“A shattering adventure.” — Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the OceanA mother’s chance decision leads to a twist of fate that is every parent’s worst nightmareIt is the wrong time to get sick. Speeding down the highway on the way to work, her two little girls sleeping in the back seat, medical resident Claire Rawlings doesn’t have time for the nausea overtaking her. But … Rawlings doesn’t have time for the nausea overtaking her. But as the world tilts sideways, she pulls into a gas station, runs to the bathroom, and passes out. When she wakes up minutes later, her car—and her daughters—are gone.
The police have no leads, and the weight of guilt presses down on Claire as each hour passes with no trace of her girls. All she has to hold on to are her strained marriage, a potentially unreliable witness who emerges days later, and the desperate but unquenchable belief that her daughters are out there somewhere.
As hopeful and uplifting as it is devastating, Little Lovely Things is the story of a family shattered by unthinkable tragedy, and the unexpected intersection of heartbreak and hope.
Perfect for readers of Watch Me Disappear and After Anna!
Additional Praise for Little Lovely Things:
”Little Lovely Things is an insightful and moving read that is well worth the journey.” — Vivian Schilling, bestselling author of Quietus
“Combining the suspense and razor-sharp outlook of a Gillian Flynn novel, Maureen Connolly’s debut sizzles. I finished Little Lovely Things in one heartbreaking, tear-batting gulp. Connolly takes risks that make the reader’s heart start anew. Finding shards of hope amidst the chaos of tragedy is a testament to both the writer, and the characters she creates.” — Jenny Milchman, USA Today bestselling author of Wicked River
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This debut novel by Maureen Connolly will keep you on the edge of your seat as you keep turning pages fast to find out how the story ends. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare about the abduction of their children and the way a family shatters after such a terrible event.
Claire and her husband have two little girls – 4 year old Andrea and 15 month old Lily. Claire was in medical school with the end in sight where the family would have enough money and time to be able to enjoy their lives together. As Claire takes her children to day care, she gets violently ill. She stops at a gas station and leaves the car running because the girls are asleep but when she goes into the ladies room, she passes out. When she stumbles outside, her car with her daughters in it is gone. The police have no leads and Claire feels guilty and blames herself. As hours and then days pass with no sign of the girls and no witnesses, all she has to hold onto is her strained marriage and her belief that her daughter are alive somewhere out there.
This was a difficult book to read because any book about children is difficult but it is definitely worth reading. The characters are so well written that the reader feels Claire’s pain and guilt along with her. How will she learn to live her life again and cope with the differences in the way that she and her husband are grieving without feeling anger towards him?
This is a family drama definitely worth reading. It’s a debut novel for this author and I am looking forward to her future books.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
/ 5
Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly is a gripping debut novel about the choices we make that will be sure to move you to tears.
What it’s about: Claire Rawlings seems like superwoman, a mother of 2 little girls she is also juggling a husband and a medical residency and seems to be holding everything together perfectly. But this illusion will completely shatter one day when she has a bad allergic reaction and her daughters get kidnapped while she is in the bathroom at a gas station. Told in multiple viewpoints, this is the story of a family torn apart after a tragedy and how everyone copes with the guilt.
Little Lovely Things is definitely a book that is going to pull at your heart strings. There isn’t a mystery here, but a story of loss, guilt, and how one family deals with a tragedy. I can’t even tell it is a debut novel, that is how moved I was by Connolly’s writing. The flow was perfect, and she seems to really be able to portray how an actual family would deal with a kidnapping and the aftermath.
The book is short at just over 300 pages but it really packs a wallop. I found myself tearing up at different points, and I felt very connected to the family and what they were going through. I have never been through a kidnapping (thank god), but the characters all made choices I could see happening in real life. I think this would be a great choice for lovers of women’s fiction, literary fiction, and novels that talk about the bonds of family.
Final Thought: For some reason I was expecting a bit of a mystery (even though the synopsis obviously doesn’t make it sound like there is one), but that is not what you will get. You know who took the girls and why, but Little Lovely Things really explores the choices we make and the consequences it can have on people around you. It is a novel that will definitely make you think, and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see what Connolly’s talented writing will hit us with next!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
I was completely spellbound by this book…a riveting and heart-wrenching story that illustrates how our lives can change in an instant. One minute Claire is the mother of two daughters, happily married, a busy medical resident, in the next moment she is grief-stricken, a shell of her former self. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, turning pages so quickly it was as if they turned themselves. Along with a compelling story, the characters are so wonderfully written that their emotions became mine, as if I were in their skin. This is a beautifully written story as well, lyrical at times but always keeping the story moving at a fast pace.
Little Lovely Things is the story of a parent’s worst nightmare. Claire was driving her two young daughters to daycare when she had a terrible allergic reaction to meds. She pulled into a gas station, left the car running with the girls still inside and ran into the restroom. After passing out in the restroom, she found her car and her daughters missing. I was pulled into this story from the first page. Little Lovely Things is a page turner! Maureen Joyce Connolly has written a captivating debut!
I was so honored to be asked to be part of the book tour for this wonderful book! I began reading this book during the wonderful polar vortex in Michigan, it was a nice surprise to see that this book took place partly in Michigan as well! Yes I’m a Michigander! Claire a mother of two beautiful little girls happily married to her husband Glen she’s a physician in training. Claire wakes up with a fever and a small rash but she doesn’t want to miss her rounds, she rushes around packs the girls in the car to take them to daycare. While driving she starts to feel like she’s going to throw up her fever is causing her to almost black out. She pulls into a gas station the girls are sleeping so she rushes into the bathroom throws up and passes out . When she come to she rushes out side and her car and daughters are gone! The book is told in a couple of different perspectives first Claire’s she’s never forgiven herself for that fateful day. The grief has taken over her life and is about to completely end her marriage. Moira and Eamon who are Irish travelers who are completely responsible for Claire’s and Glens worst day of their lives. Jay who ends up being an innocent witness whose role becomes bigger as the book goes along. He ends up being my favorite! I loved how raw every character was I found my heart breaking for Claire and I even caught myself with tears in my eyes. The way the author described the background and nature made me feel like I was walking right along with Jay and seeing things through his eyes. What scared me as a parent is how one minute can change a whole lifetime. This book takes off and sucks you in and through out the book it slowly builds more of the story line. I give this book four stars!
Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Little Lovely Things” by Maureen Joyce Connolly, Sourcebooks Landmark, April 2, 2019
OMG! WOW! Maureen Joyce Connolly, Author of “Little Lovely Things” has amazingly written an intense, thought-provoking, intriguing, emotional, riveting, page-turning, captivating, and suspenseful nightmare for any parent. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller. The timeline for this story starts in the past and goes several years into the present when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her characters as flawed, complex and complicated possibly due to the events and circumstances in the story.
Claire Rawlings has two young children and is a medical resident. Claire has about 5 months to finish her residency, and hopefully we be on the track to making her family financially secure. Being a medical resident requires that the staff is given certain vaccinations to prevent them from catching communicable diseases. After Claire receives the vaccination, she starts to get a rash, and then starts to exhibit terrible symptoms. Claire has her two young children with her as she is driving them to daycare, so she can go to the hospital to work. Leaving her car running, she runs to the nearest public bathroom by a public-garage, feeling really sick. Claire blacks out. When she becomes concious, the car and both are daughters are missing.
The Paramedics and Police are surrounding her. Claire has had a rare allergic reaction to the vaccination and is hospitalized. Meanwhile a phone line is set up and alerts are as well. The police are looking for her two young daughters.
There are twists and turns and ups and downs. Some of the characters that are involved are good and some are evil. The investigation takes place over a few years.
I love that the author brings animals into the story with interesting personalities. I also appreciate that the author discusses how a tragedy can bring the best and worst out in people. Also discussed as having hope, faith and love.
I was literally sitting at the edge of my seat, as I was reading this. I couldn’t stop reading. Kleenex warning: Be sure to have tissues available. Maureen Joyce Connolly has written a masterpiece of suspense, that will leave you speechless. I would recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy mysteries and suspenseful thrillers.
When I started this book I did not expect to have my heart ripped out, my emotions so raw and the tears to flow so hard.
From the first to the dramatic ending this book made me cry. Ugly sad tears and at times tears of happiness for the characters. I rooted for Claire and Glen to make it through the worse thing that can possible happen to a couple. For them to cling to each other and help each other through this horrible time. They had so much pain and loss. From blaming themselves to possibly blaming each other. They didn’t sit and talk things through. It was like they didn’t except what happened. Maybe closed down to it.
Claire certainly had enough guilt for both parents and Glen in ways made me so mad. I thought he was a bit cold but in reality I’m sure he was suffering too. How do you go on when the things you treasure most are taken from you. You have no idea where they are or what is happening to them.
This was certainly a sad story with a very good ending. I loved almost all the characters. I did not like Moira. I found her to be very unlikable and cold. I know she went through a lot but there was no excuse for the things she did. She was cold hearted and I just did not like her.
Jay I loved. He was full of compassion and cared about the parents of these two beautiful girls. He played a pivotal role in this story and I really loved him. He was a down on his luck drunk who had more feelings than lots of people would have had.
This book is a page turner for sure. It has things going on that will keep you in edge, keep you wondering how it’s all going to play out. It’s a story of love, loss, empathy, caring, sadness, tragedy and you will want to keep reading to see what happens next. It’s a well written book.
This author did a great job of this book. She sure brought out the emotions in me. When you read it have plenty of Kleenex handy because I promise you will need them.
I loved the ending but there is one thing I do wish would have happened or been taken care of.
Another 5 star review from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review. I highly recommend this book!!
Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly
Her debut novel, Maureen Joyce Connolly grabs you on the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. Wrought with fear, consumed with guilt, and propelled back into her everyday life just to survive Claire would give everything to change the events of that fateful day with her daughters, Andrea and Lilly. Little Lovely Things is one of those books you can’t imagine into reality as a parent but fear every single day. Feverishly fast-paced, Little Lovely Things is a story you won’t stop thinking about after you read it, reminding us that each decision we make no matter how small can be life-altering but if we pay attention we might still see the light that guides each of us.
The characters were resilient, the storyline was suspenseful and griping, my one and only dislike was that I wanted more of the story at the end!
What happened to Claire Rawlings could happen to any parent. And I think that terrified me the most. The ‘what if’, the there but for the grace of God’. The how do we go on from here.
This story is so beautifully written, that, as a writer, I wish I had written these words. But I won’t lie to you, parts of if are difficult to read. But you must. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your children.
Ms. Connolly is a brave author to put our worst nightmare in front of us. To show us her worst nightmare
I was provided an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. It was a privilege.
Little Lovely Things is the story of every parents worst fear come to life. Claire Rawlings had a hectic schedule balancing medical school and life with her husband Glen, and two young daughters Lily and Andrea until one fateful day both girls are kidnapped altering all of their lives forever. This unforgettable story is told not only through words but symbols, memories, instincts, traditions, unlikely friendships and faith. The characters will stay etched in your memory long after you’ve read this tragic but beautiful story that highlights the strength of the human spirit and the bonds that cannot be broken.
Little Lovely Things is a remarkable debut novel from Maureen Joyce Connolly that is enthralling, enigmatic, heart-breaking and full of dark suspense. We anxiously encounter the nightmare every parent dreads. SOMEONE STOLE MY CHILDREN! The story engages our thoughts and emotions and pulls us erratically between hope and despair.
Claire was suffering a dreadful reaction after taking a double vaccine dose, and while driving with her 2 children pulls into a garage where she is violently sick in the toilet and passes out. When she awakens, her car with her 2 daughters, Lily and Andrea, is gone. The anguish and turmoil experienced by Claire and how she manages alongside her husband is beautifully crafted. The undercurrents of guilt and blame are subtly drawn and Maureen explores how their relationship gets put under strain with such clever, emotional and concealed forces that it is just … a-maz-ing.
Jay is a Native American who has an extrasensory insight about certain events and has been attracted to particular circumstances. Somehow he found himself intuitively driving along a deserted track and he finds clues of the children that drags him into the story and a connection with Claire that is ultimately a lifeline for all involved.
The background and relationship between Moira and Eamon, who kidnapped the children, is also very unique and again the multiple character layers are so wonderfully crafted. Both are Irish travellers with a unique outlook and approach to life and it’s their disreputable lifestyle that underpins the destructive motivation in this story. Moira, in particular, is a multi-faceted character and her irrational connection to the girls shapes many of the decisions she makes.
Maureen develops fascinating complex characters and their interactions are wonderfully portrayed and not always obvious. This brings about an intriguing and captivating power to the novel where we can experience the different dynamics between the two couples and sympathise, at times, with the criminal elements, and become frustrated with the victims.
Maureen uses a very descriptive writing style and initially, it is wonderful to appreciate the imaginative ways of describing the settings or reactions between characters, however, after a while, I felt it started to intrude into the flow of telling the story. This is a personal point-of-view as it’s a fine line allowing the reader the freedom to complete the images outlined by the author rather than describe every minute detail.
The pace of the story is steady for the majority of the book, but that gives the sense of a bubbling precarious theme that eventually ramps up towards a climactic end. While the main story concept is not new, it does, however, introduce unique perspectives, plot elements and characters that I thoroughly enjoyed. The psychological elements seem very well researched and were very interesting.
I highly recommend this book and I wish to thank Maureen Joyce Connolly and NetGalley for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
Claire Rawlings is feeling feverish and worried she might pass out while driving to her medical residency. She is forced to pull over at a gas station while her two young daughters sleep in the car. In her weakened state, she runs to the bathroom while leaving her girls in the car. After passing out, she awakens to find her car and children are missing.
Claire along with her husband, Glenn, struggle with the hope of seeing their daughters again. Their future together dissolves into coping with the heavy guilt which strains their marriage. They live with the difficulty of not knowing what happened to their children and do their best to move forward.
This debut novel by Maureen Joyce Connolly was hard to put down as it moves through the emotions of a mother’s worst nightmare. ”Lovely Little Things” is a well-crafted novel which draws on many points of view to build the story. I look forward to more books by this author.
A heartbreaking story told in multiple POVs. I really felt for Claire and particularly found the POV of the kidnapped Moira interesting. I enjoyed learning about her background and her family.
Beautifully written with the themes of guilt and intuition.
Good book, but extremely dark. I basically finished it because I just had to see how it ended. Disturbing.
Claire Rawlings is a mom of two who is always busy with her two daughters and their activities. Not only is she a mom of two she is a medical resident, who seems to find her self in the middle of an allergic reaction. She is in the middle of a drive with her girls to work when she wakes up in a bathroom at a gas station. She knows something is wrong. Then she sees what is wrong. Both of her girls are gone.
Police are on the hunt for the girls but as tensions rise there are no suspects and no clue where to go from there. Not only is Claire’s daughters missing but her marriage is an unhappy one. With the unhappiness comes no support when she needs it the most. Some days later a witness comes forward but they don’t know if they can trust them.
This book shows that small decisions can have a huge impact on someone and their life.
Having multiple narrators really showcases the different viewpoints about the events that change everyone’s lives. I loved how the characters were so well developed and you really got a good sense of who they are. It makes a huge difference in a story when you can get to know your characters.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinions!
Little Lovely Things sucked me in on the first chapter. I found myself yelling and crying at the book. The characters Claire and husband Glen and their daughters Andrea and Lily all work very well together. Oh yes, and their dog Gretchie. At points throughout the book, it was told by a child’s perspective. I love that.
Claire was well on her way to being a Dr. Glen is an assistant coach to a high school football team. Claire was having a severe reaction to an Hep C Vaccine that all the residents needed. Claire was on her way to drop the girls off and go to work. Who would have known one terrible mistake would change their life forever? A few seconds is all it takes, and your world is turned upside down.
Maureen Joyce Connolly did a fantastic job writing this book. It had mystery, sadness, and hope. The ending had me in happy tears.
“Count the clouds, one two three.” “See the birdie in the tree.”! “If he has a broken wing, he will never sing, sing, sing.” I will forever have this in my heart. I highly recommend this book.
Glen, Claire, Andrea, and Lily had the perfect life until the day Claire had to pull off the road because of dizziness, leave the car running with her daughters in it because of the heat, and then return to find the car and her daughters gone.
Could anything worse have happened? Of course the answer is no. A missing child is a parent’s worst nightmare.
We follow the Rawlings family as they move through the heartbreaking days as the police investigate with no luck. As you read you will feel their pain as they remember their daughters and special occasions.
An interesting twist is another story line that will have you guessing how both stories connect.
For a debut novel, Ms. Connolly definitely knows how to put words together to make a fast-paced, tense, unable-to-put-down read with memorable characters.
Even though the subject isn’t pleasant, Ms. Connolly did a superb, creative job with the topic and with pulling you into the story line and connecting with the characters.
LITTLE LOVELY THINGS is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and has 98% likeable characters. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Combining the suspense and razor-sharp outlook of a Gillian Flynn novel, Maureen Connolly’s debut sizzles. I finished Little Lovely Things in one heartbreaking, tear-batting gulp. Connolly takes risks that make the reader’s heart start anew. Finding shards of hope amidst the chaos of tragedy is a testament to both the writer, and the characters she creates.
I received a free ARC of Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly, the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.
A mother’s very young children get kidnapped and what follows is the gut wrenching story of a parents worst nightmare.
I seldom cry when I read a book, but this book brought tears to my eyes many times.
With believable characters, an awesome plot and edge of your seat writing, plan pulling an all nighter once you pick up this book! 5 stars all the way! Don’t miss this one!
Claire is in the middle of her residency to become a doctor. She was required to get a shot to work in the hospital and seems to be having an allergic reaction. As she is driving she realizes she won’t make it to the hospital, she has to pull over before she passes out. She finds a Shell station and pulls around back to the bathrooms. She has to make a tough decision, wake her sleeping girls or head to the bathroom real quick. They will be fine right, this will only take a minute. However, she blacks out for a moment, only to realize her station wagon and the girls are gone.
This is not an easy book to read by any means. The story goes on to tell you the hardships a marriage can go through as a result to a trauma such as this. What happens to the little girls and even the fears of what could happen to the little girls. The fighting a mother will go through to help her children and guilt. Words can not even explain what it must be like to go through something like this, but this book sure comes close. Maureen does a great job at really putting her readers into a moment like this. I loved the way she tied all the characters together and their stories along the way as well. Such a beautifully written story about such an awful scenario.