This book ripped me apart and left me in floods of tears. It was so sensitively written, whilst some parts were difficult to read, it is a story of excitement, heartbreak and hope. I adored it.

A truly beautiful book.

Sofie is an actuary, working daily with statistics and facts - she likes logic. When she and husband Rory find themselves unexpectedly with a baby on the way, she isn't sure how to feel. When losing son Leo to stillbirth fractures their life, they have to find their way to a future, whatever that may look like.

Extremely emotive, with so many difficult subject matters covered, but handled tactfully and beautifully. The book is full of characters you can relate to - from those who do not know how to talk to the couple, to those who are always at hand to help. The grief of everyone floods out of the pages, and it was impossible to not cry along with them. The author prefaces the story with her own experience, and it is clear the book has been written from the heart.

Such a difficult subject but sensitively dealt with. Good characters and hope despite the tragic events.

i first read a book of Ali's what seems like so long ago? i'm so glad she is back. and if this book is anything to go by then wow have we been missing a talent.
this book took a little pik-axe chipped away a special shelf for itself in my heart and for the rest of my days there it will sit. there aren't enough words i could give to the impact of this book. it hit hard, it hit soft, it just hit. i also know that my review will not do it justice. i definitely don't have the verbal knowledge or cleverness to do so.
this book really does follow what happens if the worst happens. so often we have sayings or think or are reassured that our worst fears often don't come true, or wont be as bad as we sit there and worry about but for Sofie all the things she worried of and carried with her from past hurts literally went and came through when she loses her child.
we follow Sofie as she gets so ready for her baby. as she gets excited and hopeful. she has a supportive husband who is there for her and has helped her feel safe and reassured in life. shes never liked taking risks before. she doesn't like to feel outside her comfort zone. its not worth it. then she finds herself pregnant.
when they lose their baby boy its devastating. and you FEEL that. you feel it so much. the loss is truly the worst, the loss of a child at any age is truly the worst.
the obvious aftermath of this is hard. harder than hard. and we watch Sofie try to deal with things and for a while she doesn't. often this means her and her husband pushing away rather than together as they both try to deal with what happen, often differently or in their own way.
The story that follows was very sad but also so touching. We see Sofie navigate things that so many women have to deal with after a loss. She lost herself for a while but we saw Sofie find herself again.
there are some supportive characters in this book which are written really well. and i learnt, of which i know already that love and the support you have is key for dealing with life. its the make the difference moment, its the different between getting through, that support, that love to make you feel loved, safe and like you can carry on. we see it in every faucet of life from children to adult, how who and what you have around you makes the difference. it shapes you and then creates shapes to hold you up.
watching and reading Sofie learn now to navigate her grief and try finding herself again felt raw and real and important to read. Ali wrote this book with such rich detail of the loss and also the coming back from that. there is no linear path to these things but this book somehow gives you comfort and hope and a feeling of not being alone.
this book will stay with me. it never felt too much. and when it did teeter on that edge of heartbreaking i felt i needed to do all those parents and people justice who have faced this loss, buckle up and read on. they deserved my time with just a fraction of their pain. i know that pain, its an ache that feels like its shattering your bones in some moments and weighing them rocks the next.
this book was something all together wonderful. i thank Ali for sharing it.

This Wasn’t Meant to Happen is one of those books that reaches in and squeezes your heart from the very first chapter. It’s about Sofie and Rory, a couple facing the unthinkable loss of their baby, and how grief reshapes not just their lives but their love for each other.

Ali Harris writes about loss in such a real, tender way that it never feels forced or overdone. You feel the weight of Sofie’s heartbreak, the silence between her and Rory, the moments when love feels both like an anchor and a wound. It’s devastating, but also strangely comforting, because it shows that while you never truly “get over” something this big, you can find a way through it.

It’s raw, emotional, and incredibly human. I found myself tearing up more than once, but also closing the book with a sense of hope. This story reminds you that even in the darkest moments, love and connection can still shine through.

Definitely keep tissues nearby, but also, don’t be afraid of this one. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also full of compassion, warmth, and the reminder that healing is possible.

This Wasn’t Meant to Happen is a deeply moving and beautifully written book that explores the raw reality of grief after the stillbirth of a child. Sofie Jensen has built her life around logic, control and careful planning, but nothing prepares her for the devastating loss of her baby boy. What follows is a tender and heartbreaking portrayal of love, sorrow and the difficult road towards healing.

Ali Harris writes with quiet strength, capturing the overwhelming pain of grief with honesty and compassion. Sofie’s story feels both intimate and universal, reflecting the disorienting aftermath of loss where nothing seems to make sense. The writing balances heartbreak with moments of hope, showing the fragile yet enduring power of love even in the face of despair.

This is not an easy read, but it is an important one. It shines a light on an experience that is too often silenced, offering comfort to those who have lived through similar pain while also opening the hearts of readers who may not fully understand it. Harris brings sensitivity and truth to a subject that demands both.

This Wasn’t Meant to Happen is searing, tender and unforgettable. It is a book that will make readers cry, but also remind them of the resilience of the human spirit.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Book review : this wasn’t meant to happen by @aliharriswriter .
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Sofie Jensen has always lived by logic — calculating risk, staying in control, believing that if she did everything right, life would follow the rules. But nothing could prepare her for the unimaginable: the stillbirth of her baby boy.

Now, grief carves a hollow space where joy once lived, and love — so fierce, so fragile — teeters on the edge. Nothing adds up anymore. Not the life she had. Not the future she imagined..
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This book had my whole heart. It was a book full of emotional, love , heartbreak,relationships,grieve,family.
I really felt all the emotions from all the characters.
It is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
It really does make you think how you deal with people going through grieve , everyone has different ways of dealing with it .
It’s heartbreaking to think what mothers and fathers and also family go through with babies who are still born .
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TW , still born , mental health .
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#rainbowbaby🌈 #stillbornstillloved #love #bookblog #book

This was a somber book but portrayed what many women and those around them have had to deal with. Navigating through loss is never easy, especially when it is a child you were expecting passes without ever really getting to know them.

A deeply emotional and heartfelt story, which can be hard to read at times due to the subject manner but is an inspiring and well written story.

"This Wasn't Meant to Happen" offers an examination of commitment, love, and grief through the perspective of Sofie, a woman grappling with the sorrow of her father's death and the fear of losing those she holds dear. The narrative commences with an unforeseen pregnancy that initially fills her with elation and fortitude. However, the story takes a tragic turn as Sofie confronts the stillbirth of her son, Leo. This devastating event compels her to face her innermost anxieties and navigate the intricate emotions stemming from such a significant loss.

The novel delves into the repercussions of Leo's death, illustrating the various ways individuals manage grief. The narrative underscores the necessity of communication and shared experiences in the healing process. Despite the weighty themes, the story conveys a sense of hope through nurturing relationships and incremental steps toward recovery.

One notable strength of this novel is its character development, particularly in the descriptions of Sofie and her family members throughout the narrative. This novel, as it draws on personal experiences, is replete with authenticity and emotional resonance. The themes of love, loss, and resilience are woven throughout. Reading this novel was an emotional journey, and will resonate with a variety of readers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

This Wasn't Meant To Happen had every raw emotion going. The tragic subject of a stillborn child was hard to read but I thought the author did well as they had written with such sensitivity. This novel is hard for me to review but I feel it was written respectfully and as a mother myself it was hard not to resonate and feel every emotion throughout

This book covers such a difficult theme, death of a stillborn child, but it was done in such a beautiful way. Yes at times it was very difficult to read, and at many times it broke you as a reader with many tears, but it was such a special read and will no doubt stay with me for a long time.

It is a very heart felt read and it was no surprise to find out that this was written a few years after the author tragically experienced this. It’s a horrifying statistic than 1 in every 4 pregnancies leads to a miscarriage or birth of a still born baby. The chapters when Sofie had to give birth to Leo and the scenes at the hospital were written so carefully and in such a special way and you could feel the love and the tragicness of it pouring off the page.

The sections following the death were also difficult to read and the impact it had on all involved and I felt the emotions pouring off the page. You came to feel for all involved and felt you were there with the lead characters at all points. I liked the ending and how it brought Sophie and her mother together as family secrets were revealed.

All in all I felt this was a very special book and I feel everyone needs to read this book as this could impact anyone, either directly or through someone you know. It is definitely the best book I have read this year and will stay with me.

I feel I have been through every single emotion possible whilst reading this book. A very sensitive subject but handled so brilliantly by the author. Such a heartbreaking but beautiful story of love and loss. Despite this there is so much hope entwined throught. Wonderful story

Man. This book. I'm not sure if I'm really the right person to review it. To try and make any judgement on the story, the execution or the impact as I am not, nor will I ever be, a mother. Not for me, and in that sentiment, the Sofie we meet in the very, very, early stages of the book and I are in agreement. But then maybe, when it comes to emotional impact I would be exactly the right person to comment, as if the intended outcome as me lying on my bed, sobbing, or dropping tears onto my laptop keyboard as I type, then Ali Harris has absolutely totally and utterly aced it. This book hits, and it hits hard, and it would take a heart of stone not to be moved or affected by what you read here. I imagine that if you are a parent who has lost a child, at whatever stage in their life that may have been, it will deeply resonate. If you are someone who has people around them who have lost a child, then it is as important for you to be able to understand how to support them, even to just let them be however, or whoever, they need to be.

We all think we know how grief is meant to work, but it is a deeply personal journey for everyone, hitting some hard than others. In the scope of this book, Ali Harris has invited us into Sofie's life, and that of her beloved husband, Rory, at the best, and worst, times of their life. The early part of the book is told through two timelines - the early days of pregnancy, when everything is filled with hope, and maybe a little fear, and the moments in hospital when Sofie has to give birth to a son she already knows they have lost. It is the grim reality of the situation, beautiful, emotional and devastating all at once, and it left me feeling every emotion. And this is only the beginning. With a chance to get to know Sofie and Rory in the early days of the relationship, to understand the intensity of their bond, their excitement for their impending new arrival, it makes what comes to pass all that much harder to read about.

I really admire the author for sharing this story with us, knowing that she has lived through such times herself. The book leads us through the days weeks and months of Sofie and Rory's lives as both try hard to come to terms with the loss of their son, Leo, and how they take very different paths in navigating their grief. Touching on the grim realities of life - organising funerals, letting friends and family know, taking those first tentative steps back into the world knowing that people know, and feeling wholly responsible for what happened - the author really does walk us through every stage of the emotional rollercoaster this poor pair are on and we feel every single bump, rise and fall, with them.

I appreciate how she has explored the very different experience of grief, much of which, from Rory's perspective, remains hidden, as the story is told from Sofie's point of view and their ability to communicate is truly tested. And this book is not just about Sofie and Rory, which is perhaps important as, while as readers we should experience some of the suffocating grief that Sofie is living through, there is a delicate balance required. We're lucky we get that - parents who have suffered this loss never do - but by introducing Sofie's support network, her best friend, her mother and her mother's partner who Sofie had always pushed away, we get a sense that beyond all the grief there is still a kind of hope. Of possibilities.

I felt that the way in which Ali Harris explores Sofie's own coping mechanisms, mathematics, statistics, the very strict architecture of the calculation of Pi, all backed by her life as an actuary, work really well in this book, helping Sofie, and us by extension, navigate her grief, and grounding her at some of the most testing of times. Rory's career, as a news reporter, is all about being a public facing body, choosing to share his grief publicly in a way that is contra to everything Sofie wants or understands. It leads to some raw moments of honesty between the two in which I felt my heart break for them all over again. But, and this is important, whilst the grief may never end, it is not the be all and end all of the book. There is a sense of hope that is taken from the meaningless loss the couple suffer, and whilst it was impossible for the book to ever have a happy ending, the final pages of the book are fitting and poignant and really left me with the feeling that something good could still come from all of the devastation. And if if can do that for me, grumpy old non mother that I am, I can only imagine the feeling of catharsis if has had for the author and for families in her position who might choose to read the book.

If you are in a fragile mental state having been through something similar, then I do advise caution, but also to read the book when the time is right. Even if you cannot relate, still read the book. It's hard hitting, it's emotional, but it's an important read and I have to acknowledge the bravery of Ali Harris for writing it. Definitely recommended, but do bring tissues. You will need them.

Sofie is someone who prefers to keep both feet firmly on the ground. If she does something, she wants to stay in control, and if there are risks involved, she wants to know what they are and how big they are in advance. That’s why she is determined to live by those rules, and a relationship, marriage, and certainly children are not things she envisions in her future.

But all of that can change. When you meet someone who approaches life in a completely different way and convinces you that everything will be alright, you realize you go along with it because you’ve found what you never thought you would: true love and a family that suddenly consists not of two, but of three people — until the worst imaginable happens…

This book is a chain of emotions, from euphoric highs to the deepest lows, and everything in between. The story is incredibly moving, and perhaps it hit me even harder because of the author’s background. It makes you realize how many families are confronted with this great grief every day, and I felt an overwhelming urge to hug my own child and thank heaven that everything went smoothly for me.

Every now and then I had to take a short break because the emotions became too much for me, and I admire Sofie for her strength. I completely understand that she needed to take her time and that no one should make decisions for her, but at the same time, I also found her a bit selfish — or am I being too harsh? I can’t imagine what she went through, but she wasn’t the only one, right? Her husband also had to go through this. I don’t know if my feeling is justified or not, but that’s how I experienced it.

It doesn’t matter how far along you are in pregnancy — for the physical recovery there is plenty of support, but what about mental recovery? That is a much heavier burden, and where do you stand then?

Saying I “enjoyed” this book may be the wrong word, but it definitely made me think and confront certain truths head-on.

Beautiful, raw, honest. 4 stars.

Thank you.

Lots of emotions in this story. I felt heartbreak and immense grief. It's quite a sad story and it seems unimaginable. I have to ask myself the question why does this happen to good people and I still don't have the answers. I recommend getting some tissues ready because I went through two whole boxes.

Ali Harris is a fab author.
This was such a good book. Packed full of emotions.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review it.

This Wasn’t Meant to Happen is an emotional and beautifully written story about love, loss, and finding your way through unimaginable grief.

Sofie, a risk-averse woman who plans her life by numbers, is forced to face the one thing she could never prepare for—the stillbirth of her baby. What follows is a raw, honest journey through grief, love, and the strain it places on her marriage.

Ali Harris writes from personal experience, and it shows. The emotions feel real, the characters flawed but deeply human, and the story stays with you long after finishing. It’s heartbreaking, but also full of quiet hope and strength.

Way out of my comfort read for me, a heartbreaking sad read it was although beautifully written.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins OMC for this ARC.

A wonderful emotive read. Sofie and Rory are mourning the still birth of their son, Leo. Brilliantly written by an author who has been through the loss of a baby. Displaying grief, love and changes to their relationship. I feel every student midwife should read the book to gain an insight into how such a tragic loss affects the parents , family, friends and work colleagues. Although very upsetting to read, I could not put the book down, to see how Sofie and Rory's story ended.