ARC Review: You Were Always Mine

ABL Review At-A-Glance

öTitle:
Trouble Brewing

ö My Rating: 4

ö Genre: Mystery, Thriller

ö Author:
Nicole Baart

ö Format: ARC ebook*

ö Publication Date: October 16, 2018

Compare To:

Synopsis

The acclaimed author of Little Broken Things returns with
another “race-to-the-finish family drama” (People) about a single mother who
becomes embroiled in a mystery that threatens to tear apart what’s left of her
family.

Jessica Chamberlain, newly
separated and living with her two sons in a small Iowa town, can’t believe that
a tragedy in another state could have anything to do with her. But when her
phone rings one quiet morning, her world is shattered. As she tries to pick up
the pieces and make sense of what went wrong, Jess begins to realize that a
tragic death is just the beginning. Soon she is caught in a web of lies and
half-truths—and she’s horrified to learn that everything leads back to her
seven-year-old adopted son, Gabriel.

Years ago, Gabe’s birth
mother requested a closed adoption and Jessica was more than happy to comply.
But when her house is broken into and she discovers a clue that suggests her
estranged husband was in close contact with Gabe’s biological mother, she vows
to uncover the truth at any cost. A harrowing story of tenacious love and
heartbreaking betrayal, You Were Always Mine is about the wars we wage to keep
the ones we love close, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult.

My Thoughts…

Some may call this book slow, but it felt more
like an unveiling. For the ending to
have full dramatic effect, we need the build-up. With a fantastic opening scene, Baart let us
glimpse this amazing story, then hides it away in an equally compelling story
of a family struggling with grief, regret, guilt, and the daily trials of a
busy household.

I could reiterate what other reviewers are
saying. The plot is great. The twist is
shocking. The story builds without the
reader even noticing that clues have been revealed. But what I really want to talk about is the emotional
content, especially the feelings of being a wife, mom, and daughter. Spoiler: Nicole Baart’s depiction of these
feeling is on point.

After finishing this book, I know the
description of what it feels like to be a mother going through ordinary and
extraordinary circumstances is going to stick with me. I feel like this was a woman who gets
it. I want to be friends with Jessica,
but more, I want to hug her and tell her she is doing a great job.

Even if you are not a mom, you will still love
this book, I just connected with this facet of the novel.

* Special thanks to Nicole Baart, TLC Book Tours, Atria
Books and Netgalley for providing a copy of You Were Always Mine in exchange for an honest review.