“So heart-wrenching… This story just grips you right from the start. I had a really hard time putting it down and found myself reading well into the night… Perfect for fans of such well known authors as Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.” Shelley’s Book NookLooking back, I wish I could find my way back to that moment. I’d snatch it and hold onto it and live in it for the rest of my life, if I … it for the rest of my life, if I could. When Emily could still throw her arms around me. Oh God, just give me that moment, or one like it again. That’s all I want.
From the moment Emily was born, reaching out with her tiny little star-shaped hand towards her mother, blinking with long eyelashes over soft blue eyes, she became Rachel’s whole world.
But Rachel’s worst nightmare comes true when a rare auto-immune illness leaves five-year-old Emily in a coma the doctors say she may never come out of. And Rachel is asked to make a heartbreaking decision.
But her ex-husband, Emily’s dad James, doesn’t agree with her. Terrified she’s about to lose her daughter for good, Rachel knows she must find a way to keep the hope alive for Emily. But there is only one person she can turn to for help to convince James—his new wife, Eva.
As an unlikely but powerful friendship develops between the two women, both Rachel and Eva will have to ask themselves—is there a chance for the tiny, fragile little girl who lies between them?
A beautiful story that will break your heart into a million pieces, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Susan Lewis.
Readers are loving A Hope For Emily:
“Not only broke my heart but shattered it… When the tears [came] though, they didn’t stop. It is such an emotionally charged novel… An absolute tear-jerker of a read for which I highly recommend having a box of tissues on standby.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“Wow, what an emotional novel. The storytelling was brilliant. Rachel and Eva’s story could’ve been anyone of us. I cried so hard.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“Tear-jerking… An incredibly moving story of love and heartbreak written with sensitivity and compassion, that tugs at the heartstrings and makes it impossible to stop reading. It’s so powerful and realistic that when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it, and by the time I reached the final chapters I was sobbing with tears streaming down my face.” NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars
“A gut wrenching, beautifully written story… If you know a mom, have a mom or are a mom, this story will touch your very soul.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“Stories like this… come in, break through and stay lodged in your head forever… I got a knot in my heart… As I read, I felt such deep sorrow… Kate Hewitt has… outdone herself.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“Amazing… It made me cry so hard by the last page… This book will rip out your heart but you won’t be able to stop reading.” Crossroad Reviews, 5 stars
“How I love the books by this author! She makes every emotion feel so real… An incredibly beautiful and mind-blowing story.” B for Bookreview, 5 stars
“A really emotional, tearjerker, heartbreaking read! Told with compassion and feeling… The dilemmas Rachel and James face are totally devastating… A truly heartbreaking read that will have you in tears right till the end!” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“When I pick up a book by Kate Hewitt, I make sure to grab a box of tissues along with it… A compelling read that made me think – and made me thankful for the blessings I have in my family.” Robin Loves Reading, 5 starsmore
Interesting story of how people deal differently with guilt in the face of tragedy.
A beautifully written novel that I hated to put down and couldn’t wait to get back to. It was absolutely heartbreaking what Rachel, James, and Eva went through, but in the hardship they endured, an unexpected friendship developed and new hope rose from the ashes of their broken lives. My first read by Kate Hewitt but she is now on my must-read list.
I found the concept of this story to be intriguing and knew there were many ways this story could go, depending on how the author wanted everything to play out. This is going to be extremely hard for me to review for multiple reasons. I abhor spoilers, but when I’m giving a book a mediocre review I want to give my reasons. Afterall, to each his own and there are many readers out there that may really like this story. I’ll do the best I can.
As I said, the concept is great. The biggest problem I had is my dislike of the characters. The book goes back and forth between the thoughts and views of two women, Rachel and Eva. They are the ex-wife and current wife of James. All three of these people have no quality to had me rooting for them. Eva came the closest, but for someone who was supposed to be a strong-minded business woman she sure didn’t speak up for herself very often. I will say I was a fan of Rachel’s mom, who we didn’t see too terribly much. But she had a knack of supporting her daughter while not feeding into Rachel’s obsession. I’m telling you, this is a book full of people who supposedly love and care about each other and little Emily (who is in a sort of coma), but do not express their feelings or thoughts to each other AT ALL. It got to be annoying.
One of the things I had an issue with is something I know is a bias, it really doesn’t have to do with the characters or the writers. That is, I did not in any way agree with the course of action Rachel was pushing so hard for when it came to Emily’s care. Yet, while I didn’t agree with Rachel, I couldn’t get on board with the way James was handling her through it all. Of course, a reader does not have to agree with the actions of the characters in order to enjoy the story. But I was so annoyed with all the characters that I just couldn’t get into this book.
There is quite a disconnect among the characters even when it comes to things that don’t have to do with Emily. The relationships just didn’t seem realistic to me. Yes, I know it’s fiction. But it’s a serious story and I think it’s meant to be believable. This is not a case of me being unable to suspend my disbelief since it’s not that type of book.
It’s not all bad. I did find this story to move slowly, but the author’s writing is smooth and has a good rhythm. As I’ve mentioned, I liked Rachel’s mom. There is also a character that comes in later, Rachel’s new neighbor, that I enjoyed. But overall, these couple side characters couldn’t redeem the story as a whole.
I’ve read other books by this author that I really enjoyed, so I’m sure I’ll try another book from her in the future. This one just wasn’t for me.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
A HOPE FOR EMILY is beautiful, gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, but beautiful. Kate Hewitt’s novels are a must-read for me for exactly this reason. She writes novels full of emotion that pull you in and don’t let you go. Hewitt is able to write stories and create characters and situations that are realistic, so much so, that you can actually see yourself in their position.
Rachel and James were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and both embraced life as parents, especially Rachel. When Emily starts having health problems, they take her to doctor after doctor, with no definitive diagnosis. As Emily gets progressively worse, James and Rachel’s marriage ends, and James eventually moves on and re-marries. When Emily slips into a state of unresponsive wakefulness with no real diagnosis, Rachel will do anything she can to give Emily a chance to come back to her. When James refuses to consider further treatment, Rachel finds an unexpected ally in Eva, James’s new wife. How far will a Mother go to give her child a chance? Is there a point when a parent should give up?
Hewitt creates a story full of emotion, with characters that are so well-written that you feel like they are people you know. The story hits close to home, especially since I am a mother. I kept putting myself in Rachel’s shoes and wondering how I would react in the same situation. Though everything with Emily seems to be the main focus, her situation and the ripple effects are what make the story.
Tissues are a must with this one, but don’t let that stop you from picking it up. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#AHopeforEmily #Bookouture #NetGalley
First, I want to thank Kate Hewitt, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
A Hope For Emily by Kate Hewitt is yet another book that touched my heart in so many ways. So many times, I wanted to reach into the book and give Rachel and sweet Emily a big hug.
Kate would like to dedicate this book to Mindy. She knows you have not been in touch for a long time, but she thinks of you often.
Right from the beginning of the book Kate hooked me on the book. Rachel discusses how she found out she became pregnant with Emily. This part of the story made me smile from ear to ear. In the story you will find Rachel writing letters to her daughter whom she refers to as her little bean. It is so cute. The letters that she writes her puts a personal touch on the story. It shows the love and the bond between the mother and the daughter.
However, then my heart broke into a million little pieces. I can relate to Emily as she and I both suffer from debilitating migraines. I suffer from them 10-20 times a month. However, a girl at the age of 5 having them with other neurological
disorders my heart went out to her. What is even sadder is the doctors at the best hospital couldn’t find a treatment for her.
Kate did an incredible job pulling out the raw emotions in the characters. Also, how it affected everyone else in the family good and badly.
A beautifully written novel of love, hope, fear and heartbreak.
“No parent should ever have to give up on their child, not when there still might be some hope left, no matter how small. No matter how slight.”
Rachel will never let Emily go! There has to be something that can be done to help her little girl get better.
Rachel gives up her job, her friends and even her marriage in an attempt to find treatments and to continue to advocate for Emily every single day through the years.
What she finds when her heart opens- is love and friendship in the most unlikely person.
This is an amazing journey and I promise you will need tissues close by while consuming the pages in this story.