Absolutely loved the previous novel by this talented author, and this book was no exception. Incredibly developed characters and a fascinating storyline make this a must read. Highly recommended.

Little Disasters’ by Sarah Vaughan is a really gripping read in so many ways. When baby Betsey is brought to A&E by her devoted middle-class yummy mummy, Jess, and a fractured skull is diagnosed by her friend Liz, a paediatric doctor on duty that evening, a great deal begins to unravel.
Over the course of the novel, Sarah Vaughan explores the intensity of the mother-child relationship and how this pressure can affect the carer in different ways. Whilst loving their children unconditionally, some mothers also find refuge in work; some relive the pressure by joking about the unremitting hard work that is bringing up a child; others bury their frustrations, determined to be Instagram mum, to have these eventually erupt, like blood spurting from a main artery. The characters populating this novel are totally believable, not least because of Vaughan’s ability to capture the dialogue between the women, with their partners and their children so well. The plot moves back and forth from the past to the present and from one perspective to another and the overall story is stronger because of this. One small quibble: part of the plot, exposed by the final reveal, mars the overall effect by feeling somewhat sensationalist in a world which is, otherwise, extremely plausible.
Because the author also develops the story of Liz’s troubled childhood, we are also reminded of how memories may be pushed away but that scars are always left when a child has not been lovingly nurtured. Whilst there is an element of ‘whodunnit’ in ‘Little Disasters’, this novel is far more than a psychological thriller and anyone who only reads it as such is missing the point. Real life is messy, not a series of carefully honed, uploaded Boden moments. Nevertheless, Vaughan also suggests that honest relationships, true friendship and the importance of listening to what your children have to say goes a very long way to creating a worthwhile family life. An important novel for our times.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Difficult to read in places given that a mother is suspected of child abuse. The doctor on call when she brings the baby in, is a friend and neighbour. All set in a fictional hospital. It was hard for me to read this. I misread the blurb and didn't realise it would be about babies and all set in a hospital ward with doctors, needles etc. Sorry not for me.