A Child of My Own: An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking emotional page-turner

Vanessa Carnevale

Mar 2021 · Bookouture

About this eBook

I devoured this novel whole in one sitting. My God what a ride… it broke my heart… A definite must read.’ Marmite Miss, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As I watch her walk away, an arm raised to her face as she wipes tears from her eyes, I wonder if I really can go through losing her again. Because if I do this, I might gain a child, but I’ll lose her in the process.

Isla and Ben are devoted parents to their beloved daughter, Reese. She is their little miracle, the child they thought they’d never have until donors made her existence possible. But Isla has never told Reese about her biological parents. She wants to be honest with her daughter, but can she bear to open up old wounds?

Then Isla receives a call from Lucy, once her closest friend, and it seems she may need to make a decision sooner than she thought. They haven’t spoken in almost ten years, but Lucy has devastating news: she has lost her beloved husband Nate, just after they decided they wanted to become parents after all. 

Heartbroken for her friend, Isla welcomes Lucy back into her life. But then Lucy comes to Isla with a request that changes everything. If Lucy gets what she wants, Isla’s perfect family could be destroyed. But would she deny the woman who helped her become a mother the chance for her own happiness? 

A Child of My Own is a heartbreaking, gripping and emotional story about motherhood, loss and friendship, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kelly Rimmer and Kate Hewitt.

Why readers love A Child of My Own:

‘Unforgettable… I literally could not put this book down… You will need to lock yourself away and clear your diary as you will not be able to look up until you’ve reached the end… order yourself a bumper pack of tissues.’ On The Shelf Books

‘I devoured this novel whole in one sitting. My God what a ride… it broke my heart… I cried and it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. A definite must read novel for 2021.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow keep the tissues handy… This book will make you laugh and cry but also just fill your heart with love and friendship.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go… emotional and passionate.’ Yaya Reads Lots of Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Spectacular and emotional… I was spellbound; Carnevale was instantly able to grab my attention and hold it for the entire plot! Her characters are so realistic you'll feel they are your friends, too.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book had me go through every emotion possible… I was in tears at some points and smiling at other points... It really was a rollercoaster… Absolutely brilliant!’ Stressed Rach, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a moving and emotional book, I absolutely loved every second of it… Immediately, I was pulled into this story, and totally consumed by it… I adored this stunning book.’ Sibzzreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I cried like a baby… I really loved it... This is an emotional roller-coaster and a real tear-jerker.’ The Book Lovers Boudoir, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Pulled on my heart strings from the first page until the last. I went through every rollercoaster of emotions that both couples experienced. I cried... phenomenal.’ Cait is Booked

Ratings and reviews

This book is built on the premise of a secret, a huge convoluted secret. Two couples, who are best friends, come to the agreement that one couple will be an embryo donor to the other couple. This solves the problem of infertility but opens the door to a whole lot of other issues. This book was a bit of a roller coaster for me. The first part did not grab me at all, I wasn't crazy about the characters but I kept pushing on. About 1/3 of the way in, I started to become more aware of everybody and interested in the situations. And, it only got better from there. The main themes were family structures, mother-daughter relationships, friendships, and hope. This was an emotional story to read. There were times that I thought that it was too unrealistic, but the saying goes that “truth is stranger than fiction”. Life is full of unusual coincidences and events, so is this book. It all comes together for a good read.

What makes a family is the theme of A Child of My Own. Nearly ten years ago, Lucy and her husband Nate donated embryos to her best friend Isla, married to Nate’s best friend Ben. Their daughter Reece is now nine. Isla, who has not told Reece that she is not their biological chid, has ended her friendship with Lucy. One embryo remains. Lucy and Nate are childless by choice, although they have recently decided that they want a baby after all. Isla and Ben, because of financial reasons, have only Reece but are considering another pregnancy. Then tragedy strikes when Nate is killed in a skiing accident. Lucy reaches out to her former best friend and Isla comes to the funeral. She brings Reece. The women tentatively try to rekindle their friendship but the attempt ends when Lucy tells Isla that she wants the remaining embryo so that she can have Nate’s baby. Isla wants a brother or sister for Reece. What happens next is emotional and heartbreaking. “Would you deny your friend the greatest gift of all” is asked on the front cover A Child of My Own. But that’s exactly what Isla tries to do. Vanessa Carnevale captures the heartbreak of infertility and the grief after the loss of a loved one. This is a 5 star read. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Vanessa Carnevale for this ARC.

What makes a family? There are so many different kinds of families and ways of making one. As we progress in technology and scientific abilities this question allows many families to begin but also allows lots of questions and moral/ethical dilemmas. This story is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. Very well done!