Lauren is recovering from a traumatic event and moves to Spain to start a new life with her little boy, Sam.

Hope and her husband appear to have built the perfect life for themselves after a series of miscarriages, including a beautiful home and a gorgeous child. But then they contact the police to say that their son Sam has been taken.

So, is this the same child - and if so, who does Sam really belong to? Searching for an answer to this question is more convoluted than you might think. Because in this latest offering from the talented Ruth Mancini, nothing is as it seems. And I really do mean NOTHING!

So twisty it might give you whiplash, this is an absorbing read that's well worth your time.

A nice satisfying read :-) For the full review go to https://www.tumblr.com/joebloggshere/785860560044556288/the-day-i-lost-you-by-ruth-mancini-this-is-a

‘The Day I Lost You’ is definitely one to read!
It tells the story of Lauren, a woman who has experienced a distressing experience; Sam, a young child; and Hope and Drew, a married couple with a secret.
The way this story is written may seem confusing at first but the reason that the events are revealed to us in a ‘backwards’ manner becomes apparent as the ending nears - and makes absolute sense.
Surprisingly my feelings for the characters flipped several times from being likeable, to annoying, to dislikable, and back again as the story unfolded!
A story well worth reading and I enjoyed it very much.

Oh my goodness what a tangled web this book was. This novel packs a punch throughout. I found myself tied up in knots not knowing who to believe and where my loyalties lay. Its a complex read but so so good. Its full of twists and turns.
I thought it would be difficult to top The Woman on The Ledge but with this novel I think Ruth Mancini has done just that.

Having enjoyed 'Woman on the ledge', I couldn't wait to start my ARC from netgalley if this latest book A tense, emotional thriller told from 3 points of view. Drew, Lauren and Hope are somehow entwined in one another's lives. with twists and turns that had me changing sides and switching theories repeatedly. I was hooked! A fantastic read and a favourite author.

I loved the author's previous book and was super excited to read the foreword which says the story, about a baby and two mothers both claiming the child is their own, was inspired by a real life case she dealt with as a lawyer.

Through this story, she wanted to try to dispel the myth that all people, who commit crimes are villains we shouldn't care about. It's much more nuanced than that. Split second decisions can change your life forever, and in extreme circumstances good people can do something wrong, something with life-changing consequences for others.

Once again I loved the way the author chose to tell this complex story working backwards. I was a little undecided on the way it played out, after my mind had conjured up several more elaborate scenarios. But I guess that was what really happened and the author achieved her goal in that it was definitely thought-provoking and divisive on whether justice has been served.

Being more of a tragic story rather than a psychological thriller, this didn't grab me in the same way as The Woman On The Ledge - but then as one of my top reads (ever) that was always going to be a really hard act to follow.

Brill read. Very confusing storyline with lots of clues but I didn’t know what to believe!! I loved this book but one thing is im not sure it was 100% believable when he saw what she done! Say no more as I don’t want to give it away! I didn’t know who had actually had a baby and who was the bad guy!

Oh wow! This is one of those stories where you need to be completely focused on what your reading or you will miss things that turn out to be sooooo relevant! It's very cleverly written and incredibly layered with multiple themes/ plot lines running throughout. Not in a OTT way though, more in the way thst human lives are usually very complex and there is always a lot going on and various perspectives and cause and effect etc. I got so lost in this book, it did slow down a bit in the middle but the ending was well worth the wait. A must read for domestic noir fans!

An emotional ride with multiple levels of mystery and intrigue apparently based on a true story. It really held my interest but I also needed to concentrate or end up confused. A well written book with a lovely ending.

I really enjoyed this book. Many twists and turns and it kept me up for way too long. It's a gripping story that kept me guessing throughout and i couldn't predict the ending. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC.

The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini is a gripping psychological thriller that hits hard emotionally while keeping the suspense tight throughout. From the chilling tagline—“You thought you were safe. You were wrong.”—I knew I was in for a tense ride, and the book definitely delivered.

The story revolves around a mother’s worst nightmare: the disappearance of her child. But this isn’t just a story about loss—it’s about buried secrets, fractured trust, and the fragile line between guilt and innocence. Mancini does an excellent job of making you feel the protagonist’s panic, confusion, and desperation. The emotional depth really sets this one apart from typical thrillers.

The pacing is strong, though it does slow a bit in the middle. A few twists felt slightly telegraphed, but the final reveal landed perfectly for me—clever, gut-wrenching, and believable. I also appreciated how well the author explored the psychological impact of trauma without losing sight of the central mystery.

Overall, this was a solid and immersive read. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong emotional layers and a twisty plot, this one’s worth picking up. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Ruth Mancini.

I loved this book! I read it within 2 days and couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of each character kept me on my toes. The ending was brilliant and incredibly fitting.

The Day I Lost You is told with timelines that move around, so although it can be a bit disconcerting at times, there are plenty of surprises and twists along the way as we go back in time and realise there's so much more to the story. I also love books that take us to different timeframes, so that aspect of the book had me even more intrigued.

Who really is baby Sam's mother? What happened on the day that changed everyone's lives - Lauren, Hope, Drew...? As the story delves deeper into what really happened, we realise that nothing and no one are quite as they seem.

I really liked both Lauren and Hope, in different ways - they're both believable, convincing characters who have both had their fair share of struggles. Drew I liked less so because at times he behaved like such an idiot, but Ruth Mancini did a convincing job of making us see why he might have behaved the way he did.

The ending was surprising, but as the foreword informed us, the story is based on a real case so I can believe it!

I don't want to give much away about this one because I think the less you know, the better, but I will say that you need to be paying attention in case you miss a small detail that shifts the narrative!

Another great release from Ruth Mancini, who I can always rely on for an addictive, intriguing read.

Well this storyline really did blow me away. The characters seemed all very believable but I don’t know if I was convinced by the actions that they all took. It was very intriguing with many twists, definitely a gripping page turner. This was my first experience with this author and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more.

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

The Day I Lost You is a brilliantly crafted story which keeps the reader guessing. Full of twists and turns, it is undeniably gripping but I found the ending to be rather unconvincing .

This novel unravels the emotional and suspenseful journey of two mothers entangled in an unthinkable situation – both claiming the same child as their own.

Lauren, residing in Spain with her infant son Sam, finds herself at the centre of turmoil when Spanish police knock her door alleging that Sam is not her son.

Hope and her husband Drew suffer the unimaginable tragedy of their son also named Sam disappearing.

The plot takes a chilling turn as both women insist that Sam is theirs, setting the stage for a heart-wrenching exploration of love and desperation.

The well drawm realistism in the portrayal of the characters’ emotions and decisions amplifies the psychological impact.

The suspense keeps the reader on edge as the author delves into the deepest recesses of maternal love and the lengths one would go to protect their child.

The Day I Lost You is a compelling, twisty, and emotionally resonant read that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

Ruth Mancini’s ability to craft a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling makes this novel a must-read for fans of psychological drama and suspense.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

The Day I Lost You pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go. Hope’s world unravels when her baby goes missing, and I felt every ounce of her fear, denial, and desperation. Ruth Mancini does such an incredible job layering mystery with deep emotional weight, I was constantly second-guessing what was real. It’s one of those stories that lingers long after the last page, haunting and heartbreaking in all the right ways.

I enjoyed this book maybe not quite as much as women on the ledge but it was ok, I really wanted to know what Lauren had over drew and hope. The author wrapped up the story well, I didn't notice any holes in the story line like I did with women on the ledge. I felt it was quite clear, the different timelines in the story and I didn't get confused.

I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous novels so I was looking forward to reading The Day I Lost You. It started off well but I found it an increasingly frustrating read. I usually enjoy multiple time line novels but the use of them here was confusing and I also found the differentiation of characters unclear. There were aspects that I enjoyed, Ruth Mancini writes well and I did feel that there was a good twisty plot but it needed editing to make it clearer.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Cracking read to keep you guessing!
First rate thriller. Who can you believe and what do you believe? The stories of three main people are intertwined and keeps the reader questioning what is true and what is false. Gripping right up to the final pages. Another Ruth Mancini cracking read. 5 star.