I could not get into this book, ultimately it was not form me and I could not finish it. It may be one for other readers

This Child of Ours by Sadie Pearce is a very emotional and highly topical book about gender dysphoria and supporting our children.

You know what's best for your child.
Don't you?

Riley Pieterson is an adventurous girl with lots of questions. There's plenty she doesn't know yet; what a human brain looks like. All the constellations in the night sky. Why others can't see her the way she sees herself.

When Riley confides in her parents - Sally and Theo - that she feels uncomfortable in her own skin, a chain of events begins that changes their lives forever. Sally wants to support her daughter by helping her be who she dreams of being. Theo resists; he thinks Riley is a seven-year-old child pushing boundaries. Both believe theirs is the only way to protect Riley and keep her safe.

With the wellbeing of their child at stake, Sally and Theo's relationship is pushed to breaking point. To save their family, each of them must look deeply at who they really are.

****
I picked up this book randomly, as I couldn't make up my mind what to read, and I'm so glad I did!

Especially in the current climate where transgender issues are really at the forefront of discussions, I thought this story was absolutely brilliant and especially eye opening. I felt for both the parents in how to navigate this new world, although I tended to side with Sally more, but I could see where Theo was coming from. And Riley.... what an absolute superstar. How frightening to know that something is very very wrong with your body, but just because you are 7 years old, no-one seems to be listening to you.

I would highly recommend this book, apart from the story itself, then just to gain a slight insight into this world that a lot of people face. Brilliant

This book tackles a worthy topic and nicely explores some of the difficulties, emotional and practical, of having a transgender child. But certain things about it bugged me and took away from my enjoyment of the story. I found the transition to go too smoothly - yes, the parents' issues are explored in depth but the kid and his experience aren't and he seems a little beside the point. The father was so outrageously ignorant and bigoted it was cartoonish. The mother didn't ring true to me - she was alternately reasonable & rational to a infuriating fault then full of self doubt and frustratingly spineless. Her capitulation to the father against her better judgement for the sake of her marriage and at the expense of her child's happiness & mental health? Just did not buy it. Where was her Mama Bear protect at all costs instinct? Plus how can 2 people have an impassioned argument about a deeply emotive issue and retain utmost control of their emotions? So I found both these characters unconvincing.
However, I did enjoy this novel and think the issues it raises are important. I am happy that this book did it in a mainly positive and supportive manner. The narrative is absorbing and thought provoking, if you can get past the annoying parents.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a topical and thought-provoking read.
Riley is seven and a strong character. At the start of the book a long time is spent showing us how cosy and (dare I say it) comfortably middle-class her parents are. They were even a little irritating. However, when she announces that she wants to be a boy, so many things are questioned and the parents veer into unknown territory.
Do they support Riley in what is expressed, or, at seven, should they keep things ‘normal’ until their child is older and better able to understand the consequences of their actions?
There’s no escaping that this has no answers. Who’s to say what you do for the best in such a situation? I’m sure some readers will be outraged that the parents take the actions they do and others will be horrified by the bigoted response of certain characters.
I don’t think this is something anyone expects to deal with, but it was certainly something that encouraged me to look at a range of views and consider why each felt as they did. I felt that Riley’s behaviour at the end made it all rather easy and I don’t think some of these experiences would go as they do in the novel. Still, a timely look at a subject that many will have strong views on.

This Child of Ours by Sadie Pearse follows a family as their young daughter expresses that she is, in fact, a boy. This has a massive impact on his family as they adapt their lives accordingly. Quite an emotional read, questioning so many assumptions society has as to what makes us who we are.

This book isn't something I would usually read and does contain a difficult subject matter however I found this book a great read, interesting and gripping. Would recommend.

This Child of Ours by Sadie Pearse begins slowly, following Sally and Theo and their seven year-old daughter, Riley as they navigate work and school. Life seems perfect and yet, having read the blurb, the reader knows Sally and Theo are about to be forced to make decisions no parent ever wishes to make. My advice is to stick with this novel because once Riley articulates how she really feels the story takes off, as Sally and Theo try to answer impossible questions. Does Riley really want to change gender? Or is her need to be a boy just a phase that will pass? A sensitive, realistic exploration of how a child’s need impacts a family and those around them. This is the author’s first novel written as Sadie Pearse (she also writes as Vanessa Greene and Abby Clements) and I’m looking forward to reading more.

I was given an advance copy of this book but my opinion and review is an honest one.

Firstly, this is not a book subject that I would necessarily have chosen but I have read the authors other books under another name and thought I would give it a go.

Although it is not a true story it must be so many people’s reality. What do you do when your child says they are not happy in their body and want to go from a girl to a boy or vice versa? Do you ignore them, think it is a stage they are going through? Do you support them?

Thought it was handled very well and very thought provoking and so many different opinions on what is right or wrong or “normal”.

Would highly recommend reading this book, it certainly gets you thinking.

Very ‘of the moment’, and the first novel I have read regarding gender dysphoria. At the beginning I did struggle a little to get into this, life seemed a little to perfect and relationships between the adults seemed very Stepford-Esque, but once the child Riley got their own voice the book really picked up and was an enlightening, thought provoking read. A good one for book club.

I have to say I did not particularly enjoy the first 25% of this novel portraying such a perfect family unit that was too sweet and unrealistic. Then suddenly when the whole point of the novel was addressed it became much more interesting and fascinating. That Riley's mother was so supportive of her child while her father struggled with his feelings was so believable making the novel therefore, for me, a compulsive read. The feelings and reactions of the extended family, the position the school took and the reaction of other parents were varied and interesting. People so often feel threatened by situations they don't consider normal! A difficult subject delicately dealt with. I would like to think I would approach such a situation with compassion and understanding.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sadie Pearse/Little Brown for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! What an engrossing read! Sally and Theo are the parents of seven year old Riley who seemingly out of the blue decides she is a boy. Sally and Theo struggle with how to handle her news and slowly begin to accept and adjust to her desires to change her hair, wear boys underwear and clothing and be referred to as a boy. Riley immediately displays a greater self-confidence and joy in her everyday life. But Theo is stuck trying to keep her from progressing to "he". Sally on the other hand is also greatly disturbed by the "loss" of her daughter but she feels strongly that Riley's happiness is more important that what seems right and normal to the rest of the world. The marriage suffers greatly as does the relationship with Theo's parents. A very well-written and fascinating read into what most of us never really get to see. I very strongly recommend this to anyone, even those who have difficulty with the idea of gender dysphoria.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.

This novel is told from Sally and Theo's perspectives, who are the parents of Riley, a child with gender dysphoria. From that sentence this book should have been exactly my cup of tea. LGBT fiction is one of my favourite "genres" . However I really couldn't get into this book.

I found both Sally and Theo to be quite annoying as characters, set up as very modern people but I found something smug in the way they seemed to view themselves as so modern. For example, Theo says that he doesn't have a problem with transgender adults yet for the majority of this book is very against his own child having gender issues. On the other hand, Sally goes into dealing with Riley's gender identity at school and with family far too directly and doesn't acknowledge her partner's concerns, instead staying he is just not listening to his child.

Another issue I had was it felt like the book was based on a list of scenarios parents in this situation may find themselves in connected with very little plot. Because of the lack of real plot the book felt like it went on for too long and I just wanted to reach the end.

I gave this book 2/5 on Goodreads. I honestly thought I'd love this book but lack of plot and boring characters let it down. However, there are 9 other ratings on Goodreads for this book and only 1 other who rated below 4 stars so I'm in the minority!

A unique storyline that really had me thinking. My granddaughter is the same age and I was wondering how we would handle it if she had the same feelings. And the answer is - I don't know.

A moving and very relevant book about an issue which is becoming more and more common.The book shows the effects of a child feeling 'wrong' in her own skin and the way the parents deal with this .The issue is handled with sensitivity without glossing over the impact on the family.A beautifully written,contemporary novel which I enjoyed reading.
Thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that struck me was what would I have done in this situation. I came to the conclusion that I didn't really know. Riley was fortunate in getting the support from her parents especially as it's such a sensitive issue. The novel is written with considerable warmth, understanding, tolerance and perception. It's an unsettling read when you consider how rigid our society can be and there's so little help and understanding from others. It was very insightful. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book.

I was sent a copy of This Child of Ours by Sadie Pearse to read and review by NetGalley.
This novel tackles the very topical issue of gender dysphoria and I think it does so very sensitively. The beginning of the book, I thought, was a romantic and rather mawkish view of the family concerned – in fact I was almost at the point of giving up when 7 year old Riley was given a voice. The relationships between the adults in the story remained rather romanticised but the main issue of Riley’s gender dysphoria and how it affected all aspects of daily life was quite compelling and enlightening. Whether there are more instances of gender dysphoria in the world today or whether it is the fact that we are all much more aware, this novel gives some insight into both how a child may feel about being in the wrong body and how adults, whether they be parents, grandparents and even the general public react to this.

That’s where you start; looking through a window at a family that feels just about right, that seems just about perfect. There’s a small voice though, a small voice that grows louder and bolder, making it impossible to ignore.

Riley is a seven-year-old child who is becoming. Riley is a self-aware seven-year-old child who feels out of place. Something is obviously not right, but could it be just a phase? “This Child of Ours” by Sadie Pearse takes a brave leap of faith into the world of Riley, Sally and Theo, a family trying to make sense of their world.

One of my favourite things about this novel is that it doesn’t take sides; it listens without judgment, navigating the endless universe of opinions with a sort of elegance that becomes a safe haven instead of a ground zero leading to overwhelming exposure. It’s not an easy novel to read though; it asks you to acknowledge the cracks on the foundation upon which we have comfortably laid our whole existence without much thought.

The writing is simple. Not in a geometrical way, but in the sense that it feels like clay at its degree of most potential: holding everything. It flows naturally, even as we go on exploring the characters through each other’s lenses. And it’s so beautifully open, a testament to Sadie Pearse’s skill.

It’s heartbreaking to witness Sally’s and Theo’s search for balance between loss and gain, to follow Riley as the seven-year-old navigates the turmoil and deals with the guilt that soon follows. These are heavy shoes and at each step we are left breathless, wondering how anyone could ever take walking for granted. If anything, I would have given it more time.

Thought-provoking, nerve-wracking and poignantly relevant, “This Child of Ours” is real. It’s a novel not of endings, but of constant beginnings; a novel not of acceptance as a solid block of cement, but of the art of accepting as something to build; a novel not of rights and/or wrongs, but of understanding. A moving portrait of family, love and forgiveness.

ARC provided by Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley

A well written book about an unusual subject. In so much as I haven't read anything like this before. My only criticism would be at the beginning of the story, the family come across as being 'perfect '. Why do writers always write about healthy, attractive , usually wealthy families? It seems to be the norm now.

There is nothing more I can say than I absolutely loved this book. What a sensitive issue, dealt with beautifully. Highly recommend. .