The story focuses on Ruth her husband Daniel and their son Billy. It's his first day at school and she sees Eve a woman who gave birth to her son at the same time as Ruth. It's strange for Ruth to see her as she hasn't seen her since that day 4years ago! Just what is it she wants and why is she here now??
The problem is Ruth used to be friends with a woman called Bea who now lives in the area and is acting like they've only just met?!? Be a is being really strange and Ruth can't help but think she's keeping secrets from her! The Daniel begins to act strangely and Ruth's mind goes into overdrive - are they having an affair and what about Beas husband Finley they were all such good friends once, it all fell apart one weekend! Just who can Ruth trust? Recommended read, only took me a day. All the twists and turns kerp.you guessing until the end!!
Many thanks Net galley for letting me read this, would love it to be adapted for screen!

I found this book gripping from the off. I couldn't read it quick enough!! What a storyline, with so many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. Brilliant read!

I really enjoyed this gripping story of family, love, loss and how far a person will go to get what they want. Really well written characters, a plot that unfurled beautifully with twists and turns along the way that kept me guessing. A must read.

The synopsis completely pulled me in but unfortunately the story didn’t live up to that. Unlikeable characters and completely far-fetched plot.

Who do you trust ? Your friend ? Your husband? Can you trust anyone to tell the truth?
A gripping thriller that is every mother’s nightmare. The story twists and turns and just when you think you have it figured out it takes a different turn..

Description sounded good but the book didnt live up to it in my opinion. A bit too far fetched. and unlikeable characters. Sorry but this one isnt for me
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and ARC

Wow, what a page turner.

So relatable and I couldn’t help but put myself in the protagonist’s shoes and imagine how awful this scenario would be-it’s such an unusual premise that I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.

Not my child by Samantha King is a 3 ⭐️ read.
The blurb for this story pulled me in but unfortunately the story just let me go again. There were to many plots twists and “secrets” to actually keep me interested that I couldn’t wait until the story was finished.
This is only my opinion so I would suggest you try it for yourself.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

The description to Not My Child had me intrigued and I could not wait to start it. Unfortunately once I started reading I was quite disappointed. I wasn't struck on the writing style, I did not like the characters and I found it very confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my ARC.

The storyline of this book captured my interest, as a retired midwife, babies mixed up in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - how could it even happen?

Sadly, for me, the book simply didn’t match up to the appeal of the synopsis for several reasons.

* The style of writing simply lacked flair, hard to be more specific than that but it was flat and somewhat monotone in style. I felt like I was reading an essay!

* The story seemed to in no way ‘suspenseful’ or ‘thrilling’ sadly. It felt, to me, that a potential lie was revealed and almost immediately explained away in a detailed conversation..

* The characters were neither relatable nor likeable.

*. The story was so far fetched, it was laughable at times. Somehow threatens to steal your child then within a very short time, seemed like almost immediately, you let her take him to her boat for a few hours to bond. Seriously?

I know this is a tough review and I don’t like giving bad reviews but I was given this advanced reader copy and asked to review it honestly and as you can clearly see, this is my honest opinion.

Having said all that I thank the author, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. It just wasn’t for me.

This book sounded very good in theory however in the execution it was a little lack luster. I found it a little confusing in the beginning because I was just thrown into a whole lot of confusion but there was no build up to it. It left me with little to compare to on how I should be feeling about the characters meeting.

A story told by the narrator moving between past and present in an attempt to make sense of a frightening threat that leaves her terrified. Three women joined together by tragic backgrounds all seeking love, friendship and stability, never experienced in their early years. A happy and contented life with family for the narrator has been an uphill struggle with fertility issues, exacerbated by a brief infidelity that threatens everything she hold precious. Like a jigsaw, the other two women fit into the tangled web of deceit, lies and subterfuge that are entangled in the relationships with the two men instrumental in the happiness and despair of both young mothers compounded by an intervention of a young girls crazy allegations from the past. The premise of the storyline was excellent. The relaying of events often lacked authenticity and credibility. A frustrating read that offered more than it delivered often bordering on the melodramatic and unfeasible chain of events leading to a less than acceptable conclusion. Many thanks to author, publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

The synopsis looked like a book I would love but unfortunately it was a DNF. While I can suspend reality some while reading a book, this one really pushed the limit for me. Combined with not enjoying the writing style and it just wasn’t for me.

The premise of this novel draws you in and tugs at the heartstrings because it’s every mother’s/parent’s worst nightmare to either lose a child or have their child taken away from them. Such is the shock for Ruth, who basks in the joys of motherhood after a frustrating, prolonged period of infertility problems.

As she waits for her son Billy to come out of school one day, she is extremely discomforted by her ex-best friend, Bea, making hurtful snide remarks, and by a seeming stranger accusing Ruth of stealing her own child and threatening to steal him back.

In a panic, she rushes him home and eventually discusses the dilemma with her husband, Daniel. They do everything within their power to keep Billy safe. When Ruth realises just who the threatening stranger is, it soon becomes clear, over a slowly unfolding period of a day, that her whole world is in danger of falling apart.

Memories and people from the present and the past intrude in alternating timelines. They provide a mix of confusion and clarity, with increasing power to harm her in some way. Who can she trust? So many people have lied to her and still do, and she has unwittingly lied to herself.

Graced by a compelling storyline, nevertheless this novel is let down in being as brilliant as it could be by the implausible, contradictory behaviour of the main characters, and an abundance of red herrings and fresh revelations that simply don’t ring true. Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5*

The playground is the last place I thought you would make you're move. It was my Billy's first day at school. It was supposed to be a happy one. But then you turned up. I remembered you instantly from the hospital wing. Our babies born on the same day, Both premature. Both needing intensive care. While Billy grew stronger day by day, you're baby sadly slipped away. But now you're back with one devastating accusation,,,, Billy isn't my son at all, he's yours.

filled with twists and turns, you never know what the truth is The pace is slow to begin with but it's not long before it picks up. It's suspenseful, has secrets, and it's a well written family drama. Ruth is hiding secrets from her husband Daniel. It is a bit far fetched but that doesn't make this a bad read. The ending was enjoyable but sad.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #SamanthaKing for my ARC of #NotMyChild in exchange for an honest review.

This was not for me. The premise of the book is great but I found the writing style to be grating. The characters were not likable and there were so many secrets I sometimes found myself confused. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

✨So firstly I loved the premises of this book. The storyline was really intriguing but unfortunately this book was a total miss for me. Whilst I like story’s that can be unbelievable this one was just a-bit too far.

✨I felt like there were a lot of underdeveloped storylines that sort of led nowhere. Something would happen, I’d get interested and then it would lead into nothing.

✨I didn’t really feel in suspense at all. I felt like the writing style didn’t build any suspense up. It was sort of monotone for me. It definitely felt like I was reading a family/friends drama instead.

✨The characters also didn’t act like normal people. Everything they did was either exaggerated or the total opposite. They just didn’t feel like normal relatable people which added to the far-fetchedness of this book.

✨I really don’t enjoy giving bad reviews but I really didn’t enjoy this book unfortunately.

Couldn't get into this, great concept, but I couldn't get to grips with the narration style. The character's didn't grab me or react the way I think people actually would which made it hard to really buy into them or the plot. Sorry!

Not My Child was my first book by Samantha King and I’ll definitely be looking out for more.
This book had me gripped from the get go, telling the story of four friends Ruth,, Daniel, Bea and Finlay. And of course Billy. Ruth and Daniels son - or is he?
When Eve comes back into Ruth’s life claiming everything in her life is not what it seem s the next 48 hours change everyone’s life.
Lots of twists and turns in this great book. Just when you think you’re hearing the truth along comes another lie!
Thank you netgalley and HQ for a ARC of this book.

The Prologue to this story begins on Friday evening at 6.30pm and then the story that leads up to this crisis begins only the day before in the morning. It is Billy's first day at school but when Ruth receives barbed comments from another Mum (Beatrice) and sees a familiar face from the past Ruth grabs Billy and runs. All the action takes place over a very short time span but Ruth's memories to 5 years ago are interspersed.
The action is tense and so many of the characters are extreme in their behaviour and the lies that they tell it makes the story quite confusing. None of the characters are level and honest which is a slight problem for me. The ending is a little rushed. Nevertheless the love one has for a child and the lengths to which one will go shines through.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Samantha King/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.