Scan barcode
cytipton's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
edhyndman's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Abandonment, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
keeganrb's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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
Title: You Were Always Mine
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada & Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Sensitive • Human • Impactful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised.
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza's debut We Are Not Like Them, it will come as no surprise that You Were Always Mine was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. I'd heard them talk about this next project during an author zoom event, and in the same vain as their debut it sounded like it would be spark dialogue and debate.
This duo certainly has the ability to blend their voices and create dynamic character arcs. This very well-written novel, tackles the issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, foster care, motherhood and friendship head on. With a slightly slower pace, this one lacked the depth I'd been anticipating. It felt more fictionalized, requiring me to suspend my disbelief at times, and there were a lot of subplots that detracted from the main story. There were so many missed opportunities for the story to so deeper and spark dialogue, but it took a different approach.
At the end of the day, You Were Always Mine is an important, powerful and well crafted novel that made me reflect on my own biases. A solid contemporary read, just not the literary gem to entice deep contemplation I'd been hoping for. I'll continue to read whatever these two authors publish next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy books that tackle motherhood
• fans of Hold My Girl
• anyone who likes stories about foster families or adoption
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I chose you, but I also chose me, because for once it was my time, my chance to get something I wanted - and you were it."
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada & Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Sensitive • Human • Impactful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised.
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza's debut We Are Not Like Them, it will come as no surprise that You Were Always Mine was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. I'd heard them talk about this next project during an author zoom event, and in the same vain as their debut it sounded like it would be spark dialogue and debate.
This duo certainly has the ability to blend their voices and create dynamic character arcs. This very well-written novel, tackles the issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, foster care, motherhood and friendship head on. With a slightly slower pace, this one lacked the depth I'd been anticipating. It felt more fictionalized, requiring me to suspend my disbelief at times, and there were a lot of subplots that detracted from the main story. There were so many missed opportunities for the story to so deeper and spark dialogue, but it took a different approach.
At the end of the day, You Were Always Mine is an important, powerful and well crafted novel that made me reflect on my own biases. A solid contemporary read, just not the literary gem to entice deep contemplation I'd been hoping for. I'll continue to read whatever these two authors publish next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy books that tackle motherhood
• fans of Hold My Girl
• anyone who likes stories about foster families or adoption
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I chose you, but I also chose me, because for once it was my time, my chance to get something I wanted - and you were it."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, and Hate crime
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, Death, and Medical trauma
foster care, adoptionliblibby's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Death of parent, Child abuse, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual assault
More...