This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kelly Allen
Moira is 15 when she discovers she will cannot have children. Her parents’ disappointment and shame cause her to hide her medical condition from the world around her, causing her to feel different and very much alone.
Tori and Harry are desperate to have a child via surrogacy, but the ‘s’ word is not socially acceptable and they too keep their hopes and dreams hidden from the real world, investing their strength and love in the hope that one day they will have a child of their very own.
Mrs Brown is alone – her husband passed away six years ago – and with no children or grandchildren to see, she feels lost to the world and ready to join her husband.
All three women have felt loss even before gain, but through the love and friendships of the important people in their lives, these women are capable of anything.
The cover of this book hooked me in from the start. I was intrigued to read the three very different but also very similar stories. The book begins with Moira and explains, to a certain extent, what Rokitansky syndrome is and what it will mean for Moira in the future. The childlike take on this very first chapter is amazing, and my mothering instincts kicked in, making me want to hug Moira and tell her she was going to be okay.
When the story moves on to Tori and Mrs Brown, it is clear that the three women have something in common. I was moved by Mrs Brown’s story, and I realised that she wasn’t who she thought she was quite early on. This storyline was incredibly sad, and I found it the most heart-wrenching to read. I was a little confused at the end of the book though, unsure of the full details regarding Mrs Brown’s family and what exactly happened with her adopted child. I would have liked this to have been explained more fully.
Tori’s story was more relevant to me and my own time of life, the longing for a child and the early stages of marriage all relevant, except she has no way of physically carrying a child herself. This was all rather sad, but I found the marital fall outs and dialogue a little unrealistic at times. I was often relieved to be returning to Moira’s or Mrs Brown’s storyline.I was most intrigued with Moira, and I loved the character changes that she went through from a fearful adolescent to a fearless young woman. This was an inspiring storyline and I would have preferred a whole book centred on her from a younger age instead of three entwining stories. I was totally intrigued by her personal struggles and really wanted to find out more about her parents; I would have liked to have seen their behaviour and attitude towards her expanded upon and examined more closely.
I really enjoyed this book, especially when I realised that the connection between these women is more than mere coincidence.
7/10