I was very late to the Ruth Mancini party, as I have only very recently listened to the audio of The Woman on The Ledge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I was very eager to read The Day I Lost You.

I usually give a brief summary of the plot, but I’m genuinely not sure what I can say without giving away spoilers. The whole story is swirling through my mind, and I have no idea at what point I found out certain salient details. All I will say is that there are two mothers, Lauren and Hope, and a baby called Sam. It is clear that both women have suffered trauma, and are struggling. Both prove themselves to be unreliable narrators.

I found myself gripped very quickly, from the first chapter. I had a sense that there was so much to know; so much that the characters were concealing from the each other, and the reader. That feeling of knowing the truth was just out of reach, kept me eagerly turning the pages. The author drip feeding details at her own pace.

The further I read, the less I understood somehow. I reached a point in the book where I was completely dumbfounded by the reaction of a character in a situation. I genuinely had no way of explaining what was happening. I stopped reading, just to replay it in my head, and was still perplexed.

The book is quite the rollercoaster, in terms of the changing direction of the story, and the emotions it brings. My feelings towards each character changed frequently, as my brain tried to unpick the truth, from the fabrications weaved by the two women. It is complex and intricately plotted, and held me tightly. I had no idea where the ending would take me, but when I reached the final pages, it was unexpected, not at all as I had imagined.

The forward in the story by the author has to be read as she highlights in it, that nothing is really black and white in the legal world and sets the book up nicely. It appears on the surface to be a kidnapping however then Ruth introduces us to lots of little events which impact on the whole story. And just when you think you might have figured it out, there is the wow moment and you need to reorganize your thoughts !! The book certainly makes you think twice about what you might do in the same circumstances.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

"I need to report a crime. My baby has been stolen."

All Lauren wants is a new life in Spain. She suffered an unimaginable loss, but at last she has found a home in the pretty seaside town of Mantilla de Mar. Everyone deserves a new start, and Lauren needs to put her past and family behind her.

Hope has an interesting career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a dream home in the countryside - and , finally, the baby she had always longed for, Sam. Her beautiful boy.

But Sam has gone missing. So when the police tell her that a woman has been found in Spain with a child matching Sam's description, Hope thinks her nightmare is coming to an end.

Lauren had to to Spain with her son Sam, but it wasn't long before she was being accused of child abduction. Hope had a career as a therapist, an attractive husband, and after having many miscarriages, she finally has a baby boy.

This story is so much more than child abduction. I was quickly caught up in the story. The story is told from Lauren and Hope's perspectives. I liked both Lauren and Hope equally, but I was never sure which one I could trust the most. I liked the author's writing style. This is a gripping and twisted psychological thriller.

Published 31st July 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley 'RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #RuthMancini for my ARC of #TheDayILostYou in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not entirely sure what I feel about this book. It started really strong and I was waiting for the build up to an explosive climax which unfortunately didn’t come. The story also felt that although based on true events, lots of artistic licence had been taken and the story became somewhat unrealistic as if your child disappeared, regardless of what you had done, you would instantly report it to the police which Drew and Hope didn’t. I kept waiting for a reasonable reason why they would keep it secret and never got an answer

Saying that I did finish the book but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

Ruth Mancini, the author, is also a criminal defence lawyer and has said this book is loosely based on a case she worked on. The book rather made me wish I could have read one on the real case in the hope it was less complex than this book.

I found the timeframes confusing at times and wasn’t always following where we were in previous times and ‘who knew what’ at that point.

The book starts with Lauren happily living in Spain with baby Sam. Her life is then turned upside down when the police arrive and say that a couple in the UK, Hope and Drew, are saying that Sam is their child.

As the book shows us more and more of what has happened in the past we learn that the lives of Lauren, Hope and Drew were intertwined in ways that are hard to imagine and that there are reason for the actions of all. I struggled to believe the emotions and actions at times, especially of the two main women.

I just about kept up with the plot and it was definitely a page turner as I was keen to know the ending which I quite liked even if stretching my imagination somewhat. I’d give other books by Ruth Mancini a read for sure.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A disappointing read overall. The characters are immersed in themselves too much and to say the situations were implausible would be an understatement. Jumbled and in need of a more structured approach.

3.5 out of 5 stars. I was intrigued to learn that this book was written by a solicitor and loosely based on a real life story.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. It followed Lauren happily living in Spain with her young son until the police arrived to accuse her of kidnapping. It then switched to Hope and Drew living in England and it was immediately obvious there was some underlying back story. The storyline and characters were all outlined very well.
However the latter part of the book got a bit confusing. I just didn’t understand or believe Hope’s actions and motivations with regards to the baby, it didn’t really make sense. I was left quite disappointed with the ending after such a promising start. I was also surprised that the solicitor character, Sarah Kellerman, played such a small role as I’d expected this to be a key feature.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion. I have also published this review on Goodreads and will post a shortened version on Amazon.

Review - The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Right from the start this book had you on the edge of your seat - something has happened, but it’s not clear exactly what. Has someone’s child gone missing?

Told from a couple of different timelines and 2/3 character points of view, ad the story continues it becomes clear that these will all come together, and the pace builds throughout.

There are a couple twists and turns, but no huge reveal moment. And the ending felt a little unbelievable as well as a couple things unanswered- but a great read and would recommend.

The Day I Lost you is an extremely well plotted story about two mothers and a missing child. Lauren is trying to make a new life for herself in Spain with her young son, Sam. Back in England Hope has a happy marriage, on the surface,but has suffered from miscarriages before finally giving birth to a baby boy. But when her son goes missing the police descend on Lauren accusing her of taking Hope's child. But Lauren has Sam's birth certificate and passport so who is lying and why? Sometimes people make on the spur decisions without taking into account the possible repercussions of their actions. A very good read that kept me turning the pages. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK/Cornerstone for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was great. Such character development and the plot was slowly unraveling throughout the book.
I felt so many emotions whilst reading this. You can see how easily people can make the wrong decision.
I loved the characters but at times disliked them too and I think that shows you how talented the author is to make you feel that way.

All Lauren wants is a new start in Spain. She has found a house in Mantilla de Mar and can now hopefully put the past behind her.

Hope has everything: a career as a therapist, an husband, a home in the countryside - and Sam. Her long awaited baby boy.

Then Sam goes missing.

Then a woman has been found in Spain by Police , with a child matching Sam’s description.
Is it Sam?

Lauren has decided to move to Mantilla de Mar in Spain, a place where she had happy times before she faced an unbearable loss and she just wants to make a new life for her and her young son, Sam. Hope has everything, a handsome husband, a dream home and a successful career as a therapist and now the thing she's longed for most, her beautiful baby boy, Sam. Then everything changes when Sam goes missing, police turn up at Lauren's door claiming that her son is Hope's missing child, but Lauren has proof, his birth certificate and passport, that Sam is her child. Which of these two women is Sam's real mum and who isn't telling the truth?

The Day I Lost You is the new thriller by this author and, after reading The Woman on the Ledge, I was looking forward to this one. This is a slow burn and the fact that it bounces back and forth between different timelines means it's one that requires concentration so you dont lose track of what's going on. Set between the sunny shores of Spain and the UK we meet some interesting characters, I really liked Lauren and Charlie, I felt sorry for Hope and I despised Drew, whose selfish actions ultimately caused the devastating events of this story. A tense read which had me totally confused at times until the truth of Sam's real mum was revealed, I'm still not sure it was the right outcome that those affected deserved, in my opinion but, it just goes to show how messed up the justice system is here in the UK.

I'd like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

A well woven, gripping story that has complex relationships at its heart. Lauren is living in Spain with her son, Sam but has a troubled past. Meanwhile we meet Hope and Drew who appear to also have a son, Sam and also have a dark secret. As the story develops and goes back and forth in time to make sense of the whole sorry tale, the reader alternates their sympathy between each character. There are several twists and the book does lead one way and then reveals a development that throws everything into doubt. An interesting and rather sad story that has the reader questioning ‘what if’?

Not how I feel about this story. The characters were wrapped up in their own worlds and it as useful to read their thoughts. Seeing things from different perspectives. I think the plot was a little implausible. The structure was very confusing, going back in time to key events. I had to reread several bits to reorientate myself. I felt the ending was too tidy. IRL it would end differently. I will look for more by the author!

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for a copy of “ The Day I Lost You “ for an honest review.

I was drawn to read this book from the premise , and I enjoyed the story for the first half of the book , but then sadly I felt the book lost its way. Things became too complicated and I really lost interest in the characters and the storyline
For me the book had great promise but didn’t work as a whole.
I’d read Ruth Mancini’s previous book “ Woman On The Ledge” , which for me , had the same problems , so I don’t think I’ll read any more from this author.

A good read, which I really enjoyed. The reader has to be prepared for a story that jumps around time-wise, and from person to person. The details of that are always posted at the top of each section - but you do have to make sure you notice them!
It wasn't apparent, for a long time, what the ending would be, and there were some good twists.

Hope is happy good job, good husband and now a baby, but her baby goes missing. Apparently found in Spain with Lauren who insists the baby's hers she has all the papers. Who's the real mother, with plenty of twists and heartwrenging this is a gripping novel that keeps you on edge. Another winner from Ruth Mancini. Thanks to Random House UK/ Cornerstone and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the story very intriguing as I was trying to work out who was telling the truth and what really happened. I didn't figure it out until the reveal at the end. The ending was very satisfactory for me and I enjoyed it.

Wow!
The Day I Lost You is an incredibly gripping novel that pulled me in from the start. It is fast paced with a killer plot twist. I cannot recommend it enough!

Ruth Mancini is a former criminal defence lawyer, and her extensive legal expertise and underpins her novels such as this one well. The main character this time is Lauren who has taken her baby son Sam to Spain where she hopes to live in relative obscurity. However, back in England, a couple by the name of Hope and Drew claim their baby son, also called Sam, has gone missing. Is it it the same baby? What is the relationship between these two small families? And who is baby Sam’s genuine mother?
Ruth Mancini skilfully leads the reader into an emotional landscape fraught with compulsive obsessive disorder, personal lies, and legal repercussions. In its form as a domestic thriller, the concept of motherhood – on a biological, emotional and legal level – is explored. It is a novel that is strangely addictive, despite its thoroughly unlikeable characters. A worthy contribution to the contemporary thriller genre. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free ARC that enabled me to read this novel and to produce this honest, unbiased book review.