It is a heartbreaking story. It show the lengths you would go to make you child well again. As expected this was a very emotional,heartfelt story.
Excellently written.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for me honest unbiased review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for letting me read this book.

4 Stars

This story is told from Cath's point of view. We are taken through Cath and Dave's life and get a sense of what it is like having a daughter who has Cystic fibrosis (CF). Although we hear from one side of two parents this is still a moving read.

For a debut novel I really liked it but there is something missing which is why I have only given this 4 stars. That said I would still recommend this book amd I look forward to see what Hannah Begbie's next book will bring.

This book left me a little confused. It was unclear what genre the author was aiming at and the book ended up as a confused mish-mash of domestic drama, medical drama and thriller. None of the characters were remotely likeable and the unfolding events left me cold. It was a struggle to finish the book and looking back now I can't really remember much of the detail. It might be of interest to families with CF but its bleak plot and negative portrayal of the disease would not be easy to read.

What an emotional rollercoaster. I know I'd have been a lot more emotional even than Cath on such a diagnosis to my longed for baby. For once Cath and Dave had allowed themselves to hope, after many miscarriages, that all would go well. And so it seems when their adorable baby is born, but a few days later comes news that any parent dreads. All is not well, and baby Mia has Cystic Fibrosis. So begins a life of disinfecting and learning how to protect their precious girl. They have different approaches and when Cath meets Richard, dad of teenage CF suffere, Rachel, she falls hard. Bringing a whole world of problems you can't imagine. Be prepared to be on an emotional rollercoaster. And I alos feel I learned. #MotherBook #NetGalley

Not my usual kind of read but I'm so pleased I gave it a go. The story line with baby Mia was heart-wrenching, as Cath reacts to the diagnosis of her illness. Her growing attraction to Richard and the devastating potential consequences are well considered & written beautifully. A true roller coaster of a book.

I found this a bit of an uncomfortable read as I have a friend with CF, but I loved that this felt like a huge wave of grief and guilt. This rollercoaster will have you hooked from the first page and is honestly a brilliantly writted family drama/thriller.

Cath & Dave have been trying for a baby for a long while so when their baby daughter arrives they are delighted, but their joy was short lived. After just twenty five days their world comes crashing down when they discover that their long awaited child had cystic fibrosis- a life limiting lung disease which means a constant round of antibiotics, physiotherapy & avoiding any chance of infection.

Their child's disease puts a strain on their marriage. When Cath meets Richard at a parents support group she is attracted to his attitude to the disease & his determination to canvass for money for drugs & research. Before long, as her life unravels she needs Richard more & more.

This was obviously written by someone who knows a lot about this horrible disease. The author conveyed to the reader how hard it is for all involved with someone who has it. Whilst I could empathise with Cath I found it very difficult to like. II found the pace of the book rather slow & I was quite glad to get to the end of it.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

Cath and Dave are the proud parents of newborn Mia after years of infertility and heartbreak. At 25 days old Mia is given the diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis. This obviously throws their lives into turmoil as they come to terms not only with the prognosis but also the daily routine of multiple medications and physiotherapy.

This is an extremely well researched book about CF. At the end I learned the author has a child with CF. The scientific and medical information was excellent and very informative. I am a retired RN and am particularly picky when incorrect medical information is in books.

The problem I had with this storyline was firstly I would like to have heard from Dave about how he felt as a father with a child that has the diagnosis of a life threatening disease. Secondly Cath was selfish shallow and oh yes even more selfish. She only cared about how she was suffering and rejected all offers of help even from her sister. Then we meet Richard, this man was even worse, manipulative selfish and a bit of a stalker.

I really could have done without the side story of the affair and felt the story would have had more of an impact if it focused on the family and how each member dealt with the diagnosis and not just Cath.

Not the best book, but not the worst I have ever read.
I didn't really relate to the characters.
The relationship that Cath had with her Husband and Richard. I felt were selfish on her part.
Sorry I just didn't grab me.

Thank you netgalley, Hannah Begbie and HarperCollins for allowing me to read and review this book.
.

Catherine is a blissful mother for 25 days with newborn Mia and doting husband Dave, before the family crumbles under the deadly diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Celebrations are long forgotten as the harsh reality of the incurable disease sinks in. After withdrawing completely from friends and family, Cath finally steps out of her dark depression into a charity support group, where she meets Richard. Richard has a 15 year old daughter affected by the same condition. He’s a bit of an expert who is championing for treatment and cures, so Richard is exactly what she needs – a dad who is upbeat and positive about the future, with a daughter who is doing just fine despite the illness. They tumble into an intense affair despite the fact that it’s dangerous for parents of children with cystic fibrosis to even touch, as cross contamination could be harming both their children. Putting the lives of both their children at risk, Cath tries to come to terms with her guilt and despair – as her identity as wife and mother is torn apart.

Unfortunately I really didn’t like the main character, Cath. She is clearly depressed and suffering from anxiety, OCD and possibly other mental health issues (armchair psychiatry!) but refuses help from every single person who ever offers. It’s not that the support isn’t available to her, but that she’s so self absorbed and determined to spiral alone that she refuses it. This may be an accurate reflection of how some people deal with the shock, but it’s a depressing read. Above all else I keep being reminded that she is a terrible mother, putting her daughter in danger. She is a terrible wife, cheating on her husband, pushing him away and ignoring his needs. She is a terrible lover to the man she’s having an affair with, so focused on herself that I feel like she was using him because she wanted to punish herself and feel more guilt, without thinking about the fact she was destroying his family in the process. She is mean and rude to her mother and her sister and just all around comes across as the type of person no one wants in their life… a brutal betrayal of a woman hitting rock bottom and dragging everyone around her down with her. I guess it shows that she’s human, flawed.

Mother is dark and depressing throughout, populated with broken characters who will never be able to be put together again. It’s about broken families, broken romance, broken relationships and broken lives – how people deal with them and whether anything can be salvaged in the end. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out whether there is any peace or recovery for any of the characters involved.

I feel like I closed Mother educated and far more aware of cystic fibrosis, but I also came out of it feeling terribly sad, so not a read for anyone who’s feeling down to begin with. Knowing that the author, Hannah Begbie has a child who suffers from cystic fibrosis gives it a very authentic and honest feel and the amount of information about cystic fibrosis was my favourite part of the book – although going in I certainly hadn’t intended to increase my medical knowledge!

At it’s heart, Mother is a book about darkness, depression and despair more than it is about motherhood or parenting. It is a brutal book, informative, emotional and thought-provoking. I’m giving it four stars for a well-written, unique read, but whether I’d recommend it depends a lot on what you’re looking for and your personal situation.

I've given it 4 stars.

A good read however I'm not a mother so it was all a bit much for me. Its good to see a book highlighting an illness and perhaps raising awareness and I am sure that mothers would really empathise with the characters in this book.

After years or trying for a baby and later on using IVF, Cath and Dave finally have a beautiful baby girl. Everything is fine until a test shows that baby Mia has Cystic Fibrosis. Lives are broken and Cath seeks comfort in another man's arms.

This book was an OK read but I also found it a bit confusing and messy in its writing style. And I don't understand why the book is called Mother.

This is an utterly heartbreaking and emotional read.
When Cath and Dave’s newborn baby is diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis it puts tremendous strain on their relationship, no longer able to communicate with each other, Cath attends a help group where she meets Richard who also has a child with CF, the mutual connection friendship soon turns into an affair, one that not only threatens her marriage but also puts her baby’s life in jeopardy.
This is a story with lots of ups and downs, a very delicate storyline handled extremely well.
A great read I would highly recommend.

I can always appreciate it when a book raises awareness of a disability or illness of some sort, and the exploration of both IVF treatment and cystic fibrosis was a heartbreaking and extremely emotional journey here. Unfortunately, I didn't find it was a story I could get invested in despite the important topics being handled with sensitivity. It wasn't as compelling as I thought it was going to be, and not only that but it started out so slow it literally felt like it was going absolutely nowhere. If you're looking for a thriller then I suggest looking elsewhere to avoid disappointment as this certainly hasn't enough thrills to be labelled as one! It is better defined as womens fiction/chick lit with an evocative medical based plot, but ultimately not what it states in the synopsis. It explores, in particular, the range of emotions felt by family and friends when Cath's daughter, Mia, is born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs which can lead to problems breathing and frequent lung infections.

The characters weren't at all likeable or relatable, so if you appreciate someone to cheer for in a story then this is likely not for you. The author would've fared better writing a non-fiction book as although this was fiction, it very much felt as though I was reading a medical textbook. I'm sure the information is completely accurate as I understand the author has a child with CF, it just felt out of place in a novel of this type. It really could've done a lot of good to raise awareness of an often misunderstood condition, but it just didn't work for me i'm afraid.

Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book was really good and not at all what I expected.The main characters dream of having a baby but when their dream child has a problem their whole world falls apart.It is not a typical happy ending style of book and I think the fact that a lot within it is very realistic,is compelling and you really can identify with the characters.I really can recommend this book,the author is very good at provoking your feelings for the plight of the various characters.Try this book,you won’t regret your choice!

This bittersweet book will leave you thinking about the characters for a long time. I enjoyed this but it pulled at the heart strings and I prefer to be more detached. A must for people who like a weepy!
4/5 on goodreads

Wow, what a roller coaster of emotions this book evokes. A couple trying for a child eventually have a daughter born with cystic fibrosis. What follows are the entire range of reactions from family and friends. The story line draws the reader in, feeling pity, shock, desperation, love and understanding.

Catch had 25 perfect days with her newborn daughter before Mia's deadly illness was diagnosed. As her life implodes, Cath's despair drives her to a parental support group where she meets a father in a similar position.

Catch is devastated when her daughter is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Her husband Dave is coping in his own way. Cath joins a group to help her understand more about the illness. She meets Richard at the meeting who's daughter also has CF. Cath and Dave had gone through IVF to have a baby. Cath & Richard have an affair, but it's one with catastrophic circumstances.

I had to get myself a copy of this book after reading my friend Maureen's review. This is a difficult subject to write about. An emotional read that's full of ups and downs. The book is a little bit slow to start with, but keep going with it, it's well worth it. It also has a nail biting climax that I did not see coming. The author has a great knowledge on cystic fibrosis. It's very hard work being a parent of a child with CF. This is a well written book of which I loved.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Hannah Begbie for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cath and Dave receive devastating news about their daughter that sends them in different directions to deal with her diagnosis. Cath goes down a path that may ruin her family’s life. I wanted to like this book, but couldn’t because I could not find anyone to cheer for.

If you like a tear jerked then this is the book for you.
I must warn you that this book is very emotional.
At first I had to keep putting it down to compose myself, then I put a box of tissues by my side and let the flood gates open.
I did warn you!!!!!
How would you feel if you had a new born baby that has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease?
How far would you go to give them the best chance?
Who would you hurt in the process?
As I said this book is very is very emotional. It is also beautifully written and thought provoking.
It also highlights a disease that is debilitating and incurable.
This is an author who knows how write in an honest but at the same time sympathetically and not in your face.
This is not my usual genre but I am so glad I was able to read it.
I would like to thank the author Hannah Begbie, HarperCollins UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.