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elliethecatlover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
beth_48's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really liked this book, well written and fast paced, you get the viewpoint of different characters without switching each chapter it just flows really well. It challenged my perceptions and judgements too
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Infertility, Racism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
sooz_767's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
4.0
Despite the absolutely heartbreaking subject of this story, I actually enjoyed this a lot.
Any story involving a death of a child is going to be hard to read and triggering to many, but the story didn't linger on the death itself and even the grief of the parents wasn't the main focus, this was definitely a wise choice by the author and made this more readable.
I really do like a courtroom drama every so often, so this hit the mark for me and I'll definitely check out more from this author.
Any story involving a death of a child is going to be hard to read and triggering to many, but the story didn't linger on the death itself and even the grief of the parents wasn't the main focus, this was definitely a wise choice by the author and made this more readable.
I really do like a courtroom drama every so often, so this hit the mark for me and I'll definitely check out more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicide
dlsmk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
estherb's review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
T/W infant loss, cot death
Breaking point is a novel that hit me in the heart; I almost broke into tears at some parts which is unheard of for me.
Susannah Rice - or Dr. Sue is a well respected paediatrician and TV, so on one busy morning when a change in routine and hectic daily schedule lead to the worst disaster any parent could face.
After the loss of her daughter, she was witch hunted - this powerful, successful woman - and put on trial for man slaughter.
What resonated so strongly during this novel is the fact that she was a career woman who had children. Society still thinks that a woman can’t have it all - a career and a family - and be able to do both; whereas a man can. That’s it.
It horrified me that in America career women are often back at work two days - TWO DAYS - after giving birth. WTF!! The fact they have no maternity provisions is disgraceful. No wonder women are at breaking point.
This was a hard hitting novel and will stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
piperkitty's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Breaking point
What's the perfect mother supposed to be like? Trying to be a wonder woman, Sushann makes massive mistakes that will change her forever.
Heartbreak this book pulls on your heart. Deals with the sensitive issue of child death. We are told this through two different ladies' points of view. One, Susahhan, who's famous and has it all been on autopilot, made her makes the biggest mistake of her life. Whereas Adaline, a report, had been through this ten years ago with her baby, and who was the one to tell her the news, but this Dr Sue herself, Adeline finds herself working in this case for the paper, which brings up memories. I feel for both ladies in this situation; I want to cry and shout and scream for them. It's a situation all parents fear and are terrified of. This is such a thought-provoking and compulsive page-turner.
What's the perfect mother supposed to be like? Trying to be a wonder woman, Sushann makes massive mistakes that will change her forever.
Heartbreak this book pulls on your heart. Deals with the sensitive issue of child death. We are told this through two different ladies' points of view. One, Susahhan, who's famous and has it all been on autopilot, made her makes the biggest mistake of her life. Whereas Adaline, a report, had been through this ten years ago with her baby, and who was the one to tell her the news, but this Dr Sue herself, Adeline finds herself working in this case for the paper, which brings up memories. I feel for both ladies in this situation; I want to cry and shout and scream for them. It's a situation all parents fear and are terrified of. This is such a thought-provoking and compulsive page-turner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
onewoman_bookclub's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
samsweebooknook's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Doesn't every new mother feel overwhelmed at times?"
Susannah Rice seems to have it all - two beautiful daughters, a happy marriage, a successful career as a doctor, and a public persona Dr. Sue who is loved by all. But things take a turn when one day, exhausted from juggling it all, Susannah makes the tragic mistake of leaving her youngest daughter in the car as she heads into work. As Susannah and her family come to terms with their loss, she faces scrutiny from every angle, including that of news reporter Adelaide Gold.
It goes without saying that there is a trigger warning for infant death so please proceed with caution if this might affect you.
A raw and heartbreaking subject matter but Coffey handles it sensitively and respectfully. As a mum, it does terrify me to hear of stories like this - whether it be fiction or real life - as it serves as a reminder of how easily mistakes can happen when you're under the intense exhaustion that often accompanies motherhood. The first few chapters were particularly heartbreaking, where Susannah is in work and the reader is waiting for the discovery of what has happened to little Louise.
What struck me most about the book was the judgement and the pressure on women (including working mum's, stay at home mum's and those who have decided against having children). A relatable but sad insight to the society we currently live in.
With it being set in America it also gave a heartbreaking insight into the lack of maternity leave compared to the UK & Ireland - mothers having to return to work while they are still recovering from the birth. I couldn't imagine having to leave my baby to return to work that early.
I flew through this book - reading it in two sittings so I could find out how things panned out in the court case. A really gripping and engaging debut novel.
Susannah Rice seems to have it all - two beautiful daughters, a happy marriage, a successful career as a doctor, and a public persona Dr. Sue who is loved by all. But things take a turn when one day, exhausted from juggling it all, Susannah makes the tragic mistake of leaving her youngest daughter in the car as she heads into work. As Susannah and her family come to terms with their loss, she faces scrutiny from every angle, including that of news reporter Adelaide Gold.
It goes without saying that there is a trigger warning for infant death so please proceed with caution if this might affect you.
A raw and heartbreaking subject matter but Coffey handles it sensitively and respectfully. As a mum, it does terrify me to hear of stories like this - whether it be fiction or real life - as it serves as a reminder of how easily mistakes can happen when you're under the intense exhaustion that often accompanies motherhood. The first few chapters were particularly heartbreaking, where Susannah is in work and the reader is waiting for the discovery of what has happened to little Louise.
What struck me most about the book was the judgement and the pressure on women (including working mum's, stay at home mum's and those who have decided against having children). A relatable but sad insight to the society we currently live in.
With it being set in America it also gave a heartbreaking insight into the lack of maternity leave compared to the UK & Ireland - mothers having to return to work while they are still recovering from the birth. I couldn't imagine having to leave my baby to return to work that early.
I flew through this book - reading it in two sittings so I could find out how things panned out in the court case. A really gripping and engaging debut novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Suicide
bookellys's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having absolutely zero maternal instinct, and not being a Mum myself, I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy this book as it focuses quite heavily on the pressures put on working mothers, however I thought it was a fantastic read!
The book draws on some very relevant, very real issues with the expectations put on women to be the perfect wife, mother, friend etc whilst at the same time balancing home, work and social lives, and the damned if you do, damned if you don’t scrutiny.
There are two fantastic, strong female lead characters in this story, with a couple of bad-ass minor characters too.
My first book for 2022 and an attempt to not only clear my TBR but also get through some of my Net Galley backlog. Thank you @netgalley and @ for my advanced copy of this book, I wish @edelcoffey they best of luck when this is released on 20th Jan!
⚠️There are some very triggering subjects covered in this book so I would recommend checking them out prior to reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
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