This is one of the best books I’ve ever read! 5 out of 5 stars! To me, a book is worth 5 stars only if it makes me laugh, makes me cry, and changes me in some significant way. That’s a tall order, but this debut novel of Emma-Claire Wilson’s is all that and much more! It is real life at its’ best… and its’ worst.

Stephanie and James desperately wanted to become parents and had just learned they were expecting! Their hearts were overflowing with joy as they began to plan for their little “peanut.” Unfortunately, that joy was short-lived. Expecting to gaze at the beautiful sonogram of their child at their next pre-natal visit, they were instead met with the news that Stephanie had a life-threatening illness. Time was of the essence and the decision was an impossible one; save Stephanie or continue the pregnancy. Stephanie wanted to keep her baby at all costs, and James wanted to save his wife.

I was invested in this book from page one. This story holds a roller-coaster of emotions, and I felt every loop, twist, and drop right along with them. It wasn’t that I was ‘reading’ their story, it was like I was ‘in’ their hearts feeling each emotion. Additionally, this story hit very close to home for me in several ways. I lost many close loved ones during childhood, raised by a single parent, experienced a pregnancy with severe health complications, and the unbearable grief of losing a child.

I loved this book; it will stay with me always. It was sensitively written, exploring the most heart-wrenching and life-affirming moments that define one’s life. The end was beautiful and supported the theme; what is meant to be, will be. The story reminded me of a Jodi Picoult novel by addressing many significant issues of our time; grief, trust, faith, pregnancy and abortion, childhood emotional trauma, single-parent families, eldercare, and forgiveness. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a story that pulls you in an makes you consider what’s important in life.

I am grateful to Author Emma-Claire Wilson, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

This is a poignant, touching, heartbreaking story of love, loss and hope. It is emotional and impactful, and a real tearjerker.

Stephanie has wanted a baby for a very long time, so when she found out she was pregnant and also had a debilitating illness at the same time, there was no choice for her whether or not to keep the baby. Her husband though wanted her to choose her own life over that of the baby. They argued, they cried, they nearly destroyed their marriage, but fate intervened and made the choice for them.

I could not put this book down, I read it in a single day, and it brought me to tears, both happy and sad, many times over. I highly recommend this book and rate it 5 great big stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy.

Firstly I don’t think any review or star ratings could live up to how this book truly made me feel. A few weeks ago I asked my social platform about books that had left them in tears as I had yet to experience that. Well today I experiences just that. I’ve been bought to tears by movies, tv series and even songs but today this was the first book that bought tears to my eyes accompanied by ever different emotion and feelings that came with reading this raw novel.

I didn’t feel like I was just an outside reading each sentence, flicking each page, coming to the end of each chapter. I felt every heartache and emotion that the characters of this book were feeling. I wanted to reach inside this book a take Stephanie and James and lock them away from all the bad things that they had to have ever experience during their lifetime.

I started this book crying from utter heartbreak of the unexpected twists and turns in this beautiful couples journey and ended the book with floods of joy in my eyes and heart and with such closure.

This book was a breathtaking, heart-wrenching, emotional rollercoaster for me and I cannot wait to get my hand on a hard copy to keep on my bookshelf forever once this has been publish.

I only ‘𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑒’ this isn’t the end of your writing Emma.

𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆: 3𝑟𝑑 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I could give more stars I would...what a phenomenal book! "This Child of Mine" is a tragic story about a woman who has an impossible choice to make. She makes her decision, even though not everyone agrees, especially her husband, only for it to completely implode. This book is all about loss and grief and then overcoming it by resetting and starting anew. It's an exceptionally written book that released a lot of tears for me as I could relate to it in ways. The ending really blew me away though, especially when the penny dropped about the little girls name!

What a tearjerker. A beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking novel and I loved every page of it .James and Steph have had to cope with more loss than most people but when they finally think all their dreams are about to come true by becoming parents to a longed for child their lives are changed forever when the news isn't they expected. Their journey is so difficult and threatens to tare them apart but it is so beautifully written with sensitivity and healing that it takes your breath away. Highly recommend 5 🌟read

Heart-wrenchingly good. A real tearjerker, get the tissues ready.
A fabulous debut. Can't wait to read more from this author.

What a breathtaking read! Forget the usual emotional rollercoaster, this is a rocket of emotion that explodes from the page, nestling the characters into your heart making this story unforgettable.
The blurb offered the premise but the book gave so much more than expected; nothing prepared me for the immersive heartbreak that kept me engaged until the the last page. Beautifully written, Emma-Claire Wilson has not only captured the turmoil of a devastating diagnosis and horrendous dilemma to resolve but also the impact grief and childhood trauma. Despite not being in the specific scenarios covered, there were many moments when the unspoken feelings I’ve experienced were laid bare on the page, making it a strangely cathartic read.
The difficult subjects covered were expertly tackled with love, and raw honesty that will sing to many readers though boxes of tissues are required. And preparation for a severe book hangover is also needed.

A book of impossible choices which at once are solely central to one person and yet so many others have - or feel they have - a voice. In many ways a painful read but the dilemma unveils the strength of a mother's love and the sacrifices they will make for their child.

Such an emotional rollercoaster of a read but in all honesty this is one of the best books I have ever ever read I kept going back to it every few mins !!!!was sad when I finished it absolutely a cracker of a book!!!!

Wow, what a heartbreaking read but beautifully written story, I absolutely loved every minute of this book, and aww what an ending!

Is there a more heart-breaking book to come out this year than this? Even before I'd started reading it I knew I was going to be in for a tear-soaked time.

I can't even explain the way it's written to give it the justice it deserves. The words...they're like poetry, like silk moved on the page, like smooth melted chocolate - it's just so poetic and elegant and eloquent.

It's not an easy read. If you're like me, you'll cry within the first few pages. It's a hard story but a beautiful one.

I mean, it goes without saying that there's difficult subjects: pregnancy, miscarriage, cancer, death, grief, abandonment. So yes, it is hard to read in that sense, but it is handled so tenderly and sensitively that it's just a masterpiece of read. And it's a debut novel, which is just astounding, to have this much clarity of voice in a debut.

It's an impossible decision to make that Stephanie is faced with. Some may not like her for her one-track-mind, but I liked her for her strength. She was willing to discuss other options, but she knew in her heart what she wanted to do, and as it's her body at the end of the day, she believes that is all that matters. Whereas her husband James, I was a bit on the fence with for a lot of it. I understand his emotion and his frustration, but he seemed closed off to any other options, and he irked me somewhat. I just wanted to give them both a shake, make them sit down until they had an adult discussion. Neither can do it alone. He often called her selfish but I think at times he is the one that's selfish. They were my initial thoughts on the couple. But it's a complex book with complex emotions and complex characters; I flitted from sympathy to anger and back again throughout the book.

There is something so personal about the way it is written that I fear it's come from first-hand experience, and I really hope that's not true.

Somehow, given how dark and sad the storyline is, there's this potent undercurrent of hope and joy and love. Even in the worst of times, there is always something that'll lift you up, even if you can't see it at first. It's weird, there were moments where I was reading with a smile on my face but with tears streaming down. I think it's impressive writing to be able to balance the grief of the moment with sympathy and empathy and tenderness, without making a spectacle of it but without sugar coating it.

As someone who has had more than their fair share of grief over the years, I often find it difficult to fully put into words how I feel, but it's like Emma-Claire has written what my heart and soul needed to hear.

I think I am going to have the biggest book hangover from this one. It's proof why I generally steer clear of star ratings when I can, because this is worth more than 5 stars. In fact, I'm not sure there's enough stars in the sky to give this book the credit it deserves.

A five star emotional, heartfelt journey of a young couple who are expecting their first child.
So wanted, so loved, their tiny "peanut" that they have been praying for.
It is a family story that had me so drawn in, as Stephanie and James come to grips with the challenges in their lives and the grief that has flooded them all at once.

But... the gift they will receive is nothing short of a beautiful miracle that was meant to be. I believe in miracles and when you read this story, you will too!
*Tissues are definitely needed!*

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Avon Books, Uk for this amazing ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

"Sometimes, a child finds its way into your heart, via a path you never expected."

Beautiful, but very emotional story of tragedy, family, love, and life altering decisions. There are so many different paths my emotions went down in this book. I have to say I cried, got angry, sad , and of course happy. Left with a heart wrenching decision of choosing to live or give your unborn child life is the center of the story. From there the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride through many side stories that all meet to form one plot. This is the type of book that stays with you long after you read it.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Imagine discovering that you are carrying a baby you've been dreaming of and praying for for years, only to discover weeks later that you have ovarian cancer.
This is what happens to Stephanie whose entire being is thrown into utter horror as she navigates her options and makes decisions that will affect her and those she loves forever.

Emma Claire Wilson has written such a powerful narrative that is raw with grief and pain yet deeply touching and completely human.

Never have I shed so many tears over a book before. It is fair to say that I was a total soggy mess by the time I reached the last page!

Trigger warnings
This book deals in depth with the issues of terminal cancer and miscarriage.
Perfectly and tenderly handled but may cause upset if read by someone not at a place in their life where they can address these topics on page.

All through this book I kept on thinking e what would. I do in the same circumstances . It was a very moving story that brought the characters to life. I loved this story and will look out for others by this excellent writer.. Anyone who likes Amanda Prowse will love Emma-Claire Wilson as she writes in a very similar manner..
Highly recommend this book to make the reader think a lot.

Deciding between cancer treatments or continuing a pregnancy and then getting treatment. A pregnant mother to be has decisions to make. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. This talented author has written a page turner. The subjects are heart breaking. The characters are realistic. The story is difficult to read at times. Real life takes over. This fiction reads like nonfiction.

wow! congratulations to Emma-Claire Watson. what a rollercoaster of a book. I I couldn't put it down. but what an excellent read it was. definitely recommend.

A heartbreaking scenario of finally achieving your dream of a successful pregnancy, only to find that you are seriously ill and advised not to carry to term.
Stephanie finds herself in exactly this position and is desperate to see through the pregnancy despite her husband wanting her to save herself.
The emotions of the situation are so well written that you will cry along with the couple as they navigate through he decisions they are faced with.
Moving and heart-rending.

This Child of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson is a beautifully emotional read that had me going through an entire box of tissues but loving every page of the journey. The author so intimately intwined love and grief that it became a new emotion, more powerful the the sum of its parts. Highly recommend!

From reading the blurb, you know you're going to be in for quite a ride with This Child of Mine, but Emma-Claire Wilson draws you into the lives of Stephanie and James with such force that you barely have time to draw breath before the next emotional punch. I loved the idea of how shock waves radiate from Stephanie's situation and how her decision impacts on all of those around her, particularly her husband, James, a character who is revealed in more depth as the book progresses. It's a book that reveals human frailty and fallibility and is about the bonds that make us, as well as the things that can drive us apart. A brave novel that made an impression on me.

A truly heart breaking story, what you will do to become a mother, after many miscarriages, she finally hears the
news she has been waiting for but also finds out she is ill. A beautiful books that show all the emotions
involved in becoming a mum. And ending that she was not expecting.

Stephanie finds herself pregnant with a much longed for child whilst also finding out she has a serious illness. Her husband is desperate to save her even if it means losing what they have both always wanted and what would make their lives complete.
The author dealt with the issues very sensitively and I do believe with a certain amount of personal experience.
It's hard to believe this is the first published book by this author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Stephanie is faced with the very best and worst news all in the same day. Her and James are finally expecting a baby but she also has cancer. Avoiding treatment could cost her life but would she ever get pregnant again? This was an emotional read and tissues will be needed!

What an emotional rollercoaster ride this was, reading it! Gosh, 5 stars for definite.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

A story that will really leave you divide as you can see both sides of each others opinions. A twist I did not see coming that left me felling so emotionally ugh (the only way to describe it!) a fantastic story that stays with you long after you finish it.

Anyone reading the synopsis for this book will recognise that it isn’t going to be an easy read and there are definite trigger warnings around dealing with infertility and cancer. That said, despite the difficult content, this is an incredible read and a stunning debut from the author.

Being based on personal experience means there is a really insightful perspective on how potentially life changing events can impact not only on individuals, but their relationships and friendships too.

I especially loved the way Steph”s job as a photographer was interwoven to show how imagery and memory can play such important parts in dealing with trauma. The theme of focusing on the finer details fits perfectly into the narrative, as does Steph’s belief that all the negative hands she has been dealt have been told ‘in fours’. This was really cleverly done.

The added tension in the plot created by James’ secrecy creates even more empathy in the reader for Steph.

This is an emotional, rollercoaster of a read but totally un-put-downable!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Avon publishing for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Prepare to be emotionally stunned by this gut-wrenching novel! This novel tackles so many difficult topics with the utmost care. The amount of grief in this novel will rip your heart out, but you will root for everyone involved, not just one person. You will be left gutted. Just know that going in.

James and Stephanie's dreams of having a family are finally coming true until one doctors appointment throws their entire world off its axis. It seems like their world will never be right after that appointment, and then tragedy strikes again. It leaves you grappling with questions about how much one family can endure? Can they move past all the secrets, the loss, the trauma? Can they piece their life back together while staying together, or will everything fall apart in the wake of their emotional turmoil?

My heart was completely shattered with all the grief and loss in this novel. It allowed me to release my own emotions that I didn't know I was still carrying.

Thank you, netgalley, for this e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘This Child Of Mine’ by Emma-Claire Wilson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

On the day Steph and James have their pregnancy confirmed they also learn that Steph has cancer and it’s recommended she have a termination so they can start treatment. Steph is determined to keep their baby but James thinks his wife’s life is more important. The more they disagree the wider the rift in their marriage becomes especially as Steph believes James is keeping secrets from her.

‘This Child Of Mine’ is one of the most heartbreaking stories I’ve read as it deals with the pain, loss and grief of something a couple shouldn’t have to experience and tells of how they deal with it. It’s an incredibly moving story that’s had me in tears from the beginning and those tears continued throughout the book. It’s such a powerful and realistic story that when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about this brave couple, and by the time I reached the final chapters I was still in tears but they were those of joy and thankfulness. My congratulations to Emma-Claire Wilson who’s written a wonderful novel about subjects that have been dealt with sensitively and with compassion, and will stay in my thoughts for a long time.

My Review
I have been waiting for this blog tour since my very first glimpse of the cover of This Child of Mine. A debut novel from author Emma Claire Wilson and isn't this a very special moment for her. Imagine the nerves, the anticipation and the hope that everyone will love your story.
That everyone will take your characters into their hearts and love them as much as you do.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved This Child of Mine. I gathered from reading the blurb that it was going to be a tear jerker so I braced myself and took my time with it.
If I'm honest I wanted to enjoy every word of it.
Emma writes her story like someone with years of experience in what she is doing.
Her writing is superb, her words breathtaking so many times.
I reflected on my own life so often whilst reading and often found peace and comfort in her words.
We meet Stephanie and her husband James in this story. Both their lives are filled with tragedy and grief. A moment that should be the most exciting for a couple turns into a complete nightmare in a matter of moments.
I wondered how they would get through it. Would they find comfort in each other or would it be something that they couldn't quite agree on.
I was devastated for them, truly heartbroken at times as they struggled to understand, to listen and to share.
I don't know how I got to the end of the story but I did having cherished every word of it.
Author Emma Claire Wilson has found her place in the book world with this phenomenal story and I cannot wait to see what will come from her in the future.
Well worth your time...

This is a Hard Hitting Women's Fiction. There is a lot in this book that could trigger a reader, so please look into triggers before putting up this book. This book took me on an emotional ride that I was totally pulled into the story. I felt so many different feelings while reading this book, and I love when a book does that. This book will break your heart, but then it will pick up your heart and put it back together. I love this story so much. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Avon) or author (Emma-Claire Wilson) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

My Review: What a fabulous Debut. A totally emotional read. What do you decide when there is a choice to make and both choices mean loss or possible loss. Even more, it’s when all you have ever wanted hangs in the balance. Having lost her brother to Leukemia when he was 11, her mother walked out shortly after, loss is nothing new to Stephanie. Her husband James is also no one who knows loss well. What will they decide? The decision really isn’t his, it’s hers. Her best friend Julie, her father, all love and worry for her, and how she is managing. Even though it’s a hard topic, the way this story is written is engaging. I simply could not put it down, I needed to know what happens. It’s a true page turner. The topic matter could be a trigger to some. Highly recommended read.

I'm certainly not this book's typical reader. But it's wowed even me (4.5 stars rounded up)

I've said many times before that I'm a stereotypical middle-aged man. I can't take hints, don't remember birthdays, can't comprehend why anyone needs more than three pairs of shoes - or maybe five, if you include running shoes and Wellington boots - and have never understood the point of moisturiser. Romance? I'm not even sure what that means.

Recently, though, I've started to wonder whether even I have something of a hidden feminine side. I like outdoor swimming for a start, which is an activity that, for no reason that I can fathom, seems to be enjoyed mostly by women. It seems that most other people who read and subsequently write about books are female, as are most of my favourite authors (Ian Rankin and Peter James excepted). And I somehow seem to have requested an ARC of This Child of Mine from Netgalley, despite it being classed as "women's fiction" on that website and "romantic fiction" on another. I can't for the life of me remember how that came about.

I'm glad I did, though. Wow, I'm glad I did.

I've often said that the best pieces of psychological fiction are those that can draw you in to the mind of a character, to the extent that you share their thoughts, their emotions and their fears. Well, This Child of Mine does that with a vengeance from the very first page. After years of trying for a baby with her husband James, and more than one miscarriage, Stephanie is given the most wonderful, and almost the most awful news imaginable almost in the same breath.

She is pregnant. She has ovarian cancer. If she proceeds with treatment, her unborn baby will have to die. But if she sees the pregnancy through, it will almost certainly cost her her own life.

The book asks the simple question of its readers: what would you do? And perhaps it's the insensitive male thing coming through or maybe it's my not being a parent, but for me the answer was immediately clear. And it's the same one that James had: have the treatment. Don't risk something that you don't already have when the gamble is the near-certainty of losing what you already do. Stephanie, though, feels differently. And her thoughts are conveyed so powerfully and so clearly that even I could understand them. She's a mother. Her baby is alive inside her. And wouldn't a mother do anything to save her child?

This is wonderful, beautiful, powerful writing. And considering that it's the author's debut, it's astonishing. I felt for Stephanie. I felt for James. I also felt for Wendy's dad, because I think I can say that I'd also have done exactly what he did if I had been in his position. If I have a hidden feminine side, I wonder if Emma-Claire Wilson has a hidden masculine one, because she sure as heck got into my head.

I must also mention the ending of the book, which is a proper 'wow' and 'lump in throat' moment. After finishing the book I - to quote an often-used phrase in psychological fiction again - let out a breath that I hadn't realised I'd been holding.

And oh, how I wish I could end this review there. But I'm afraid that, for me, there was one problem. I'll try not to give away too many spoilers, but there is a side story featuring James and his own closely-guarded secret. I didn't think that this story needed to be included. At the beginning, it causes Stephanie to suspect James of having an affair, which dare I say felt a little bit cheap and distracted from the superb main story. And by the end, it seemed like one tragedy too many. I couldn't help but wonder if Emma-Claire would have done better to have kept this storyline back and used it as the plot for a whole new book.

It's for this reason that I reluctantly have to deduct a half-star from what would otherwise have been perhaps the easiest maximum rating that I've given so far this year. But I realise that this is subjective and just my opinion. Ultimately, it doesn't alter my main conclusion, which is that This Child of Mine is quite simply fabulous. It doesn't matter who you are or what you normally read: if you have a heart at all, this book will find it, break it and then heal it again. Congratulations, Emma-Claire.

My thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 6th July 2023. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram and Twitter.

In the interests of transparency, I have to admit that Emma-Claire is a very good friend of mine and one of my writing tribe and I have shared closely in the publication journey of this book. I know exactly what this book means to her and how hard she has worked to get to this point and I so want it to be successful for her. It is always difficult for me to review books in these circumstances. I have this platform to share reviews of books so I obviously want to be able to use it to support my friends but I also am always honest about the books I review and I can’t compromise that for anything if I want my readers to trust me, so I always approach the reviewing of my friends’ books with some trepidation.

I knew this book was also going to be particularly difficult for me because of the subject matter. Having suffered from baby loss myself, it can be hard to read that as a storyline in a novel but I knew that Emma-Claire had come to it from a place of understanding and enlightenment and I share her view that this is a topic that is still shrouded in too much silence and misunderstanding and should be more widely discussed to lift the aura of taboo that surrounds it. This book is filled with honesty and a deep compassion which meant I was able to get through it without breaking down.

Steph and James are a couple deeply in love who just want a baby to complete their perfect family. Unfortunately, on the day that Steph finds out she is finally carrying their longed-for child, she also discovers she has a serious illness, the life-saving treatment for which will almost certainly end her pregnancy. They have an impossible decision to make.

This is a situation that no one ever wants to contemplate finding themselves in but is a tragic reality for some people and, once you sit down and consider what you might do in those circumstances, you realise how impossible the choice would be. Emma-Claire does a fantastic job of conveying just how hopeless trying to logically balance the pros and cons of the choice would be, and just how easily these circumstances can tear the strongest couple apart. How do you come to terms with sacrificing either your child or the person you love most in the world? How do you reconcile yourselves to such an insurmountable loss? No one who hasn’t been through such things can truly wrap their head around what it would be like to be faced with this scenario, but reading Emma-Claire’s depiction of this story might be the closest you will come, I hope. The pain and hopelessness bleeds off the page and into your heart until it feels like it is being ripped asunder, just as Steph’s is.

I will admit, I didn’t always understand Steph and her reasoning along the way. Sometimes she acted in a way that was very different to the way I think I would have and, at points I wanted to give her a little shake and explain why she was approaching things in the wrong way. I was a bit frustrated and afraid for her. But that is the genius of this book. How she was behaving, although frustrating, was totally believable and illustrative of just how impossible it is to make informed and rational decisions when faced with this situation. How people will react purely based on emotion in those moments, unable to look at the bigger picture and weigh up the evidence in a balanced way. It may look like insanity from the outside, but when you are in the middle of it, it seems like the only possible thing to be done. Understanding this, and reacting with love and patience to the people dealing with it, will go a long way to helping anyone going through this kind of trauma cope.

Whilst this book deals with a traumatic topic and will wring every emotion out of you along the way, it also manages to be uplifting and deliver a note of hope along the way. Baby loss is not the end, Emma-Claire and I are testament to that. Life goes on, and it can be a good life if you can find your way through. Books like this can offer a glimpse of that hope when all may seem hopeless, and I think this is really, really important. This book gets the balance just right, it is beautifully done and a tribute in itself to the strength and resilience and determination of couples, and particularly women, everywhere who has faced up to baby loss. To come out of the other side still standing, still living, is nothing short of heroic in my eyes and I cannot think of a better example of this fortitude and grace than this book and the person who so bravely and intelligently wrote it. It may not be an easy thing for some people to read but it is so important and so worthwhile, I truly hope everyone will do so.

So, on behalf of this mother of a child who never got to grow up, I think you, Emma-Claire, for portraying this experience with such skill and sympathy and making me feel a little less alone in the world and a little more seen and understood.

This Child of Mine is not my normal type of book but the description grabbed me and I am so glad I read it. It was an emotional, heartbreaking read which I would highly recommend but make sure you have a good supply of tissues to get you through it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

Thanks netgalley for my early review Copy.

What a emotional book. I really enjoyed the read but make sure u got the tissues ready.

Omg! I'm out of tissues after reading this book, it touches on quite a few hard topics. Stephanie finds out that she is pregnant after struggling for quite some time and she is ecstatic but then Stephanie and her husband find out that Stephanie is seriously ill and that if she carries the baby to term Stephanie will not survive. I don't think there was anything that life didn't throw at Stephanie and through it all she remained brave and strong. The story is very deep and in-depth but is told with understanding and compassion. It shattered my heart but I unfortunately know how unfair life can be, it still broke me this story. I loved every single thing about it though as it is so beautifully and well written. A story of family, love,loss and hope. Keep the tissues handy.

Firstly let me start by saying you will 100% need the tissues when reading this book. This is one of those emotional books that will have you blubbing even before you finish the first chapter, well that’s what happened to me. This is such a heart wrenching read at times and one that makes you think imagine if that was me, what would I do ? From the very start this book had me utterly captivated and by the end I was an emotional wreck. This is the authors debut novel and what a debut it is.

When Stephanie is told that she's pregnant and that she is sick on the same day, she faces an impossible choice....

After trying for a baby for so long, finding out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But in the same breath as the news I had been waiting for years to hear, the doctor told me I was seriously ill. If I carry the baby to term, I will almost certainly die. If I proceed with treatment, my baby will not live. My husband- the father of this child - is telling me to save myself. But with all the secrets I know he is keeping from me; I can't trust him anymore. What would you do?

This is a beautifully written but heartbreaking read. Stephanie has an almost impossible choice to make - save her unborn baby or save her own life. She makes her decision, but not everyone agrees with her choice, especially her husband. This is a story of hope, love and loss and it moved me to tears several times. I felt every emotion that Stephanie and her husband James went through. I was fully invested in this story. Despite there being many difficult topics, this book has been written sympathetically. Just make sure you have the tissues handy before you start reading this book. This is the best book I've read this year so far, and I've read some really good ones.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #EmmaClaireWilson for my ARC of #ThisChildOfMine in exchange for an honest review.

This Child of Mine is a heart-wrenching story, but one which is ultimately uplifting.
Stephanie has been dealt a sh*t hand, to put it mildly. She is pregnant after years of trying but fate has intervened and is trying its best to snatch away the very thing she wants most in this world. I can’t even begin to imagine how you would process being pregnant and diagnosed with a life-threatening illness at the same time. Save yourself or save your baby? I honestly don’t know how I would feel in her situation but could totally understand her reluctance to just put herself first. I could also totally understand her husband’s perspective. A heart-breaking situation to find yourself in.
As if that wasn’t bad enough her life is devastated further and it’s no wonder she feels numb and unable to see any hope in her future.
There is though. There is always hope!
This is where the story really began to melt my heart and leave a smile on my face.
Such a beautiful ending.
I absolutely LOVED it!
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**

Oh my giddy Aunt! What an emotional and powerful read this is!!
I don’t even know where to begin with this book as I feel totally blown away, and emotionally drained by it.
The very first thing that struck me with this book is how easily I felt every single emotion of Stephanie and James as they go on their journey throughout this book, needless to say the amount of tears I shed on their behalf too. Their story is heartbreaking, and being able to imagine people going through this made me feel so sad.
I’d love to go into more detail but I don’t want to give anything away as there is so much more to this story than the blurb tells you, and quite frankly, even though Stephanie and James’s story has made my heart break, it has also swelled as there’s some absolutely beautiful and moving moments in it too.
My words will never do this book justice, but if you love a tender, moving story that grips at your heart, this book is definitely for you.
My rating comes very easy for this book…a big sparkly 5 stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

First, I want to thank Emma-Claire Wilson, Avon Books, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review!

Ohh Emma-Claire Wilson you know how to write a beautiful emotionally filled story that pulls hard on my heart strings! This Child Of Mine I needed to escape my reality for a while and have a good ugly cry. However, next time I read this author I will remember to stock up on tissues.

The cover artists at Avon Books did an amazing job capturing the theme of the book. Not to mention the colors were beautiful! Great job.

Emma-Claire wrote some very personal topics dealing with women issues. She did a phenomenal job expressing the raw emotions of each character involved. Stephanie was incredibly brave and immensely strong! I don’t know what I would have done in her shoes. She had my back the whole story!

This story had a lot of ups and downs, twists, turns, secrets, revelations, and heartbreak.

There were some beautiful and touching scenes where you can’t help but smile at how things work out in the long run.

This Child of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson. ⭐⭐⭐

. Definitely a double, triple box of tissues tear jerker.

Steph has always wanted to be a mom. After miscarriages she ends up pregnant and makes it to 15 weeks she's over joyed. She goes to the Dr and get horrible news. She must decide between her baby or her life. Could you make that choice? Is one more important than the other? How can you even make that choice.
Pre-order your copy today so you can find out what she decides to do. It releases July 6th.

This Book will break your heart but it will make you heal in every way. I highly recommend you read this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This was a heart wrenching roller coaster ride of a story. I read this book in two days; I couldn’t wait to see what happened. The author weaves a gorgeously sad sale that sucks you in from page 1. I highly recommend, just make sure you have tissues around. Can’t wait for the author’s next book.

An impossible choice. Deep grief. And hope. All the things facing Stephanie and James when they're told that she's both pregnant and has ovarian cancer. What would you do? These two differ but then the choice is taken from them and they must cope with the aftermath. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a tough and emotional read that pulls at the heart.

Steph and James have tried for years to have a baby, after numerous miscarriages she is finally pregnant with their rainbow baby, but on the day of a scan she is given the devastating news that she has cervical cancer. They have an unthinkable decision to make, have treatment but terminate the pregnancy or continue with the pregnancy but risk Steph"s life.
Oh my goodness this was such a good book but very heartbreaking. You feel every emotion that Steph and James are feeling. Despite having many difficult subjects the book has been written with such compassion. Make sure to have tissues at your side. A great debut novel