her mom to come back, but knowing that won't happen is eating her up and making her a bitter person. Then there is a personal message in the classified which says the 10 Little words Ella’s mom used to say to her.

What follows is a pure fantastic book which explores the emotions of family and what can go wrong when secrets are kept. The description of places is so good you can feel yourself on the beach front or in a cottage in Edinburgh. The characters are so lovable you want them for your family. I can honestly say I loved every page of this book and will be looking for more books by Leah.

Ella is a tortured soul. Her father died when she was a baby and her mother committing suicide when she was five, she has never been able to get past the grief and allow the world to come and let her live a happy life, holding everyone and everything at arms reach. She has lived with her aunt and uncle who have done the very best they could for her, but her almost savage belief that her mother was still alive meant that the love they showered upon her was rejected. Now she is 35 years old and living a life devoid of emotions and people, barely a shell of a person, until the day, the anniversary of her mothers birthday when she sees the classified advertisement in a national newspaper with the words “I am always with you. I will always be here” – the very words that her mother would say to her before she fell asleep every night. After so many years of suppressing her feelings and desire for her mother to be alive, hope rises again. And then some letters addressed to her mother find their way to Ella’s keeping, which leads her to Bertie, who lives in Edinburgh but is afflicted with Alzheimer’s, meaning his memories are sometimes muddled. Bertie is a link to her mothers past, as he was, is still in love with Jude and wonders even now, over 30 years later, why she left him suddenly with no explanation. Interspersed in the chapters of Ella we read the back story of her mother Jude, the factors that lead to her life decisions that will have ramifications for everyone she leaves behind. And the question that the reader cannot help but ask, can Ella make peace with her troubled past and find a new way to live a fulfilling life in which she welcomes people and love back in her life?

This book is sold as women’s fiction, which generally means it has a happy ever after ending, and this book follows that rule to the end. There is the happy ever after, but it leaves the reader with a glow that things work out the way they are meant to and our main character has some closure and life renewed with hope and contentment. Ella is well drawn in her shadowy self; we feel her hurt that she carries everywhere with her, we feel her loneliness. We also have the story of Jude and understand her happiness with the love of her life Bertie and then her horror at circumstances that separate her from Bertie forever, and the grief she spirals into before the fateful day she walks into the sea and drowns herself. All of it wraps around itself neatly and makes for an engaging story that will leave the reader satisfied.

Trigger Warning - Rape

This is another hard book for me to rate because I have such mixed feelings about it. I think Mercer did an amazing job of capturing how much pain the characters were carrying, so much so that it was actually painful and frustrating to read at first. I really didn't like Ella at all even though I knew she'd had trauma I just thought she was kind of horrible. The writing style was clear and accessible making this an easy book to get lost in and I was invested in it. I did find though that in the second half everything felt a little too easy after starting out so painful. Overall a decent read.

After promising Ella in ten little words that she would never leave her, Ella’s mum Jude is dead. For thirty years Ella has felt betrayed. Even though she was adopted by her Aunt Carolyn she still feels there’s no place for her in this world. She lives alone with her cat, has the same lunch every day at work and never socialises - merely exists. But everything changes one day when she opens a paper and sees a ten word advert in the classifieds. She refuses to believe her mum is still alive but feels compelled to find out exactly what happened all those years ago.

This book is well written with likeable characters and I found myself easily drawn into the novel. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

I am always with you. I will always be here.

Ella’s mother would say those words to her ever night until one day she walked into the sea, leaving her when she was only 5 years old alone in the world. Ella has spent her life angry and wondering why she would say those words to her and then leave her. Then one day she opens up the paper to find the exact words printed in the classifieds. This leads her on a journey to discover what happened all those years ago.

Along the journey, Ella unearths pieces of truth that she patches together. Ella is surprised to learn the true meaning behind those words. Now that she had bright sunlight on the situation will she now be able to love and be loved? Will she be able to live with what she has discovered?

This was a very thought provoking story. Although it was not what I was expecting I truly enjoyed it. I think it highlights that words matter, especially when that is all you have to hold on to.

Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Ella was 5 years old, her mother walked into the sea and was presumed dead. 30 years later, Ella has still not forgiven her mother for abandoning her, especially when she always said "I am always with you. I will always be here." Ella has grown up shutting everyone out of her life because of her mother's betrayal. One day she comes upon a newspaper with those same ten words, she refuses to believe there is a chance her mother is still alive, but she cannot ignore it and decides to find out once and for all.

I felt the book moved pretty slowly and there weren't really any surprises that I hadn't already figured out, however it was a nice story and I appreciated the way everything wrapped up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC of this book.

I wanted to love this book but I just couldn't really engage in the characters. The duel storyline and time jumps worked well in this instance, but the ending seemed a little too unrealistic for me. Jude comes back and immediately all is forgiven? Given all the emotions that Ella has for Jude throughout the book, I felt the ending was a little too happy ever after. As well, I had a difficult time believing that Ella would change her behaviour and suddenly take off for Scotland in the first place. This book didn't really work for me but I didn't hate it, either.

Ten Little Words is an engaging story with a dual plotline which is perfectly executed. It has strong and likable characters which keep you invested with the plot. A really well crafted and enjoyable read.

Ten Little Words is a decent read. Ella's mother disappeared when she was five, long be,wives to be dead. Ella built a wall around her emotions, remaining aloof from people. Until her birthday when she sees an ad spouting the same ten words her mother used to say to her. Her aunt gives her an old box of belongings that puts her in touch with her past, with a man that holds the key to many answers. The writing was good. I don't really care for Jude, who I thought was completely selfish. I felt sorry for Bertie, who had been robbed in so ,any ways.

I’m not quite sure about this book. It does grab your attention in first few pages. It just seemed a bit far fetched to me. I’m not saying I didn’t like the book, it did have a interesting plot. But, the amount of years the mother stayed away? It just seemed unrealistic that after all that time, she’s received with open arms and all is forgiven.
Leah Mercer is a new author to me and one I’d like to read more from.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the arc of Ten Little Words in exchange for my honest review.

Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer Reviewed on June 9, 2020
I am always with you, I will always be here.
Ella’s mother left these ten little words with Ella when she was five years old.

Everyone knows the saying… “You can’t judge a book by its cover”.
However, I love a great book cover… and this is a good one.

I did view a few reviews and thought I would like this.
I did like it but didn’t LOVE it.
Story it told is told from the POV in different time lines, Jude, Ella’s mother in 1980 and Ella now 35 yrs. old in present day.
Ending was worth hanging in there but there were times I thought… Hmmm? Why leave if you will always be here????
Story is a bit of mystery more emotional. It was a 3 star for me but I am sure it will find readers who will love it!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing, UK for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 7, 2020

Reading this made me so angry because of the abandonment. Of course once you get into the storyline you’re able to see that there’s way more than meets the eye. I don’t want to spoil anything but I forgave her mom a little.

Ten Little Words follows the journey of Ella and her believed-to-be dead mother Jude deciphering how the past always remains within us.

I am always with you. I will always be here.

These Ten Little Words mean so much to Ella and Jude. Ella clings on to these Ten Little Words as she learns to comes to terms with her mother’s sudden disappearance. These words come to haunt Ella when she randomly sees them in an unclassified ad in the newspaper and chooses to follow them. Ella begins her journey of self-discovery as she confronts her past and fears in search of her Mother. Along the way she meets characters all bound together by these Ten Little Words.

Laura Mercer steadily creates suspense as the novel develops. One minute I was certain on what at happened…the next minute I was shocked to learned I was wrong. Short and snappy chapters make this is a quick-read. Chapters alternate between present-day Ella living her life followed by a narrative of the life that Jude (Ella’s Mother) had. This worked well as it allows the reader to learn more about Jude and may justify her actions.

Laura subtly deals with topics such as suicide, feelings of abandonment, rape but ultimately focuses on love. Ten Little Words is powerfully demonstrates the power of love and will touch the hearts of readers affected by loss of a dear loved one.

This was a beautiful story. While it did hunt at some tough subjects, the author handled it beautifully. I recommend this book, and I will definitely be looking for more from the author!

This is a bittersweet story about Ella and her mum Jude told from both perspectives - Ella now and Jude 30 years ago. Jude struggled to be a mum to Ella due to the circumstances of Ella’s conception, feeling Ella would be safer if her Aunt Carolyn cared for her Jude walked into the sea and was never seen again. Sadly Jude’s actions had a huge impact on Ella leaving her unable to get close to others and resentful of her mum. A newspaper advert that appears on what would have been Jude’s birthday sparks a desire in Ella to learn more about her mum’s disappearance.

I thought both viewpoints were told really well, the differences in personality between the two and their experiences and emotions wonderfully portrayed. I really felt for Ella never coping with her mum’s disappearance and clinging on to the ten words she told her every night and the conflict it caused within her.

<i>I am always with you. I will always be here.</i>

Those are the ten little words spoken by Jude before she walked into the ocean and never came back... Jude has been declared dead, but her 5-year-old daughter, Ella, never believed it. How could her mother leave her? Didn't she whisper those ten little words and promise to always be there? Now a 30-something-year-old woman, Ella has a job...and that's about it. She is barely living, distancing herself from her aunt Carolyn, her colleagues, and any other person in her life. No social connection. No love. No emotion, period.

Told in two interwoven storylines, Leah Mercer reveals fragments of Jude's youth as an aspiring singer while capturing Ella's inner turmoil in the present. We initially get hints of the darkness Jude was battling, in Ella's fuzzy reminiscence of her childhood, yet mostly we see her joys, dreams, and romance. So what drove her mother to abandon a helpless daughter and walk into the ocean, disappearing without another word?

Though Ella is hesitant to admit it, she has never given up hope that her mother would return. And one day, a newspaper advert appears with those ten little words, renewing her hope that her mother is still alive after all. With languorous prose and heavily used metaphors, Mercer explores the internal battle waged within. Ella must confront herself and the unanswered questions about her mother. Mired with the whole gamut of emotions—bitterness, sadness, anger—<i>Ten Little Words</i> can get a little repetitive in its introspection and indecision. I started disliking the alarming rate at which Ella vacillates between wanting to track down her mother and not doing. Nearly every chapter, Ella claims that she is "done" chasing Jude, and by the umpteenth time, I just stopped believing her. Though I could understand the motives of Jude, I had much less sympathy for Ella, who steadfastly treated the loving aunt who raised her coldly and heartlessly.

As for the payoff, the ending felt inevitable and cliched, unable to redeem the many pages of internal struggle. One of my greatest pet peeves is when a story is constructed almost entirely of huge misunderstandings, and unfortunately, that is the biggest blemish on <i>Ten Little Words</i>. To read a whole book and predict the ending, with characters that never fully manage to break away from two-dimensional molds, leaves a disappointing taste in my mouth.

Review of eBook

Despondent, Jude Morgan walks into the sea, leaving her five-year-old daughter behind. Raised by Jude’s sister and her husband, Ella finally relinquishes her belief that her mother will return one day.

But ten little words in a cryptic classified advertisement throw her life into uncertainty. Is it possible that her mother is still alive? Determined to find an answer, Ella sets out on a trail of discovery that promises to change everything she believes.

Told alternately by mother and daughter, the unfolding story juxtaposes Ella’s present with Jude’s past as it reveals the effects of life’s vicissitudes on each of the women. Filled with emotion and angst, the story keeps the reader involved as it explores how a family, caught in the turmoil of grief and loss, deals with the consequences of the choices and decisions they’ve made.

Nuanced, believable characters populate the narrative, but readers will find little suspense in the telling of the tale. Unfortunately, the narrative’s denouement seems to fall into place far too easily to feel credible. Although readers may find Jude’s rationale for her actions rather insubstantial, it is important to note that the larger story is in the relationship between characters and in the ways in which lives are touched by trauma, betrayal, resentment, trust, hope, and love.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my review. I wish to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read & review this book.

This book wasn't really what I was expecting. The beginning was a bit of an emotional punch, and I both wanted to see what happened next, and was afraid to read more. I felt like some parts of the book really went fast, kept the pages turning. But then it would slow down and I'd consider not finishing it. Not really a good balance. But I';m also not really a fan of books told from various POV's and time lines, as this was, because it can be confusing. And, for regular readers of thrillers and domestic psychology thrillers, it was a bit predictable. But not a bad read.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley, in return for my honest review.

"I am always with you. I will always be here"

These ten words 5 year old Ella's mum, Jude would say to her each night at bedtime. That is until one day when her mother walked into the sea, never to be seen or heard from again, leaving Ella to be brought up by her aunt, Carolyn.
Now 30 years later those very same ten words have appeared in the announcements of a national newspaper, on her mother's birthday no less.
This pushes Ella to delve into her mother's past, to find out what really happened, what made her mother walk into the sea that day.

Ten little words by Leah Mercer is an enjoyable book, with dual perspective, across alternating chapters, making it a very easy read. The time difference between Jude and Ella's points of view, works well and the storyline very heartfelt.
I went through all the emotions with this book, I loved reading it so much.

5/5 Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Ella's mother Jude whispers the same ten words to her every night at bedtime. When Jude walks into the sea one night, and never returns, Ella's world is turned upside down. Thirty years later, seeing those ten words in a classified ad takes her on a journey of self discovery, and to find out if her mother could really be alive.

I felt that this story dragged on. Ella spent a lot of time blocking everyone out so she couldn't be hurt again. The first half of the book plodded on far too long. While i liked the different perspectives of Ella and Jude, the story itself was highly predictable and a little too Hallmark movie perfect for my tastes.

Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In "Ten Little Words", the main characters are Ella and her mother Jude. The story is told from both perspectives: Ella's present and Jude's past. Ella lost Jude at a young age, but when she sees a ten word phrase printed in the newspaper that was only said between her and her mother, Ella begins to question everything. Could her mother be alive? If she is, why did she abandon Ella?

I am sad to say that I did not enjoy this book. It was extremely depressing. Maybe it's because we are in the middle of a pandemic and something this deep is difficult to process during these times. Jude's character reminded me very much of Daisy from "Daisy Jones and the Six". In my opinion she was downright selfish and not very likeable. Ella wasn't much different because of the walls she built up from her childhood trauma. I found myself reading the book in big chunks, but then dreading to pick it up again due to the depressing plot and unlikable characters. I would give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

For some reason the title of this book put me off slightly but I read it anyway and I am SO glad that I did.
I loved the two different storylines and the way they were entwined and really enjoyed the way Ella's and Jude's stories evolved.
This is the first of Leah Mercers books that I have read and I look forward to reading her others.
Loved this book!

Enjoyable read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

A truly emotional heart rending story of family drama’s and above all love.the main characters Jude, Ella, Carolyn and Bertie were really well described and I felt as if I knew them all, along with their little foibles. I thought that the dual aspect of the story telling Jude’s side as she grew up and Ella’s from when her mother left her. The duality merged nicely into one by the end. It could be said to be a little trite at the end by some but I felt that it brought closure in a beautiful tear jerking way.
Great read and should be tops on the summer reading list of many as it is a nice heart warming story.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Ten Little Words’ by Leah Mercer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thirty years ago Jude walked into the sea at Hastings and was presumed drowned although her body was never found, leaving behind five-year-old Ella to be taken care of by her sister Carolyn. Ella comes across a small boxed advert in The Post which reads “I am always with you. I will always be here” but has no contact details. It unsettles her as she’s never known whether her mother is alive or dead and she decides it’s time to find out the truth.

The story of ‘Ten Little Words’ is told through two perspectives, Jude who in 1980 is an aspiring singer and longs to go to London, and her daughter Ella who’s never given up the hope that her mother’s still alive. It’s an enjoyable book with pleasing characters and an interesting plot and although the ending is a bit predictable it hasn’t detracted from my enjoyment of the book, the ending of which has left me feeling happy with the outcome.

Ella had believed her mother Jude was dead. But hen ahe read a newspaper advertisement saying the same ten words her mother used to say to her, she wonders if her mother is still alive. Her aunt gives her a box of belongings and a man that holds the key to the answers Ella is searching for.

For reasons I couldn't quite put my finger on, I couldn't take to Ella. She was just five when her mother walked out on her. Ella has shut most of the people out of her life. The story moves at a slow pace. The story is told from Ella and Jude's point of view. It's emotional and angsty. It's a bit predictable in places but overall it's an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Group Uk and the author Leah Mercer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What happened when Ella was five? Did her mother Jude really die or did she just disappear? Told in dual time line- Jude's story in the 1980s and Ella's as an adult questioning all she's known- it's a story about a woman coming to terms with her life. Ella's never connected with anyone, not with her aunt, not with her colleagues, not with a man. Is this because her mother left her (however it happened)? That's the constant refrain in her head. The publication of an ad in a local paper with the words her mother always said to her sets her off on a quest. Jude, on the other hand, heads down a rabbit hole of sorts. There aren't many surprises here (I guessed what happened and why) but it's a well done character driven read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

There were so many things I liked about this book, but it still didn’t Wow me. I liked the characters, but I think the pace got me down, it just moved so slow, without much happening. I just wanted to tell everyone, “come on, time to move this along”.
I think my sympathies went out to Carolyn, Jude’s sister and Ella’s aunt. This poor woman just tried to take care of Jude, after their parents died, but Jude was just self centered and horrible to the one person left in her life. When Jude runs off and disappears, leaving 5 year old Ella with only Carolyn to care for her, history repeats itself. Ella walls herself off and denies Carolyn the love the child she has never been able to have herself, rejecting her and her husband Rob, as she mourns the mother she lost.
Ella is a broken child, unable to make friends or connect with anyone. Having been told her father died early on, and she is unable to bond with anyone.
This is a story of profound sadness, loss, disappointment and estrangement. There is barely a feel good moment until Ella meets Bernie, her mother’s one time fiancé, who she also abandoned and his caring neighbor Angus. Bernie has never been able to get over losing Jude, as the letters that Ella found reveal.
It’s hard to imagine that anything could have been resolved in this sad tale, but Leah Mercer manages to pull it all together into a neat little ending. As in her other books, that I have also read, her character development is well done, however complicated. Her descriptions of the England seaside was lovely as well.
This is a good vacation read and I thank #Amazon and #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own. I enjoyed the journey.

Although this was a bit slow going I appreciate the storyline and pleased with the way it ended. The story builds through Ella, in current time, and Jade, from about twenty until Ella’s birth. One event in Jade’s life changed her course forever, causing her to make tough decisions she thought were good for her daughter. I mentioned the book moving slowly but at about 80% I couldn’t put it down, we were finally getting answers and emotions. Ella has been like a robot moving through the motions of life until she spots something in the classifieds that makes her question everything. I’ve read Mercer’s books before and enjoyed them, even if this was not a favorite I will continue to read her works. My copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley, review offered voluntarily.

CAn ten words bring Ella to live again? Since her mother left when she was five years old, Ella is been hiding from the world, not really living, not loving even drifting away from her aunt. But when she sees an ad in The Post with the ten word her mother always said to her she stars wondering if she is really dead or if her mother will be alive. Ella will star a journey to find her while finding herself in the process. A wonderful story about love, family, forgiviness and so much more.

‘I am always with you. I will always be here.’ The promise Jude Morgan repeated to her five-year-old daughter, Ella, before disappearing, leaving Ella to be brought up by her Aunt Carolyn. Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer is a family drama with a mystery at its centre, although it’s fair to say I guessed the ending quite early on. This didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel, although at times I found Ella’s impulsive actions puzzling, as at the beginning of the novel she is portrayed as a loner, content with her own company. This is a gentle read, following characters filled with pain who must reach out to find happiness.

Too much word to describe this finest and brilliantly written story. I must say, the author did her really best to execute a wonderful plot like this. Worth of everyone’s time, nothing to waste upon reading each chapter.

I loved this novel, the characters were charming and a fantastic plot. A easy read to relax to. I will definitely be recommending this author to others.

Never have ten little words ever held such powerful meaning, at least not for the characters in this heartbreaking drama.
I am always with you. I will always be here. Those are the words that little Ella’s mum Jude used to whisper to her before deciding to abandon her daughter and drown herself at sea. Such a desperate act has defined Ella’s life so that growing up into adulthood those words are a constant refrain, an echo of a past she cannot leave behind.
Shunning family life with aunt Carolyn, relationships and friendships, Ella prefers to live a self contained life, with just her cat Dolby for company, yet she has remained in Hastings, the seaside town which is where it all began. For Ella has never come to terms with her mother’s death, instead believing somehow, someday Jude will return. When Ella reads a classified ad in a newspaper containing those same ten words she instantly believes this has to be a sign, a slim possibility that her mother is still alive. With the mystery gathering momentum, reading through a box of unopened letters addressed to Jude is what propels Ella on a journey towards the truth surrounding this tragedy. Taking herself out of her comfort zone and away from her job at the Musical museum, Ella travels to Edinburgh where Bertie, Jude’s one true love, lives, determined that this is the starting point for her long held questions to finally be answered.

It’s Ella’s search for her mother that provides the main focus for this novel with a timeline alternating between the present and Jude’s past. I couldn’t understand why Ella harbours such resentment towards her aunt Carolyn but having been abandoned at such a young age I suppose it’s inevitable Ella would have issues with allowing herself to be truly loved. Unfortunately she does come across as terribly self pitying so rather than feel sympathy for her I mostly felt exasperation. She’s a character completely in denial, pretending that she’s fine living in a shell but being in a situation whereby you’re unsure if your mother definitely drowned or deliberately walked away to begin a new life somewhere else can’t be easy. I’m not sure which of these scenarios is worse, hence why up to a point I felt Ella had every right to feel such hurt and anger. Except I felt her anger was misdirected so letting these feelings fester for thirty years means she’s missed out on so much potential happiness. I couldn’t help but feel sad for a character so terrified to move on from her past yet her self pitying became too repetitive for my liking. Thats not to say I didn’t feel incredible anger towards Jude for abandoning people who clearly loved her and can’t imagining committing such a selfish act.

I much preferred reading about Jude’s past life if I’m honest. Her ambition to become a recognised successful singer in London rather than confining herself to singing in the pubs of Hastings showed a driven character with more spirit than Ella seemed to possess. Her chance meeting along the promenade with Bertie and brother Frank ultimately leads her life in another direction, seizing an opportunity to settle into a life in Edinburgh with her adoring man. These two are like chalk and cheese and whilst opposites attract I had no doubt their own love story was doomed from the beginning. Bertie is such a true gent and probably my favourite character and I loved the musical aspect to this storyline.

There’s plenty of emotion is this drama to potentially tug at the heartstrings yet I thought it tended towards the melodramatic and left me dry eyed rather than reaching for the tissues. I wanted to be moved to tears by this story but for reasons I can’t pinpoint that didn’t happen. Tackling such serious topics as suicide, abandonment and Alzheimer’s should provide plenty of reasons to make the reader a blubbering mess because there’s no doubt the storyline is overwhelmingly sad. I thought the ending suffered from being too transparent and predictable. Uncovering secrets and lies that have multiplied over thirty years revealed a tragic waste of at least four lives which could have so easily been avoided.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and although I wasn’t bowled over, neither did I completely dislike it. All in all Ten Little Words was likeable enough. It just didn’t set my world alight but of course you may beg to differ. My actual rating is 3.5 stars!!!!!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC.

This book showed great representation of identity and loss. I would recommend even though at times I got a little confused with the plot

This is a really good read. Sad in places and happy in others it tells the story of Jude and Ella. It is beautifully told and a pleasure to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

“I am always with you. I will always be here.” Those are the 10 little words that Ella’s mom would always tell her until the day she walked in to the sea, never to be heard from again.

This book was told by 2 POVs and 2 different timelines. Ella, current day, and Jude, her mother, in the 1980s. Over all, I enjoyed this book, although I knew how it was going to end within the first half of the book, but I liked the ride it took me on to get there.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for early review.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to others. Even though some parts of the book were predictable I still went through the roller coaster ride. Throughout reading it I had questions of my own. I liked the back and fourth time line between the two characters. Thank you for letting me read your book.

When starting this book, I was a little skeptical. The main character seemed lost, drab, and boring. I was hopeful the pace and character would develop and pick up. I was not disappointed. While the book was predictable, it was well written with great little quotes by characters throughout. While the main character changed and developed over time, it was really the secondary characters that shone through in this book. I've never read this author before, but will be looking at more of her books.

I found this book got better as it went on. The first 80 pages o found quite slow. Not to say I didn't enjoy them but there wasn't very much happening. I suppose you could call it a slow burner. I loved the character Bertie. He was just lovely. The story was good and came together in the end. Thank you to netgalley and the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion

“I am always with you. I will always be here.” Those are the 10 little words that Ella’s mom would always tell her until the day she walked in to the sea, never to be heard from again.

This book was told from two points of view and two different timelines. Ella, current day, and Jude, her mother, in the 1980s. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While it was pretty predictable in my opinion, I really appreciated the character growth throughout the book. I also really liked Mercer’s writing style so I’ll be on the look out for other books by this author. Thank you Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Emotional and heart wrenching this story will stick with you long after you're done. Will make you sniffle at times. It will make you gasp and it was so hard to put down because even when I wasn't reading I was thinking about what was going on. A must read. Happy reading!

The story begins with Ella's mother's disappearance. She is later presumed dead, after promising in 10 words, that she will never leave Ella. Ella moves to London and is raised by her Aunt Carolyn. The move to London and her love of music help Mia deal with her anger and resentment that she feels towards her mother. She discovered something in the newspaper that will shock her. Those same 10 words, that her mother left her, appear in the newspaper, making Ella relive her mother's death. Is her mother really dead or did she fake her death?

I enjoyed how thd story shifts between Ella and her mother, Jude. You get insight into Jude's younger years leading up to her disappearance. There are so many twists and surprises in this book that I really enjoyed. I found myself emphasizing/siding with Ella rather than Jude. Ten Little Words is well written. Definitely filed with emotions and a real page turner. I definitely recommend.

I would like to thank Leah Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I don't know if I wasn't in the mood to read this but I didn't like it very much. I ended up skimming most of it and am not sad about missing much. I feel for Ella and recognize that she had some trauma but I didn't like her at all as a character. She was too depressing and wallowed in grief.

I didn't like the ending and feel it ended really abruptly. Carolyn and Ella both accepted Jude's explanation very quickly and I didn't feel like her explanation was acceptable.

Many readers on GoodReads loved this book but I just couldn't get into it.

It was very hard to get through this book because I could not really get into it. I felt like I knew what was coming from the very beginning, and while I normally find this happening a lot, I did not enjoy it this time around. Even so, this book is very well written, and I believe that other people may enjoy it.

While I love the cover and the premise of this book was looking so interesting, I had a very hard time to get into the story from the beginning to the end.
I’m sure many people will enjoy it but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.


Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy

Ella decided a long time ago, that she would keep herself protected from life and unexpected situations after her mother's unforgettable betrayal. Ten words her mother had been saying very often,were the symbol of their unbreakable attachment. Until that day, 30 years ago.
Then one day in the present, is with unbelievable apprehension that she reads these ten words in the paper and her world starts to spin uncontrollably.

The premise of the book was a real challenge. How would the author work through the pages without falling in the usual cliches? How would she keep the readers turning the pages without giving up too much or too little?
Well, I have to say that the outcome is satisfactory. The pace is good and the characters are strongly developed. I would have liked a more detailed epilogue, but that's a personal opinion. I liked what I read and I might admit there were some tears involved.
It was not my first book from this author. I think she keeps improving and would love to read more from her in the near future.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jude’s Mom is presumed dead at the age of 5. She always repeated 10 reassuring words to Jude and then didn’t fulfill the promise to always be there for her daughter. Ella, Jude’s mother, is presumed dead at sea leaving her little girl behind to be raised by her sister. Honestly, the story was boring and predictable. I could see the ending coming from a mile away. I also didn’t really like the lead characters who were shallow and selfish. Thanks to Netgalley but simply not that great.

I was given this ARC by netgalley and publisher for honest review and opinion
Interesting story about a girl whose mom has left her by drowning herself
Than she finds a quote in a newspaper with the same saying her mom used all the time
She becomes to want to know is her mom still alive? Only way to find out is to get out of the walls she has built around herself and embrace others.

EXCERPT: I aimlessly flipped through the pages, running my eyes over articles on the latest summer trends and celeb weddings. Reading this newspaper made me feel like an alien from another planet. Who were these people, and why would I care? I was just about to fold it up and push it away from me when a tiny box advert in the classifieds caught my eye. The text leaped out at me, each word hammering my eyes.

I am always with you.
I will always be here.

My heart pounded and everything inside me went cold. The words echoed in my mind, growing larger and larger until they pressed on my skull. Images of my mother holding me close each night as she whispered those same ten words clawed and scratched at my soul, demanding entry, and I shoved the paper away from me.

I sat frozen for a minute, forcing air in and out of my lungs as I batted away those memories. Then I let out a little laugh. God, how silly was I? It was just ten words.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: I am always with you. I will always be here.

This was the promise Ella’s mother betrayed thirty years ago when she walked into the sea, leaving her five-year-old daughter alone in the world. Ella’s been angry ever since, building up a wall to protect herself. But that all changes the day she opens a newspaper and finds those ten little words printed in a classified ad.

Ella refuses to believe her mother could still be alive—that would mean she did want to live, just not with her daughter. So she throws herself into finding out exactly what happened all those years ago, determined to extinguish even the tiniest flame of hope—for Ella, hope is torture.

But rather than settling things once and for all, what Ella discovers shatters her world. As she pieces together the truth behind her mother’s disappearance, she learns that the words are not what she thought.

Now she knows the truth. Is it possible that Ella can allow herself to love—and be loved—once again?

MY THOUGHTS: In Ten Little Words author Leah Mercer addresses the issue of abandonment and it's psychological effects on those left behind.

Ella's mother Jude, suffering from a severe depression following a traumatic event, walks into the ocean when Ella is five and is never seen again.

Told over two timelines from the perspectives of Ella in the present and Jude in the early 1980s, we discover what led Jude to abandon her small daughter to the care of her childless older sister and her husband, and the effects of that abandonment on Ella's life.

Ten Little Words is a story that grew on me as I read. It's a quick and easy read, with a little mystery and romance and, although it is a tad predictable in places and everything is tied up rather neatly at the end, it is a satisfying and enjoyable read.

😊😊😊.7

#TenLittleWords #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Leah can't remember a time when she didn't love writing. From creating fake newspapers to writing letters to the editor, scribbling something was always on the agenda. Even the rejections she received after completing her first novel at age 13 didn't dent her enthusiasm.

So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals -- even a stint painting houses -- until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page.

When she's not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plot-lines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook.

Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I'm going to rate this one a 3.5 out of 5.
This story is well-written (employing a monologue style of writing), has an interesting, eye-catching premise, and is told from multiple points of view, which I like.
It started off well, but I found that there was a lot of repetition of internal thoughts and a reliance on many of the standard story-telling tropes - so the characters didn't seem fully fleshed out and real to me. After a while, those ten little words got a bit grating. The reason that Jude left, and then stayed away for so long, seemed a bit shaky. She needed help. She loved her daughter, but couldn't stay and rationalized her decision to disappear for good.
I love a good HEA, but I'm getting a bit tired of the "find a love interest and that will solve all your problems" solution. Alas, love does not conquer all - but it IS helpful to have the support of family, friends, and/or a partner during difficult times. I prefer novels where the protagonists admit that they have a lot of work ahead of them to reach self-acceptance and peace after a serious, traumatic or life altering illness/experience/event. And we all know that mental illness does not magically disappear because a man or a woman enters your life and gives you unconditional love, etc. I prefer a more realistic approach to problem solving, and I don't need my endings wrapped up in cotton wool or sugar coated.
A good light read for these COVID Times, as I have come to call this period of history.

Ten Little Words is a slow-moving story that details Ella's journey losing her mom and trying to find herself in the process. As a young girl Ella's mother whispered ten little words to her every night until one morning Jude, Ella's mother, seemingly walked into the ocean and drowned. Never getting passed her mother choosing to leave her, Ella struggled to bond with her mother's sister-Aunt Carolyn. Aunt Carolyn and her husband took in Ella and treated her as their own but Ella was unable to reciprocate.

Years later Ella sees the ten little words in an advertisement in a newspaper on her mother's birthday. From there the story, told in dual timelines and perspectives, takes off as Ella searches for her mother's past and possibly future. The first half is slower, without much action and dialogue however Jude's chapters move more quickly. It felt repetitious at times even though the premise and unfolding events are interesting enough that the repetition is more superfluous than literary tool. The second half of the story that really dives in to Jude's past with Bertie, returning home to Hastings and Ella's journey is the best part of the book.

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Leah Mercer’s words captivated me from the very first page! It was a gut-wrenchingly, slow, mysterious burn, that will drive you crazy with anticipation and will literally blow your mind with its startling revelations.

Ten Little Words was an emotional roller coaster that had me feeling broken, angry, sad, and torn at the dark undertones of rape, suicide, abuse, and male supremacy. Leah Mercer is a brilliant writer whose raw words elicited every single emotion I possess and by the end, I couldn’t help but close the book smiling with my heart nearly bursting. I felt hopeful and inspired by the power of reinvention and forgiveness.

Ten little words is told from the two perspectives, a mother (Jude) so broken by her horrific past that her light started flickering away, day after day, until eventually she was consumed by the darkness of her memories and a daughter (Ella) so broken by her mother’s betrayal and abandonment that she shuts herself off from emotions and distances herself from any social interactions. Jude is so tainted and mentally ruined that she could not even bear the sight of her shining hope- her daughter Ella. She often wondered, "How could you love your daughter but not want to be her mother?”

The simultaneous inner monologuing was extremely clever as it highlighted the harsh decisions of parenthood and how those decisions can scar children, who then grow into emotionally stunted adults. As we chase the ghost of Jude’s past, we see her decisions in a whole new light as the missing pieces finally start slipping into place. As Ella’s walls start crumbling, can she let go of all the hurt, anger in the face of the truth? Can she lower her well-built defenses and let in people who love her instead of pushing them away?

My favorite lines were:
“The Past wasn’t behind us, and it could never be laid to rest. The past was within us.”
“Gradually, I was learning. Every day, I was becoming more fluent in the language of life.”

Ten little words, teaches us many life lessons and highlights how one decision can impact multiple lives. It teaches us not to be afraid of the hard conversations in life and the importance of communication in a relationship. It provides a harsh lesson on the value of appreciating and loving the family you have instead of the one you lost or wished for. Most importantly, you must fight for the life you want to live.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Leah Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.

Not much I enjoyed about this book. While U see lots of others really enjoyed it, I found the characters shallow and self absorbed. The writing wasn't bad, but it took the long way around to get to the point and was really slow in spots, and I just kept rolling my eyes and thinking "move on already!" . I knew how it would turn out really early in the book. I was sad I didn't like it more.
Trying to rate this one was a struggle. Ended up 3 1/2 stars, 3 since we cant do half stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is outside of my usual reads but I liked the pretty cover. I enjoyed the story and the uncovering of the mystery. I felt something for each of the characters (not always nice emotions if they annoyed or frustrated me with their behaviour) which is a mark of a good book, in my opinion. Recommended.

I was struggling with this book from the get go, but I kept trying so hard to push through. I really don't like not finishing an ARC, but I was just getting more upset and frustrated, so I finally did my mental health a favor and stopped.

Quick break down of the story is that 5 year old Ella's Mother, Jude, used to say ten words to her, "I am always with you. I will always be here." Then one night she waked into the sea, never to be seen again, assumed to have committed suicide.

She was taken in by her very caring Aunt Carolyn who did everything she could to raise Ella in a warm, loving, nurturing home. Yet, Ella was only growing more angry and distant because her mom left her when she said she'd always be there. Fast forward 30 years, when Ella is 35, she sees an advert in a paper with those ten little words and it spurs her to ask her Aunt Carolyn questions that she'd never wanted answers to, and she finally took a box of her mom's belongings that Carolyn had, but Ella never wanted.

The story is told from both perspectives: Ella's in the present and Jude's in the past. I had to stop on Chapter 8 because I just could not handle reading Ella's perspective anymore. She is 35 years old and all she does is work, while talking as little as possible to any of her coworkers and never partaking in any events with them, then she goes straight home to her tiny bare apartment with her cat. Her Aunt tries to check on her and have her over, but Ella pretty much wants nothing to do with her. She has no real life, no friends, no happiness. She's full of resentment and has let it take over her entire life.

I'm just gonna put this right out there. For me, she is the most unlikable, whining, ungrateful character I think I've ever read about, and I'm supposed to be feeling sympathy for her, but I just can't. I know what happened when she was 5 was traumatic, but she's 35 years old now. She wasn't tossed around in the foster system. She raised by a loving aunt. So many people have it so much worse in life, but they do something about it. She has made the choice to live the life she's living.

Therapy wasn't mentioned in the chapters I read, but I I do hope it was mentioned at some point in the story. If not, it's a shame. A perfect opportunity to talk about the benefits of therapy and help end the stigma. Therapy to learn how to come to terms, how to grieve, cope, reach acceptance. How to love, live, and move on.

I'm not saying the tragedy was something to sneeze at. My maternal grandfather committed suicide when my mother was 12, leaving her to care for her older and younger brother while.my grandma worked 2 jobs. My own "step" children (in quotes because I don't see them as anything but my other kids) had their own horrific experience of losing a parent this way and at a much more difficult stage of their life than age 5. It is a horrible thing for anyone to go through, whether their parent committed suicide or abandoned them. But when you're an adult and still blaming what happened to you as a child as the cause of all that's wrong in your life, no, I can't connect or sympathize. As C.S. Lewis said, " You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

As I appear to be in the minority on my thoughts on this book, it's probably worth the read if you like stories about flawed characters making poor choices, and their consequences. Many people felt a connection to, and loads of sympathy for Ella, so I'm sure it's just about perspectives and life experience.

Happy reading!

Content Warning: Rape

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing, UK for the e-ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts. to share my thoughts.

4.5★s
“I couldn’t say I was happy, but then, I didn’t want to be happy. Being happy meant you had something to lose, and I wasn’t about to risk that.”

Ten Little Words is the fourth novel by Canadian-born British author, Leah Mercer. For years after her mother disappeared, Ella Morgan hoped and believed that she would return. No body had been found. Why now, after she’d finally accepted that Jude Morgan had abandoned her five-year-old daughter by walking into the sea, had that haunting ad appeared? “I am always with you. I will always be here” was what her mother had told her every night, and there it was, in the classifieds of The Post, on her mother’s birthday.

The music and the songs had always been inside her, and in the early eighties, all Jude Morgan wanted to do was to go to London and sing: that was where she’d get her big break. For now, busking on the promenade at Hastings could earn her some pennies towards it, at least. But then she met Bertie McAllister, and the dream could be postponed for a while: never forgotten, but being with Bertie seemed more important.

Ella’s hard-won equilibrium, achieved through eschewing connection with others, keeping her heart safe, was now deranged; the nightmare was back and she was making mistakes at work. Perhaps it was time to relent, to talk to her Aunt Carolyn about what had happened with her mother. Perhaps the promised heart pendant was with her mother’s things... The letters were a mystery: a shoebox of unopened letters from someone called Bertie.

Eventually, Ella is convinced to take steps to find Jude: she’d had so many questions, but now “I stared out to sea again, feeling more alive than I had for years. My walls were down. My heart was open – at last. But … I wasn’t full of love. I was full of fury, and I was ready to attack. God, it felt good.” What would she find, if anything?

Mercer gives the reader a touching tale of a family deeply hurt and still mystified by a thirty-year-old tragedy, then laces it with intrigue, hope and a touch of romance. There are twists and distractions to keep the reader guessing; lies and threats to stir the emotions; and heart-breaking moments and misunderstandings to bring a lump to the throat. Mercer easily captures the era and setting in this moving and enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing and Leah Mercer for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I'm a sucker for a dual time line book, especially when told from the POV of different characters. I absolutely loved this family drama, filled with engaging, relatable characters that I found myself genuinely caring about..

Ten Little Words tells the story of Ella, now 35 and orphaned, and her mother, Jude. I like the way the story is told, going back and forth between Ella's story in the present and Jude's, in the past. It's a real page turner.
The end is a bit contrived, but it doesn't make the story any less enjoyable.
I look forward to more books by this author.

With thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

this is the saddest book on the planet. i cried and cried and i don't want to cry no more. please make it stop. if you want to crya nd love readin g about dead parents, then this is the book for you.

This book follows the journey of Ella, after her mum disappeared when she was just 5 years old she’s bought up by her Aunt Carolyn. For years though she clung to the hope that her mum would return - despite her clothes being left on the beach and people seeing her walk into the sea. Her body was never found, and neither was the heart pendant that she’d always promised to Ella.

When one day ten little words appear in a national paper, ten little words that Ella’s mum always use to say, this hope is reignited. Is Ella’s mum actually still alive? Did she just leave her daughter and then not return? Or did she walk into the sea and leave her? Either way we see Ella struggle with her emotions, hope, anger and confusion rank highly!

I found this to be a slow burner initially and I was a bit confused at what was happening, but about a third of the way in the story seems to take off. The storyline was a bit predictable but this didn’t change its charm at all and you’re still unsure what the ending is going to be throughout.

My emotions were definitely on high alert as well and the tissues were almost needed at the end of the book.

In the end I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to others. It reminded me of Cecelia Ahern and JoJo Moyes books.

I really enjoyed this book, the story drew you in and as it played out you felt more and more involved in the story. Both tragic and uplifting, this was a lovely book which I would recommend.

“I am always with you. I will always be here”. These are the words that Ella’s mother, Jude spoke to her every night before she went to sleep. But when Ella was four her mother committed suicide and ever since she has drawn into herself and will not commit to anyone, even the Aunt that brought her up.

One day Ella sees these 10 words printed in a newspaper. But if it is not her mother who placed the ad, who did?
The story is told from both Jude’s and Ella’s perspective. Ms Mercer writes eloquently about Jude’s early life and I could see the colour of love that surrounded her. Ella is a complex character and I could feel all of her loneliness and anguish at having been abandoned by her mother as a child.

I loved Bertie. To me, he was the real hero.. A true gentleman who lifted the tone of this novel.

I received a copy of Ten Little Words from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ten Little Words was a whirlwind of emotions. Ella was just five years old when her mother disappeared and was declared dead. She grew up holding on to the ten words her mother would repeat each night. I am always with you. I will always be here. Now, she's 35 and believes her past is behind her until she sees an advertisement in the newspaper that states those same ten words. She breaks out of her comfort zone to find out what they mean.

The book was so well written. The character development was on point and made you feel as if you knew the characters. My heart ached for Ella, Bertie, and Jude. The story is told in alternating time lines but never seemed confusing. It was a little predictable in a few places but that didn't distract from the story. I would definitely pick up another book from Leah Mercer.

Using different voices, this book flips backwards and forwards in time to tell the story of unrequited love. It gives the reasons why, when she was so in love with the man she was soon to marry, Jude disappeared, leaving a young child in the care of her older sister. Ella has spent lots of years trying to come to terms with her mother’s disappearance but after reading an advert in the newspaper on her mother’s birthday, begins to research her disappearance. This leads to a voyage of discovery of the truth and her own feelings towards others, which will give piece together all the loose ends which have never been properly explained. By the end of the book, all the characters are free from all their previous misconceptions and we are left with a happy feeling.

Wanted so badly to like this book -- the premise of the words that reverberate through a lifetime grabbed me by the throat. However. The story itself failed to grab me. The situations, the characters, the settings, all was overwrought and clunky. Yes, it was sad, but I knew what was coming long before it arrived. Yes, there was serious merit in some of the critical issues that the author went directly into, such as mothers abandoning their children and how those children make their way in the world. However, it was too much, too overloaded, and just plain unreadable for me.

Mercer gives the reader a touching tale of a family deeply hurt and still mystified by a thirty-year-old tragedy, then laces it with intrigue, hope and a touch of romance. There are twists and distractions to keep the reader guessing; lies and threats to stir the emotions; and heart-breaking moments and misunderstandings to bring a lump to the throat. Mercer easily captures the era and setting in this moving and enjoyable read.

Wow, this was an impactful read exploring difficult topics. I thought it would be a light, frothy read but it was very heavy and dark.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The premise to this story features Jude (mid 20’s and mother to 5 year old Ella) walking into the sea following a period of hopelessness and depression. A flashback gives clues as to the circumstances that has led up to this significant moment. Nothing further is divulged until you progress through the book in a kind of dance between Jude, and Ella (aptly named due to her mother’s love for the singer Ella Fitzgerald and wish to emulate her professionally). 3 decades ago Jude was feared dead following a bag of her personal items being discovered on the beach near to where she had last been sighted approaching the water. Carolyn (Jude’s sister) took on the role of mum to Ella in addition to maternal aunt and it was one in which she cherished, albeit her surrogate daughter stubbornly refusing to give up on the woman who gave birth to her. 30 years later however, and Ella has resigned herself to the ‘fact’ of her mother’s suicide and that she would not be coming back for her. And that’s where she wishes to leave it...

Yet ‘I am always with you, I will always be here’

...10 little words that just won’t go away

This story was really rather touching and heartwarming along with some tragic experiences. It wasn’t challenging at all to try and keep up with who was who, and the characters were very well written. Although a little predictable there was a twist at the end that did have me sitting up straight in a ‘well I didn’t expect that’ moment in addition to it being a highly emotive one. The tears will fall out of your eyes, I confidently predict

Ella sees an advertisement in the newspaper that was anonymous, just repeating the ten words her mother always told her. After her mother’s disappearance which was assumed to be suicide, it took years for Ella to believe her mother was dead. She closed herself off emotionally from everyone, including her aunt and uncle who raised her. But now, was her mother alive? Discovering some old letters written to her mother, Ella starts on a quest to find the truth. I really enjoyed the book, especially the descriptions of the relationships between the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Leah Mercer for my copy of Ten Little Words, for an honest review.
The story tells about Jude and Ella ( mother & daughter) from each woman’s perspective. We see Jude struggling with depression during one of the happiest times of her life. Then we meet Jude, who lives with her aunt & uncle and has for years. Her mother is gone and she doesn’t feel a connection to her aunt and uncle. This is a deep story. It even kept me guessing the whole time. Difficult topics written beautifully. I loved hearing Jude and Ella’s versions of their lives, during different times.. present day and during the 1980’s. See my review on Goodreads
The words:
I am always with you
I will always be here
Are said and heard throughout the story and I love how it tied things together.
This was a 4 star read for me and I have recommended it to friends and family.
I really enjoyed this book.

What a read this was!
I sort of had an idea what had happened from the start but I think that was Leah Mercer’s intention.
Difficult topics throughout but definitely a book that you want to finish to know the outcome of the lives that were destroyed years and years ago.

"Because love can't be buried under the weight of time. It's not something you can forget, or that you can root out. No matter what, it's there, just waiting until the ground has thawed and it can bloom again."

Thirty years ago Jude Morgan disappears and is presumed dead. She leaves behind a five year old daughter Ella, who is raised by her Aunt Carolyn and her husband Rob. This story is told in different timelines by Jude from the 1980’s and by Ella in the present day. Ten little words refers to two phrases her mother always said to Ella which remain of utmost importance to her.

I am always with you.
I will always be here.

Ella remembers how her mom used to make her feel safe, so Ella creates a life for herself where she holds a steady job, lives in loft and her only companion is her cat. She has closed off herself to building relationships, even with her aunt and uncle that love her.

I enjoyed how the story played out, the character development and progression throughout the story. Needless to say, everything was wrapped up in a perfect bow and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

While this book definitely went to some dark places, it ultimately felt full of light and hope. A little cutesy at times, it really draws you in to the story of this broken family and how assumptions and the inability to cope with trauma spread so quickly.

Such a relaxing lovely read. Just enough to keep me interested. The characters were so likeable and relatable it was easy to become drawn into their lives! Perfect summer read!

I have enjoyed all of Leah Mercer's books, even though they are heavier than the ones she writes as Talli Roland. So I was eagerly awaiting the chance to read Ten Little Words, and it did not disappoint!

I read this novel in two days. It was an enjoyable story, even given the circumstances. It moved at a good pace which kept me turning the pages. I like how it went back and forth between the past and the present. Both Jude and Ella's perspectives were interesting and they were sympathetic characters. I cared about both of them a lot. I was definitely eager to see what would happen and liked seeing how the story unfolded as more information came to light.

Fun side note: Jude and I share a birthday!

If you haven't read Leah Mercer's novels, definitely give them a try.

Movie casting suggestions:
Ella: Emma Watson
Jude (1980s): Ellie Darcey-Alden
Caroline: Caroline Quentin
Angus: Peter Gadiot
Bertie (1980s): William Moseley

This was an interesting story. The plot is good and explores the psychological effects of abandonment. I liked the writing style and was kept engaged throughout.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

There were so many intriguing twists, not only in the plot, but also in the telling of the story. I love the fact that we get more than Ella's point of view, which allows us a greater glimpse of the motives and intentions of the characters.

It's difficult to say more without giving away spoilers. Thirty years is a long time, but in some ways, when there's love, it's no time at all.

A beautiful story which dealt with the issues of abandonment and its repercussions.
Written in dual timelines, the story captured by heart with its vivid portrayal of life's circumstances. This was a new author for me, and I would love to read all her other books.
Overall, a beautiful read

Heartfelt about a tough topic, Leah Mercer brings the character of Ella through the emotional struggle of attempting to understand why her mother would leave her by walking into the sea.
As she navigates her life, one day she discovers a phrase her mother often used that's been printed in the paper.
Now, she must decide if the answers she's told herself she's wanted all these years are what will really fix her wounded heart and help her heal the relationships she's rejected with anyone all this time.
The book had some tough moments for the character as she was hard to like at times, but a classic example of someone who's so deeply wounded, they don't realize how much they hurt those who want to help them.

*I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

Wow, what a book, This book was such an emotional one for me, I thought I was going to hate Jude for leaving her daughter and not being woman enough to handle her responsibilities, but then I got to understand her more, and even though it was wrong how she went about everything and even wanting to commit suicide to end this misery that even I didn’t know? The way the story was told, the fact that the narration was split between mother and daughter, and then how Carolyn being Jude’s older sister did everything in her power to protect them made me cry like a baby.

So, Ella, lost her mother 30 years ago, Jude committed suicide and left her daughter and older sister behind. Jude was a free spirit, she was an aspiring singer with dreams bigger than herself, and even though she lived in this fantasy world where she met her dream man who loved and supported her and even had a sister that was supportive of her dreams as well, Jude had it MADE! But then Jude was also very naïve, and because of that years later she ended up pregnant, alone and miserable, and that was the saddest part for me. Bertie was her dream man, even though he was a lot older, and wanted to settle down, he was always so supportive of her, but someone closest to him did something so bad and Jude wasn’t herself anymore.

Ella is such a complex character, because she is so hard to love and even when towards the end she learns to let go and live her life, it was still so hard for me to love her. So on her mothers birthday, Ella was reading this free newspaper, and then those ten little words that her mother always told her was placed on it. This threw her off, aside from her being so damn weird and such a loner, this threw her off. She has this crazy feeling and she has been having it for some time that her mother is alive even though everyone says that she’s not. Then she finally askes her aunt Carolyn that she wants to talk about her mother, which is crazy because before she never even wanted to talk about her mother. In everything that her aunt has given her there were letters between a man named Bertie and her mother Jude. There is this mystery man that feels just like her and she needs to go see him. And she does and she finds out things that made her question damn near everything.

She goes and tried to find her mother after Bertie told her that he has seen her in London, she goes to London, and this spiraled out, and I cant even say because it was just so damn beautiful, I didn’t think I would really like this book, but I can honestly say I am in love with this book, this author did something that its hard to do and that is creating the image of a character that we will all really dislike and then out of nowhere, POW, we love them and we forgive them the way the characters have as well. Amazing.

Thank you Netgalley, Leah Mercer for such a sweet read and her publisher Lake Union Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Having lost my mother as a child, I was instantly drawn to the premise of a woman who is still feeling the absence of her mother as an adult. I was intrigued to find out the events surrounding Jules’ disappearance, who left her five- year- old sleeping at home to walk into the ocean and never be seen again. I thought this would be the perfect book to elicit an emotional response from me.

Surprisingly, though, I felt very little as I turned the pages, trying to bond with a cold and stand-offish Ella as she vacillates between wanting to find out things about her mother, then in the same instant hating her and vowing never to let her disappearance affect her life again. Even though I understood her trauma on a deeply personal level, I found it difficult to get into her head. At 35, it seemed unlikely to me that she had never before questioned her mother’s fate, or tried to find out something about her. Her detachment from friends, colleagues and her loving adoptive parents bordered on a personality disorder, even taking her childhood trauma into consideration. She was full of contradictions, which got the story off to a rocky start for me and never really recovered. Lacking any insight in any of the characters’ motives (including Jules), I soon floundered and found that I wasn’t emotionally engaged at all. With a fairly predictable, clichéd storyline in which I knew the outcome from very early on, I struggled to muster up enough interest to keep reading to the end.

Seeing that 2020 has been a year that has heavily affected my reading enjoyment, perhaps this was a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”, but this was at best an average read for me. However, readers who may not look for the same emotional depth I had hoped to find may disagree and find TEN LITTLE WORDS to be a pleasant, unchallenging weekend or holiday read. That just wasn’t what I had been hoping for.

Such an emotional, poignant story of loss, love, and unanswered questions.
As Ella struggles to understand why her mother took her own life all those years ago, she comes across 'ten little words' printed in a paper that will change her life forever.
Although Ella was not always the most likeable at times, you couldn't help but feel for her regardless. The discoveries she makes about herself and her life along the way really pulled on my heart strings. The topic of this book is a difficult one, but the author tackles the subject perfectly. I would certainly recommend it!.

Anyone who fancies shedding a tear or two would enjoy this book! Mum Jude disappears one day leaving her five year old daughter Ella, who never gets over it. She then becomes a human iceberg, letting no one anywhere near her. A bit of a slow burner as each chapter features the women in turn, They were both selfish and treated Carolyn despicably. The feeling of heartache is strong enough to feel some empathy with the characters but the ending was a little simplistic for me, too cosy to ring true but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I liked seeing Hastings play such a big part in this book too.

What a great read. Really got into this book and loved how the story was told from start to finish. Interesting characters

Enjoyed this one, though having it veer from Ella in Present Day and Jude in the past made it a bit jumbled and I couldn't stay with one character long enough to settle in. The writing was beautiful, though, and it flowed nicely and I really liked the unusual world Ella works in - it was fun to see how a museum and its audio displays and all that come about.

Ella has barriers; ever since her mother walked into the sea and disappeared when she was five years old she has allowed no-one to get close, not her aunt and uncle who brought her up, not her work colleagues, no-one...that is until she sees an advert in a newspaper one day. The advert contains just ten short words - 'I am always with you. I will always be here;' the very words that her mother used to say to her before she disappeared forever.

Ten Little Words is a story with heart, and lots of it. Told through the the dual perspective of Ella, and the historical voice of her mother Jude, we learn of a heartbroken little girl, abandoned suddenly by her mother, the aloof and distant adult she becomes, and the story of Jude and Bertie that resulted in her birth.

Ten Little Words is a lovely story told with warmth and compassion that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book but overall, had a hard time connecting with Ella.

Ella has grown up since the age of five without her mother.

I am always with you. I will always be here.

Those ten little words her mother used to say to her each night before bed.

When they appear in a newspapers classifieds Ella has to wonder what they mean.

This leads her on a journey of discovery not only of herself, but her mother and her past.

Told from the perspective of Ella in the current day and Jude in the past, this is a story of abandonment, secrets and withholding the truth.

A well written novel with family at the centre.

Ten Little Words is a family drama written by Leah Mercer. She does a wonderful job telling the story through two different voices. This is an intriguing novel about the consequences of unhealed trauma. I would recommend it as a quick but engaging read!

The publisher made a copy of this book available for review via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

A very emotional read. I have to say I struggled a little to connect to Ella, but other than that found it a good emotional read.

An interesting book that drew me in from the first pages even though I didn't really like the main character and couldn't relate to her. The plot was good with plenty of twists to keep your interest and it worked well being told by the different characters, a bit dark in places but definitely worth reading

I love the cover of this novel and the inside. "Ten Little Words" is an exciting novel by Leah Mercer. A page turner for sure.

Dual timeline stories being told. Issues of abandonment that tug at the heart,,,, and a phenomenal story by an amazing Canadian Female Author - I want to read all of Leah's books now!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Leah Mercer and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

This is a little bit of a slow burn, but when it picked up it was a really good read. A twisty story that will keep you reading. A good, quick read that will keep you thinking and may leave you in tears.