My Stepmother's Secret: An incredibly powerful and heartbreaking story about a family dilemma

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I also felt a sense of relief by the end of the book that the truth had been exposed and the layers of generational pain might finally be broken.

Now married herself and with two children, Olivia and Alice, she discovers her husband has lost everything they had worked so hard for and finds herself turning to the one person she thought she'd never have to, her stepmother Jill. My Stepmother's Secret by Emma Robinson was another brilliant book, I was hooked from the beginning till the end.It is hard enough as a parent anyway let alone as a Mum who has to move in with a step-mother she dislikes and one she hasn't seen in 3 years along with everything else. Alternating in time between past and present, the novel shows us Gabbie in boarding school and then with her daughters and Jill as they navigate the new lives and the secrets withheld that eventually bind them together! She also blogs about the funny side of parenting and has contributed to podcasts such as Funny Women. Emma's evocative writing skills ensures everything mentioned came to life around me and it felt like I was right next to Gabbie both in the present and past. It's well structured with relatable characters, I wanted to shake Gabbie to try and make her see sense and as for Liam, he deserved a slap for his insensitivity and selfishness!

It is extremely thought provoking and just goes to show that sometimes keeping the truth from someone because you think you are protecting them isn't always the right thing to do and can sometimes make things worse. Without anyone to believe her, Brianna turns to her mom, begging her to believe Susanna is a murderer. However, I assume this is the publisher's way of trying to make the story interesting, but I don't think it's necessary. One thing that struck me about My Stepmother’s Secret was how the author portrayed the characters in a very real and relatable way.Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture publishing, and author Emma Robinson for the opportunity to read.

She finally confesses to Jill the problem, but she does not give her money but says she can stay with her. I cried bucket loads with this book, honestly it is such an emotive tear-jerker of a book … Captivating… I couldn’t have let go even if I wanted to . It's her house but is lived in by her step-mother Jill - the uncaring and boring woman her father married after her wonderful loving mother died in a car accident. Once I saw this on Netgalley, I requested it straight away and couldn’t wait to get started, ,luckily I had time to keep reading once I started, it’s a mixture of heartbreak and misunderstandings and just who you can rely on once life turns sour.It is also filled with mystery and it left me intrigued to what happened between Gabbie and Liam for her to have to go to her stepmother, what happened between Gabbie's Mum and Dad, what happened with Jessica and why was she being the way she was and so much more. High school student Brianna (Julia Terranova) has gained a reputation for telling lies and creating trouble. Beautiful, moving and heart warming… Absolutely wonderful… I feel like I am missing friends now I have finished it. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming. Because of what her husband Liam done however she had no other choice and no other place to go but her staying with Jill will not only open her eyes but change her outlook about those closest to her.