I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Failed to catch me throughout. A certain level of sympathetic seemed missing from the main characters, which didn't allow me to connect to any of them throughout

This intricately rendered novel is guaranteed to move even the hardest of hearts. Set in the 1960s, it explores the many different ways in which women try to do their best by their children, getting it very wrong indeed sometimes. James mines her characters extremely deeply, always with incredible insight, never once straying into cynicism. Carefully, she unpacks the lies that have been festering in Campbell family for years. At the heart of this story, there is huge loss - artist-in-the-making Kitty Campbell is forced to give up her baby girl, but not entirely for the reasons she thinks - yet the novel remains ever-hopeful until its joyful end. James is such a wise and gifted writer - there are so many beautiful turns of phrase here, and such warmth. I couldn't get enough of this impressive debut - it really is a must-read and has carved James out as a writer to watch.

A sad story full of secrets set in the early 60's where Kitty who is pregnant but unmarried is sent to a mother and baby home where her baby will be put up for adoption, after the birth she finds she can't go through with it and escapes through a window with the baby.
Kitty goes to a cafe having nowhere else to go and meets Bet who ultimately she gives the baby to so they can adopt her.
The story follows Kitty and Bet and how they both adapt to the situation which unfortunately isn't happy for Kit for the first few years but the truth does come out many years later

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

On Mothering Sunday Alexandra is told a secret that’s been kept from her for over 50 years.

The story then goes to April 1963, where an artist, called Kitty Campbell, has given birth to a baby, in a mother and baby hone. Arrangements have been made to give the baby up for adoption- but on the day she’s to do that, she finds that there’s no way she can part with her daughter.

So, in order that she doesn’t have to go through with handing over her daughter, she escapes with her daughter.

At a tea shop, where she stops to feed her baby, there is Bet, who has her own heartache, se can’t have kids.

After this, Kitty, makes a decision which changes everyone’s lives. What is that decision?? Now years later, can that truth finally make things right that was done wrong and unite her with her daughter??

Enjoyable but emotional read.

I received an advance copy of, Mothering Sunday, by Sara James. I found this to be an ok book, the story was sad.