Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Readers should get ready for a good, ugly cry after reading Hepworth's latest (after The Things We Keep, 2015). Alice's cancer diagnosis sends her into a panic, not because of her uncertain prognosis but because her 15-year-old daughter, Zoe, has a paralyzing social-anxiety disorder that makes her dependent on Alice. With no father in the picture, Zoe will be stranded if Alice isn't there to care for her. Alice can't even bring herself to tell Zoe she's sick. Kate, Alice's nurse, and Sonja, a social worker from the hospital, want to help, but they're keeping secrets of their own, and only when everyone's secrets are revealed will they be able to help one another. Part tearjerker, part celebration of mothers, this story tugs at the heartstrings, guaranteeing that readers will smile through the tears. Narration by all four women contributes to the character development, yet Hepworth keeps up a quick pace that turns the story into a page-turner. All the pieces masterfully come together at the end to create a beautiful novel of courage and love in the face of sorrow.--Babiasz, Tracy Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Single mother Alice Stanhope has always understood the fears of her daughter; when Zoe's schoolmates make fun of her, Alice is there. At 15, Zoe tries to face her social anxiety disorder but crumbles when her best friend asks her to double date and she's unable to face the group at the movie theater. Then, Alice is diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer and realizes she is entirely alone except for her relationship with Zoe. Two strangers, Kate and Sonja, step up and help. Hospital nurse Kate is desperate to have a baby. Social worker Sonja's intervention causes a crisis. Although needy themselves, these two women may be Alice's only answer to protecting Zoe. Hepworth's (The Things We Keep) latest is a difficult novel of women struggling with fear and loss. As Alice battles cancer and struggles with possibly breaking a promise always to be there for her daughter, the various characters also deal with miscarriages and loss, marriage difficulties, rape, spousal abuse, and Crohn's disease. VERDICT This bittersweet, emotionally intense novel is recommended for readers who appreciate issue-driven stories by Jodi -Picoult and Lisa Genova. [See Prepub Alert, 8/22/16.]-Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
