A very intense story
Best-selling author of well-known series such as the Hartley-by-the-Sea series and the Willoughby Close series Kate Hewitt wrote the emotionally profound, heartbreaking and intense story "You Were Mine", published by Bookouture. She takes readers into the life of Beth McBride, the single mother of the "selectively mute" Dylan who lives in a "shabby little duplex in Elmwood", who does not know if she is "good enough, strong enough, mother enough", and who loses her son to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Connecticut. On the other side there is Ally Fielding and her family who become Dylan's foster parents, a "seemingly normal" family but who have, in reality, their own struggles. There are two questions readers might ask: "Who will do the right thing for Dylan?" or even "What is the right thing for Dylan?" The outcome might not be what readers think.
I couldn't put this book down and read it in two days. The book contains realistic and great characters whose life is filled with everyday struggles and I highly recommend the book to readers who like this genre of books. The only thing lacking was a clear diagnosis of Dylan's issues - was it in the autism spectrum? What I deem important for readers to understand the story is the need of some background knowledge about the US-American child protection and foster care system otherwise they might struggle with this story.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#WhenYouWereMine	#NetGalley

When You Were Mine examines family relationships, and how decisions made by ‘professionals’ can impact hugely on the lives of the different members. 
Beth is a single mum to Dylan who has additional needs. After a public incident, he is taken into care and is fostered by Ali and her husband. As Beth is determined to regain custody of her son, the reader sees the points of view from both women who both love Dylan. 
This is a heartbreaking novel and gives an insight into the dynamics of family life and parenting. It is written with real compassion and leads us to ask ‘Who is the best person to care for Dylan?’

This book by Kate Hewitt explores the complexities and dynamics of family relationships.

When you Were Mine really packed an emotional punch with its heart-wrenching moments and reality checks. Foster carer Ally, mum to teenagers Josh and Emma, finds herself struggling when Dylan joins their family. Ally is having trouble balancing Dylan's needs with those of her own children and husband. Dylan's mother, Beth, loves her seven-year-old son with all her heart but Dylan has emotional issues and Beth is pushed to her limits. When a misunderstanding leads Dylan to be taken into foster care, she is determined to do whatever she can to get him back.

In alternating chapters between Beth and Ally, Kate Hewitt does a superb job portraying the best and worst of parenting. I could feel the characters' despair and anxiety as I pondered over who was the best person to care for Dylan. Both mums had very different problems to tackle and each had their flaws, making them credible characters to me.

Kate Hewitt's writing is so heartfelt and realistic, making this novel a remarkable reading experience and I continue to be impressed by her. When You Were Mine is my second book by this immensely talented author and I will be reading more from her. An emotionally powerful read that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Beth is a single mother. Her son Dylan, is 7 years old and has been struggling with severe meltdowns for some time. Somehow, Beth manages to get the situation under control, until one day at CVS, someone calls DCF. And then the nightmare begins.
Ally and Nick are happily married, they have two children, both of them bright and successful. When Emma goes to Harvard and Josh is for sure leaving soon, Ally convinces her husband to join her in the experience of being foster parents.
And it's then, when  Beth and Dylan and Ally and Nick cross paths. And their journey begins.
And what a journey it was!
I knew I was going to love this book right at the moment I finished the Prologue. I was already in love with the characters introduced by then. What I was not expecting was how real, how lovable, how intrinsically human all and every one of the characters, would end up being. Perhaps they were well developed, perhaps the story is well shaped, perhaps the subject was worked with such respect and with such care at the same time. All I know is that the result is a masterpiece. I tried to keep the tears away a few times just to keep up going, because urgency it was more intense than the emotions. And in my experience, when you feel urgency while reading a story, it's because the author  just nailed it in the perfect outcome.
I believe the words that summon up this story are  "introspective and fullfilling".
I recommend this book with all my heart, and I'm sure I will be reading more from this author sooner rather than later.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Kate Hewitt has wrecked me with her newest book, When You Were Mine. Hewitt just has this quality to her writing that immerses you fully and thoroughly, bringing forth every emotion possible. There is a reason why I say Kate Hewitt is an auto-buy author for me. I don’t need to read a synopsis, I don’t need to know what the book is about as long as her name is on it, I am going to NEED to read it.

Beth is a single mother to her seven year old son Dylan. Dylan is not the easiest kid to raise and has some emotional and developmental delays not yet diagnosed by a doctor. He is non verbal and has meltdowns. One particular meltdown in a store leads Beth to losing her child when the Department of Children and Family Services steps in placing young Dylan in a foster home for the time being.

Ally is a happily married woman with a loving husband and two teenage children. She opens up her home and her family to foster children in need. Her first foster child, Dylan, isn’t exactly what she expected, but in a way she can also relate to him and she is determined to do right by him much to her family’s dismay.

What exactly is going on with Dylan and which home is the best for him where he can thrive and be a happy child? Is it with Beth or Ally?

This story really pulls you in with the opening scene in the court house. I found this to be a really good starting point and it lent a sense of dread for me not knowing what direction the story was going to go. It is such a heartbreaking story and any time I read something about a child thrust into a situation like this it just breaks my heart. What is best for a child? Their parents of course, but what if that parent is holding their child back or not giving him or her the care he needs. A lot of these points were touched on in this story and your emotions can swing either way between empathy and compassion. I know that DCFS is needed, but I also think the system needs an overhaul and more caring and understanding needs to be shown to everyone – parents, foster families and the child/children. I commend anyone who fosters a child. It is not an easy task and many children have come from horrible situations or may not have had the best life and it can be a lot for a family to take on. Hewitt did such an amazing job showing both sides with a parent’s anguish over losing her child and how a family fostering oftentimes is left dealing with any emotional baggage which can put a strain on any family.

I felt a lot of empathy for Beth especially being a single mom and raising a son with pretty much no help from anyone. It can be stressful in the best of times, but topple it with a child who is nonverbal and throws tantrums can take its toll. I can also understand the frustration Beth feels and how easily it can be to lose your temper. Beth may not be the easiest person to warm up to, but you can clearly see how much she loves her child and wants what is best for him. Ally on the other hand I did really like, but once she begins fostering you can see the cracks in her relationship and how she deals with everything and again Hewitt shows us the reality and doesn’t sugarcoat anything which makes the story all the more real. I can also see the growth of each character with everything centered around one little boy.

Simply put, I cannot recommend this book any harder if I tried. Kate Hewitt is an amazing and talented writer and she captures the meaning of being a parent, setbacks as well as accomplishments and through it all finding yourself amidst a heartbreaking scenario. Another definite five star read from me. Like I really had any doubts it would be anything less than five stars anyway.

This novel gives readers a closer look into the family services' system when 7 year old Dylan is taken away from his mother and put into foster care. I liked the way the author allowed readers to see the emotional sides of both Beth, the single mother of Dylan and Ally, the foster mother. This is a hard subject to write about but so important. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of When You Were Mine by Kate Hewitt in exchange for an honest review.⠀
⠀
This is one of those books where you really don’t know whose perspective to trust at first. Is the DCF worker overstepping? Or has Beth just been struggling for so long that she doesn’t realize she and her son need the intervention? ⠀
⠀
My heart really went out to Beth. And though I’m not a mother, I really related to her struggles. Ally frustrated me because even though she was trying not to judge, she spent a good amount of the book doing just that. And her husband, Nick, frustrated me too because, for so long, he wasn’t being a good partner to Ally. But each of the characters grew because of the relationships they formed with each other and in the end, I liked them all.
⠀
You never really know what someone is going through and it’s so important not to judge. And even when your worlds seem so different, your issues may not be too far off. ⠀
⠀
Grab your tissues and get cozy, because you will not want to put this one down! ⠀
⠀
Also, get yourself a friend like Mike! He’s supportive, caring, and nonjudgmental. ⠀
⠀
3.5 out of 5 (rounded up to 4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
⠀
I was going to rate this four stars, until I read the ending. And it’s not that I didn’t like the way the story turned out, but more how we got there. It ends right before the decision on Dylan’s placement is made. And then we get an epilogue that includes the results and how everything played out.⠀
⠀
I feel like the events after the court date are such an important part of the story and should have been explored a little more before going forward eighteen months into the future with just an overview.

I’ve long been in awe of Kate Hewitt’s storytelling prowess, so whenever I pick up a new book of hers, my expectations are always sky high and yet she manages to exceed them time and time again. This outstanding storyteller will wow her readers once more with her heart-breaking new novel, When You Were Mine. Make sure you keep a box of tissues handy because this book will put you through the wringer and it’s so moving it could sever heartstrings.

Beth’s seven year old son Dylan is her entire world. She loves her child with her whole heart and would do absolutely anything for him. But being a mother is not easy and regardless of how many sacrifices Beth makes, it never seems to be enough. Beth never imagined that Dylan would be taken from her, but when a series of unfortunate events compels her to put her son into foster care, Beth is absolutely heartbroken. But she will not give up. She vows that this is a temporary setback and that her son will be back in her arms before long. Yet, could this be the chance Dylan needs to forge a better life for himself? A child’s place is with his mother. But what if his mother cannot give him what he needs?

Ally counts her blessings every day. She has always been lucky yet she has never taken her good fortune for granted. Determined to give something back, Ally has always harboured a desire to foster a child and when the opportunity presents itself to foster seven year old Dylan, Ally jumps at this chance. However, fostering a child presents plenty of difficulties and challenges as she discovers when she finds herself having to juggle the needs of her family with those of the child she has welcomed into her home.

Out of sight definitely does not mean out of mind for Beth. With each passing day, her yearning to have her son back home grows stronger, but as Dylan starts to bond with Ally, she cannot help but wonder whether Dylan’s rightful place is with his mother…or whether her son will have a better life if he becomes a permanent part of Ally’s family.

Will Dylan ever be reunited with his mother? Will he become a permanent fixture at Beth’s? Where does Dylan belong? Mothers always knows best – even if it means getting their hearts broken in the process.

Written with great understanding, sensitivity and compassion, Kate Hewitt’s When You Were Mine is a searingly emotional tale from a writer who is at the top of her game. A beautifully written tale of survival, clemency and resilience, When You Were Mine is a captivating read full of hope, honesty and heart that tells the story of two different women wanting to do their best for a child they both love and care about.

A superb page-turner Diane Chamberlain fans will not want to miss, Kate Hewitt’s When You Were Mine is another stellar novel by this immensely gifted writer.

I was totally consumed by this beautiful book. Straight away I was pulled into the story.

The story alternates between Ally and Beth’s perspectives. This approach works so well, as it gives us an insight into both women’s experiences of motherhood, and of their preconceived views of each other’s lives.

I found myself liking both women, and really wanting the best for them, and their families. It’s quite complex, as each of them has Dylan’s welfare at heart, but with different approaches.

The central theme running through this novel is that of motherhood, and a mother’s love for her child. Above all else though, it’s a beautiful and totally absorbing read. I really couldn’t put it down.

Both heart-rending and full of hope, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a wonderful and human story.

Wow. This is a real powerful story that I’ll definitely be reading again. 

Beth absolutely loves her son Dylan. When a misunderstanding has Dylan in foster care Beth is heart broken. She wants him back so much but is that the right decision for Dylan. This is a well written heart breaking story. 

If you enjoy stories similar to Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain then I highly recommend this gem.

A single mother struggling to make ends meet is having a hard time with her special needs son. A typical temper tantrum in the local CVS changes their whole world and she is forced to give him to a foster family while she is forced to go to counseling. She resists at first, but realizes sometimes you do what you have to do, especially if it means getting your child back.
You soon learn the family who take him in are far from perfect themselves, although they appear to be. The mom soon starts questioning if he would be better off with his foster family because there is no way she could ever provide him with what they do, but those things are material and what matters the most is love.
Mom gains the support system she's never had in the most unlikeliest of places, and it makes for a fantastic woman's drama, if you are into this kind of genre. I thorougly enjoyed this book! Thank you NetGalley for another fantastic find!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an independent review. 
This was not an easy book to read due to the subject matter. A 7year old little boy is taken away from his single mother and put into a foster family. The story is narrated by both the mother and the foster mother. It was well told and very emotional. 
As a mother the love you have for your child is very strong and what you will do to protect them, sometimes will demonstrate your true strength.  No spoilers but some of the situations that the mothers found themselves in, tugged on my heartstrings. 
One of those books that I could not put down. 
Highly recommended.  4.5 stars

When You Were Mine by Kate Hewitt is most definitely a story that will touch your heart  it did mine! A beautiful, emotional story of a mothers love and the things mothers will do for their children. 
Beth dotes on her seven year old son Dylan, she protects him with her life and she has made their world, just for them. If she is always with him no harm can come to this little boy who has chosen not to speak, elective mutism and the doctors name it these days. The world Beth has built for them means that Dylan does not attend school, go to the doctors or dentist. He has no friends as that would mean play dates and mixing with people who could cause harm. Beth lives exclusively for her darling son, nothing else. Then the day arrives that Beth is reported to the Child Protection Services for abusing Dylan, immediately he is taken away from her.
 Ally is a woman who is desperate to be a foster carer, she has a family, two older children and her husband. Ally is ready for a foster child but when they place Dylan in her care it turns out harder than she ever expected. Dylan is heartbroken and distraught. He has never left his mother and knows nothing else. Ally, this pretender in Dylans eyes, knows nothing about him, not even his surname! She has no clue what food  he likes, how to calm him down or that he doesn't like touching unless he wants to be touched and most of all Ally doesn't even know he doesn't speak! Ally and her family are in for more than they planned, a steep uphill ride.
 Beth is truly desperate to get Dylan back and will jump through any hoop they put in front of her to make them see she is a good mother and return her son to where he belongs. She can't wait to visit him in his foster home and when she does, she automatically hates Ally just for being the one with her son.Ally has everything she doesn't, a beautiful home, clever kids and a husband who is wonderful. Beth slowly comes to a realisation that shakes her to the  core but, she knows in her heart that maybe Ally is the better mother for her son.
 My word! A heartbreaking and uplifting story of the journey through motherhood. Kate Hewitt has brought it as it is, no rose coloured glasses, the heartbreak, the stress and the worry that comes with the word mother is showcased to the hilt in this book. I thought both Beth and Ally were brilliant characters, Ally due to her total acceptance,inclusivity, determination and dedication throughout the book. Beth, because athough she didn't get it right first time, she became aware and opened her eyes to what was right for Dylan. I know how hard that can be and how much pain it can cause, so hat's off to her for that inner strength. Dylan just showed how strong kids can be, I loved him for the way he adapted to the best of his ability.
 Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of this emotional book for my review today.

I was a little nervous to read this book because of the nature of the subject.  But the author did a fantastic job of telling both points of view of the foster care system.  Beth is the mom of 7 year old Dylan who is non-verbal.  Ally is the foster mom to Dylan.

The story is so important to me as we have been involved in a similar way as a foster parent.  OT was such a unique always to hear both points of view.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the book.   The reviews are my honest opinion.

Beth is the devoted single mother of Dylan. He is her world, her reason for living. She loves him with all of her heart and she knows how to calm him. He wraps himself around her with love just like an infant monkey would his mother. She understands him so well and has built a protective bubble all around him. She keeps him safe and makes him happy. He is seven-years-old and is silent by choice, elective mutism is what the professionals would call it. Their bubble is exclusive; there is no room for anyone else. Dylan has no friends, so he has no playdates. He doesn’t attend school, the doctor’s surgery, the dentist or have connections with anyone else. That is until someone reports Beth, accusing her of abusing her son. Then, as quick as a flash, the Child Protective Services descend upon her and take Dylan into care.
Ally has two teenage children an older daughter already studying away from home, and a younger son who will soon take a similar journey into adulthood. She is keen to become a foster carer and her husband is on board as well. Dylan is taken to their lovely home the day he is snatched from his mother. He is distraught. He knows only his mother and he is adrift in the home of virgin carers. Ally does not know what food he likes, how to calm him down, she doesn’t even know his surname. This is going to be a massively steep learning curve for Ally and her family. Dylan’s home is very small. He has always slept with his mother. She knows how to react when he has a meltdown of frustration. She knows that he doesn’t like grapes or to be touched unless he initiates it. She does not know that Dylan doesn’t speak.
Beth is desperate to get her son back home again. She will jump through hoops; do everything asked of her, just so Dylan can come home to her. She longs for her first visit to see him. She immediately hates Ally who is calm and collected. She is jealous of her, her lovely home, her wonderful husband and clever children. But gradually she comes to the decision that maybe the best mother for her son and his future may just be Ally. This is a story of motherhood, the trials and tribulations of it, the joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure, acceptance and love and the sacrifice and the rewards. This is Ally and Beth’s story.
I absolutely loved this involving and beautiful novel. Kate Hewitt is an extremely wise and talented author who writes from her heart. Her research ethics are meticulous and this acquired knowledge adds authenticity to her informative storyboard. My favourite character was Ally whom I admired immediately for her dedication, warmth and nurturing.  Beth, although misguided in her care plan for Dylan initially, definitely grew on me throughout the development of the story and I thought that she and Ally made a very beautiful friendship throughout the journey Kate planned for them. I thought the story was a sparkling and inclusive journey for these two main characters and I grew very fond of Dylan as well, as I admired his tenacity and joy of learning and making friends. I received this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you for my copy. I am very happy to recommend this Novel as an excellent and pleasurable read, awarding it 5 sparkling stars *****, bright and spellbinding.

This book was truly unique. The story was both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and really did consume me from the start. 
The characters were so brilliantly brought to life, and the authors unique story telling gave the book a whole new depth. 
The bond between a mother and her child was portrayed beautifully, and the decisions and sacrifices that were made along the way truly pulled at my heartstrings. I would definitely recommend this book.

First, I want to thank Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review. 

WOW!! I am blown away by Kate Hewitt’s new book When You Were Mine!! I knew she was going to pull on and capture my heart as she loves to do. However, never did I fathom this one subject matter affect me so much. 

This book is dedicated to her sister Susie, who is a wonderful example and inspiration of motherhood, and also answered many of her questions on foster care. 

Kate brings awareness to fostering a child and the ins and outs of the system However, I love how she decided to do it and show you every side of the story. She shares the birth mom story, the family who wants to give back since they have been blessed, then you have sweet Dylan. The combination of the three stories intertwine make for a very intense read. 

She also brings awareness to drugs and suicide. 

Dylan fascinated me to no end. He is different and so unique unlike any other character I had ever read about. My heart broke for him on so many occasions. 

Obviously, there were difficult and emotional scenes for many characters. Kate did an amazing job digging down deep and bringing out their raw emotions. There were some tense scenes. 

Kate sure did her homework when it came to her researching foster care. She educated us readers who didn’t know what to expect. 

In a way I was surprised at the outcome of the book. I was more shocked by the epilogue.

I need a hug and a lie down and some hot chocolate and marshmallows and something soft to cuddle after reading this incredible book. My poor heart will never be the same. A hole’s been punched straight through it. This is an incredible book. It touched me in a way a book hasn’t for a long time. I cried so much reading this. My eyes are still sore. I haven’t read a book before about a mother having her child taken into care so this was new territory for me. My heart went out to Beth form page one. It seems to me Dylan is taken off her for the flimsiest of reasons and I never felt Susan’s actions were justifiable. I also grew to love Ally struggling to take care of a child with special needs like Dylan and keep her splintering family together. I loved the fact the chapter bounce between both their POV’s. This will stay with me for a long time.

Kate Hewitt always seems to find the biggest fears of being a mother and finds a way to write about them in a way that, on one hand, will tear your heart out, and, on the other, give it back to you full of love. Hewitt does it well and she has long been a must-read author for me. WHEN YOU WERE MINE is Kate Hewitt’s newest heart-wrenching and emotional novel.
When Dylan was born, he became Beth’s world. With no family to help her, everything she has done has revolved around him and his behavioral issues. An unfortunate incident puts her back on the radar of child services, the unthinkable happens when Dylan is removed from Beth’s care and placed in a foster home. Beth is devastated, especially when she’s told that some Dylan’s issues may be caused by her. Beth decides to she will do whatever it takes to get Dylan back, right away. Ally’s kids are grown and don’t really need her anymore, so she and her husband decide to become foster parents. Ally feels it’s a way she can make a difference, there are so many kids out there that need help… besides, she did a pretty good job with her own kids, right? Dylan is a challenge, initially, but soon integrates into her family, ultimately shining a light on what her own family is missing. When it comes down to it, which home is the best for Dylan? 
I felt so much for Beth. I can’t imagine a stranger telling me that I might be causing my son’s issues and that I am, essentially, a bad mom. I admire her will to fight and, then, do what it takes to make not only Dylan’s life better, but her own, including going back to her past and reconciling how it has affected her present. My heart also broke for Ally, when she realizes that what looks perfect, isn’t always so. It has to be hard, too, to let a stranger into your heart, knowing that you may never see them again. 
This novel was family, heart, and love. Hewitt’s development of the story and its characters is so well done that you realize that these characters could easily be anyone you know. I love the way she makes a story flow pulling you in and wrapping around you as you feel and experience the story with the characters, as she alternates between Beth and Ally’s viewpoints.
Grab your box of tissues, all your comfort items, and find a cozy spot so you can get lost in this novel and the emotions it evokes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
#whenyouweremine #katehewitt #bookouture

Thank you to the publishers & netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book & didn't finish it.
Whether it was the subject matter or the fact that it was too 'American' for me I simply could not get into it.