“With empathy and keen insight, Sally Hepworth delivers a page-turning novel about the complex, lovely, and even heartbreaking relationships between mothers and daughters.–Emily Gifin Three generations of women Secrets in the present and from the past A captivating tale of life, loss, and love…Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own … surrounding her own pregnancy–including the identity of the baby’s father– hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. The more Grace prods, the tighter Neva holds to her story, and the more the lifelong differences between private, quiet Neva and open, gregarious Grace strain their relationship. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s situation thrusts her back sixty years in time to a secret that eerily mirrors her granddaughter’s–one which, if revealed, will have life-changing consequences for them all. As Neva’s pregnancy progresses and speculation makes it harder and harder to conceal the truth, Floss wonders if hiding her own truth is ultimately more harmful than telling it. Will these women reveal their secrets and deal with the inevitable consequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden?
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The Secrets of Midwives is the fifth book by Sally Hepworth that I’ve read. After reading the first one a couple of years ago, I’ve gone back to catch up on the earlier ones. Although I can see great quality in the improvement of the author’s writing, I daresay this might be my favorite one thus far. The story is well crafted and flows strongly. I …
This is tough book to review. One the one hand, I read it quickly and the plot kept me engaged. On the other, the writing style is nothing special, I never got very emotionally involved with the characters, and the ending wraps things up so neatly, it has felt a bit like watching a LifeTime movie on cable. Everybody is beautiful and you know …
My nursing background lured me to Australian Sally Hepworth’s novel, The Secrets of Midwives and I was not disappointed. Hepworth’s in-depth research offers an intriguing view into the world of midwifery, covering a period of sixty years. Well-developed characters are the heart of this novel. Three women from three generations explore the …
The Secrets of Midwives is a story of three generations of midwives. Each generation has secrets. The book was well written and I could identify, in some way with Neva, Grace, and Floss.
.Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy–including the identity of the baby’s father– hidden …
And engaging story spanning three generations of daughter, mother and grandmother midwives. The grandmother and granddaughter both have secrets that build the story and keep the momentum going, and the mother is accused of endangering a client during a home childbirth. The main characters were likable, their stories interesting, and the varying …
Just a great book.