Edie had spent her whole life planning her future, imagining her husband, her kids, and even which minivan she’d drive. Lucky for her, she didn’t have to wait long, marrying her high school sweetheart right after graduation.All of Edie’s dreams had come true, until they were no longer her dreams. Unable to deal with the lingering depression caused by having children, she left her whole life … life behind, walking away from the one thing she’d always wanted.
Donovan Leery loved his wife with everything he had and could never imagine life without her. Until he came home from work one day and found a letter from Edie, explaining she needed a break. Not only leaving him to live his life without her, but alone to raise their three small children.
But what happens when Edie is ready to come home? When she’s ready to fight for it all back? She knew it wouldn’t be easy. But she didn’t care. After spending years getting her life back together, she was ready to fight for her family. And a fight is what Donovan would give her.
She’d fight to make up for her Biggest Mistake.
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Holy crap that was a good book! I think MY BIGGEST MISTAKE has ruined me for all other books. I have never cried so much reading before I couldnt put it down because I HAD to find out what happened. The suspense nearly broke me! My heart shattered again and again but I am so happy I kept reading. WOW! Leddy Harper your writing is amazing
I want to start off by saying that I have no words to describe how this book was for me. I was sad, shattered, emotional and weepy. The things this woman went through — depression is a disease and for her to feel helpless was devastating for me to read. Having kids is no easy task especially when you have them so young and one right after the other, it takes a toll on a woman. You get that postpartum depression and you feel helpless and inadequate and just down right sad.
Edie had the perfect life with the perfect husband and the perfect kids but she just couldn’t handle everything on her own since her husband worked a lot. She started getting helpless and felt like she was losing control of herself. So the only thing she can think of is to just pick up and leave because she felt like that was the best thing to do. What she didn’t realize is that she was going to hurt her family by doing just that and not leaving them any clue as to where she was going.
Donovan felt like he needed to move on with his life after Edie’s absence for two years. He hasn’t recovered from her disappearance but he’s hurt and angry that she decided to leave her family, just like that. Who does that really? I mean I don’t think she should be forgiven for what she did, just leaving her family behind because she was struggling with depression but at the same time, we don’t know what she was going through and how selfless and hopeless she felt either. It’s wrong what she did, but maybe her actions and explanations will redeem her once she returns.
Edie really has to fight once she’s back and she’s back for good. Donovan doesn’t make it easy for her to just come back and think she can pick up right where she left off. He felt hurt and betrayed and with good reason because who just leaves without any word or explanation??
But Edie harbors a big secret that only her best friend Beth knows about. Beth has always been a good friend and has never told anyone about where Edie has gone or why she has left. That’s not her secret to divulge, it’s up to Edie to come clean with Donovan and tell him about that secret, but Edie knows that will destroy Donovan and plans on taking that secret to the grave. But it so turns out that that’s not what happens. The secret comes out and Donovan is not only heart broken but he’s shattered by the revelation of Edie’s secret.
Can Donovan forgive Edie for what she’s done? This is a tough one, I’ll tell you that!! I feel conflicted with this and don’t know if I should side with Donovan or Edie on this big secret to be honest with you. Her reasons are logical but his devastation is also heartbreaking and I can see why.
This story really broke my heart into a thousand pieces. I was so absorbed with this story that I could not and would not put down my kindle until I finished reading this beautiful, tragically, sad story. Edie and Donovan had many ups and downs but in the end they made it work. She explains to him her reasons for leaving and although Donovan didn’t think they were good enough reasons for her to leave her family, he learned to accept them once he started seeing a therapist himself. A therapist helped Edie when she needed it the most and now it’s also has helped Donovan realize what Edie was going through at the time. By him reading her journal, he knew what her darkest and deepest secrets were and he sympathized with her after reading them and made him understand what she was going through.
I have to say that I have read some really good books this year, but this is going on my top list of the year. I’ve read some pretty emotional stories and this is on my list of emotional reads. I am just happy it didn’t end badly like some I recently read have. Tragic endings break my heart and it takes me a while to get over. At least with this one it didn’t end tragically. Edie and Donovan had a lot to work through once she was back, but they did work through everything and have decided to give each other a second chance.
If you like raw, emotional and sad then this is the book for you. I absolutely, freaking adored this book.
This story will hold a very special place in my heart always.
Guys this wasn’t the easiest of reads. Obviously just reading the synopsis you get a glimpse of the story-line. But let me tell you the synopsis is simply just a guide. What this novel gave me was an insight to a subject rarely written and spoken about and a whole new understanding of it.
This novel is everything and I know that my words aren’t going to do it any justice, so I am going to keep my review brief.
If there is ever a subject matter that needed to be written it’s this. Postpartum depression is a subject that I personally have never in all of my time of reading actually read about. It’s a subject that I guess for some is just simply too hard to write about, I’m not sure. But Leddy Harper delved into this world, Edie’s world where postpartum depression was her life.
A loving husband, three beautiful children, a gorgeous home. Edie had it all. But the darkness was too strong. It took over Edie’s life and the only thing she knew how to do was run. She ran from her husband, left her babies and the perfect life. And while some found it either bizarre, selfish, unwarranted or unnecessary, Edie saw it as a lifeline. Edie saw it as a way to save not only herself, but save her family.
Edie’s return after two long years away from her family is what completely captured me. Edie’s return is the pinnacle point in this novel that we get the whole reality of what postpartum is and what it does.
We are shown what the darkness feels like, the suffocation, the depths of despair. We get to feel every emotion and live through every gritty detail. We are taken on Edie’s journey of fear, self-loathing, pain, hurt, regret and torment. We are taken on Donnie’s journey of pain, fear, blame, hate and remorse. And as a couple we are taken on their journey of self-discovery, pain, truth and ultimately love.
A raw, unique, gritty, highly emotional and confronting read that was at times extremely hard to read, but I am so glad I did.
A perfectly executed read that took my breath away.
A beautiful and powerful story.
A rare gem.
You need to read it.
5 stars
Talk about ripping out my soul and throwing it all around. I feel my soul was in a tennis match.
My Biggest Mistake is written in Edie’s POV. This This is not a book for everyone. Please read the blurb and if a mother’s fight to redeem herself after doing the unthinkable is something that will offend you in any way please don’t one click.
My Biggest Mistake is beautifully written. Leddy Harper has taken a very difficult topic and turned it into an amazing story. She has created characters full of love, hate, lust and passion.
From the outside looking in it may seem like a couple has the perfect relationship, that the mom is the perfect mother and everyone is happy but no one sees how foggy the window is from the inside.
Depression is a horrible disease to struggle with for anyone but postpartum depression is excruciating because it is a time when you should be full of joy and excitement. Not only is the new mother suffering from postpartum depression but she suffers from so much anger with herself for not being able to control it that she punishes herself more.
Edie and Donnie have the perfect life and three beautiful children but Edie doesn’t see or feel perfect anymore. She actually doesn’t know how she feels other than lost.
When a lot of people feel lost they run.
After working through her weaknesses Edie knew she needed to go back to what once was her home and fight for her family. Edie knew that it was going to be painful and hard fight but she also knew she would go down trying her hardest to make things better.
Donnie hasn’t gotten over the fact that Edie walked out on them but he has started to move on with his life. Pulling in to his driveway with his children and Edie’s one time best friend (his now girlfriend) he is beyond shocked to see Edie? What does someone say to the love of their life after being abandoned.
Will Donnie give up his new life to go back to his heart and soul? Will he be able to forgive Edie and allow her to reform a relationship with their children? Will Donnie hold a hatred toward Edie that will punish her more than she had punished herself?
I will not spoil this book because I truly feel that this is a book for everyone young and old.
Congratulations Leddy Harper on such a beautiful yet heart breaking story.
My Soul Took A Beating Meant for A Tennis Ball