I’d always thought they kept quiet about her because they were sad. But what if it was because they were guilty?I watch them at the school gates, all the mothers with their daughters. I see the hugs and all those thoughtful little adjustments to scarves and ponytails. How their love seems to overflow, they have so much of it to give.And then I walk home to my aunt’s cold house, where there are a … a hundred rules for me to follow and only a single photograph of my mother to look at.She is never spoken about in this house. They tell me that it will be easier if I don’t think about her.It is strange though, isn’t it? That I know nothing about my own mother?But they don’t know about the diary I’ve found up in the loft. Maybe they even forgot it was there. It doesn’t matter anymore if they won’t tell me anything. Because within these pages is what I’ve waited fourteen years to find out. And maybe some things I wish I could forget.All I wanted was to bring our family closer together, but could what I find tear us apart instead?A heart-breaking and powerful novel about family secrets and how we live with decisions we never thought we would have to make. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Amanda Prowse.What readers are saying about Ali Mercer:‘Heartbreaking and heart-warming… A powerful family domestic drama filled with emotion and secrets… A captivating story that kept me hooked until the end.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Absolutely gripping and emotional… More family drama than a prime-time soap opera!!… This instantly hooks you.’ Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I was intrigued immediately… An emotional rollercoaster where you are not let off until the final page… Make sure you have the tissues handy!’ Once Upon a Time Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Such a compelling read. An affecting story, allowing readers to be drawn into the delicate lives of these characters… a superb read.’ Robin Loves Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A family drama that will tug at your heart. Filled with secrets, lies, deceit, and finally forgiveness… A page turner that had me captivated from the start. Great read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Absolutely fantastic, had me gripped!!! Loved it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Wow… I HAD to see how this emotional read would end… There was great character development… twists and turns that took me by surprise!’ Steph and Chris’s Book Review‘Grabs you on the first page and doesn’t let go. It is well written and full of emotions. This is a “Must Read”!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Absolutely brilliant and had me gripped from cover to cover! Would highly recommend!’ NetGalley Reviewer‘Compelling. Heart-breaking. An evocative story that left its imprint. I highly recommend this book.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Ali Mercer writes with heart and soul… Secrets abound and the reader won’t know them all until the end. A definite for your TBR list!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Very emotional. Sure to pull at your heart… make sure you have got tissues… very beautifully written… a must read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Excellent book… Could not put the book down. A real page turner. This book is a must.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Favorite Quotes:
It was like carrying round something from an alien planet. The kind of thing a kid in a film would pick up and think was interesting or harmless, and then it would turn out to be a homing device that, once accidentally activated, summoned invading forces from across the universe to attack the Earth.
She seemed nice. Really nice. I felt a sudden ache somewhere near my heart, like a cross between hunger pangs and a stitch.
She looked like a sultry Sicilian widow, all dark eyes and glossy hair and philosophical gloom, and she had a languid, unhurried way of moving, as if she lived in her own special climate where there was always a heatwave, even if, in Kettlebridge, it was cool and grey.
That was when I began to feel properly distant from home, not quite as if I’d escaped, but certainly as if I’d left and wouldn’t be going back – or wouldn’t be the same when I did.
She smelt of sadness. A smell like damp tears mixed with fear.
My Review:
I fell right into this enthralling book and didn’t willingly resurface for most of the day. Ali Mercer has strong word voodoo and I readily yielded to her powers. Her characters were uniquely alluring while her storylines were compelling, poignantly written, evocatively detailed, and so very tight with tension. I was sure someone was going to eventually snap, including me, as I was rabid to know Laura’s story.
The timeline and POV shifts were easy to follow and adroitly crafted. This nimble author had me fooled; I was tricked and far afield in my theories. I had it all wrong and was eviscerated by the shocking twists and devastating turn of events, all of which were cunningly plotted and brilliantly paced. The little pea in my brain was heavily scorched. I worry I may never be the same.
This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. I read this book in record time because I just could not put it down. Dani is a 14-year-old who lives with her Aunt Carrie because her mother drowned 10 years ago. Dani does not have any friends until she sticks up for a classmate who is being bullied. The bullied girl, Josie, and Dani become friends. One day, Dani has Josie help her get into her aunt’s attic and Dani discovers a diary written by her late mother. As Dani reads what turns out to be some of the last thoughts of her mother before she drowns, family secrets come to light. This is a tragically sad story and you will need to keep those tissues handy. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this beautifully written sad story in exchange for an honest review.
My Mother’s Choice by Ali Mercer is a book full of unhappy people. Some know why they are unhappy; some do not. Dani is 14 years old and lives with her aunt. Her father lives nearby and she sees him sporadically. None of them are affectionate, or even close. Her mother died when she was four. She doesn’t really remember it. The only thing she knows about her mother is the picture, which sits on her window sill of a young and pretty woman smiling and holding the hand of a little girl; her. She really has not friends, just one girl who she protected from some bullies on day. This girl, Josie, pushes her into going up to the attic to see what she can find out about her mother. What she finds is astonishing: a diary. Well, more of a memoir, really, written in the week or so before her mother’s death. It opens her eyes.
Dani is a 14-year-old with plenty of attitude, like many at that age. All she cares about is her computer and the bike her dad gave her for her birthday: they both spell freedom. Her aunt Carrie gave her few rules, but she broke one almost immediately, and then discovered why it had been given. It whetted her appetite for more so when Josie suggested the attic, she was all in. Josie is a shy girl, ripe for bullying but she has a pretty mom, who is so nice and makes such a nice home for Josie and her sister. Dani is kind of jealous. Dani discovers what happened to her mother, far more than she really wanted to know. It hurts. The situation hurts. The lies hurt. Her dad and her aunt have hurt both her and her mother. It is an interesting story, well-told. Lots of different personalities, many so unhappy. Mercer did a good job telling this story. One can only hope it’s not true. I liked it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of My Mother’s Choice by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #mymotherschoice
I thought the character development, especially of the main character, was realistic, and the plot was well-thought-out. I thought that Dani was the most mature character out of the three of them. I especially appreciated how the author treated her as a real person and not a “typical teen.” I understood the reasons for her aunt and dad to keep things from her, but I found it difficult to feel sorry for them. I got a definite “we know better” vibe, which just sat wrong with me for some reason. 3.5 stars for a slow start, but I would still recommend this book. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
Dani was 4-years-old when she and her mother Laura took an impromptu trip to stay at a small cottage in Cornwell. Her father soon joined them and it was during a walk on the beach that both Dani and Laura were swept out in the water when a current grabbed them. Laura screamed for her husband to save Dani and by the time he got to Laura, she had drowned.
Ten Years Later
Dani is now 14 and lives with her mother’s sister, Aunt Carrie. Her father lives closeby but is busy running his gardening center. Dani rarely sees him. Carrie is single and does what she can for Dani. However, the woman shows her no affection and Dani can’t help but feel like she is a burden to her.
One day, Dani searches the attic and finds a diary in a trunk. It was written by her mother when they were in the cottage in Cornwell. It documented many things that happened over the years with her parents, Carrie, and her husband. Reading it, Dani is enlightened about her past and is angry at Carrie and her father for not telling her the truth.
When she sets out to learn more about their stay in Cornwell, her father catches up with her and the real truth comes out which shocks Dani. What had they kept this huge secret from her all these years?
I really found this book to drag and kept thinking that some huge revelation would be appearing, but the truth was not as shocking as I thought it would be. I felt sad for Dani that she had never been told the truth. Be honest with your children!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book is exactly what is written in the title, A utterly heartbreaking and emotional page-turner! I was deeply moved by this story. My emotions were all over the place, really angry at some characters, hurting for others and had sympathy for a couple. As the story evolved, I did not have the same feelings to the characters as I did originally. When the story unfolded, my feelings changed.
The story flowed pretty well, but at some point I did feel it dragged a bit, but that was probably my desire to know what was going to happen further in the book and the anxiety of what I thought was going to be revealed at the end. The story was very believable to me and I struggled to finish it through very teary eyes.
This is the first book I read by this author, Ali Mercer. I think she is an amazing author and look forward to reading her other books. It was very interesting to read her letter at the end of the book and understand where the idea of this plot came from.
I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read the Advance Reader Copy of this wonderful, emotional book. My review is my opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
As someone who has uncovered family secrets this book was riveting. There were so many different twists that were completely unexpected. We all think we know exactly what happened and when only to discover that we only know what we think happened. Everybody has their own version and then there is the truth. Absolutely fascinating book. I love that Dani thinks she knows all at 14 since I was the same way. LOL! Your heart breaks for her so much that it’s difficult to feel much sympathy for her dad and aunt Carrie. They are all victims of fate and are just trying to do the best they can. Very good story!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.