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No Child of Mine #2
Don't Let Me Go
In this follow-up to the riveting international bestseller No Child of Mine, author Susan Lewis delivers an emotionally complex novel—perfect for readers of Jodi Picoult—of reinvention, reconnection, and the deepest love that can bind two people together.
Charlotte Nicholls can hardly believe it, but it seems she’s landed in paradise. Living in a cottage in a shady cove on the beautiful Bay of Islands, surrounded by the splendor of New Zealand, Charlotte revels in her new life. She and her nearly four-year-old daughter, Chloe, have started over, with the help of Charlotte’s birth mother, Anna, who has recently reentered Charlotte’s life after a twenty-six-year absence. Little Chloe is thriving in her new home, and despite lingering effects from a terrible trauma Chloe has suffered, Charlotte is hopeful that love will pull her through. And though their relationship is tentative, Charlotte and Anna are slowly rebuilding their trust after nearly a lifetime apart.
But the horrors of the past—both recent and long buried—are never far from Charlotte’s mind. And then their idyll is suddenly shattered, as a series of events is set in motion that Charlotte can neither control nor comprehend. It will take all of Charlotte’s strength to keep her little family together, in the face of a world that will do everything it can to tear them apart.
Praise for Don’t Let Me Go
“An emotionally complex novel.”—USA Today
“Unputdownable . . . a compelling blend of family dynamics, courtroom drama, and love story.”—Booklist
“You know you’re in the hands of a master storyteller when you can’t bear the tension. Susan Lewis drops you into a nightmare where the best interests of a child collide with the law designed to protect her. The endearing little girl at the center of this poignant and gripping tale, as well as the brave protagonist, will win your heart.”—Diane Chamberlain, internationally bestselling author of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes
“A gripping tale that pulls you in from the first chapter to the end, Don’t Let Me Go is a read that will remind you just how precious children are.”—Romance Reviews Today
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Charlotte Nicholls can hardly believe it, but it seems she’s landed in paradise. Living in a cottage in a shady cove on the beautiful Bay of Islands, surrounded by the splendor of New Zealand, Charlotte revels in her new life. She and her nearly four-year-old daughter, Chloe, have started over, with the help of Charlotte’s birth mother, Anna, who has recently reentered Charlotte’s life after a twenty-six-year absence. Little Chloe is thriving in her new home, and despite lingering effects from a terrible trauma Chloe has suffered, Charlotte is hopeful that love will pull her through. And though their relationship is tentative, Charlotte and Anna are slowly rebuilding their trust after nearly a lifetime apart.
But the horrors of the past—both recent and long buried—are never far from Charlotte’s mind. And then their idyll is suddenly shattered, as a series of events is set in motion that Charlotte can neither control nor comprehend. It will take all of Charlotte’s strength to keep her little family together, in the face of a world that will do everything it can to tear them apart.
Praise for Don’t Let Me Go
“An emotionally complex novel.”—USA Today
“Unputdownable . . . a compelling blend of family dynamics, courtroom drama, and love story.”—Booklist
“You know you’re in the hands of a master storyteller when you can’t bear the tension. Susan Lewis drops you into a nightmare where the best interests of a child collide with the law designed to protect her. The endearing little girl at the center of this poignant and gripping tale, as well as the brave protagonist, will win your heart.”—Diane Chamberlain, internationally bestselling author of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes
“A gripping tale that pulls you in from the first chapter to the end, Don’t Let Me Go is a read that will remind you just how precious children are.”—Romance Reviews Today
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
594 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
285 people are currently reading
2099 people want to read
About the author
Susan Lewis
67 books1,195 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
April 14, 2022
Book two in the No Child of Mine trilogy and this was everything a middle book should be. It held its own in terms of plot, the characters developed and gained more depth from book one and there was no filler. I wish more middle books were like this in trilogies.
There's nothing I can really say about this as it would be full of spoilers for the first book but this is a real roller-coaster on your emotions.
Trigger warnings all over this trilogy for child abuse, some parts of this are not easy to read.
There's nothing I can really say about this as it would be full of spoilers for the first book but this is a real roller-coaster on your emotions.
Trigger warnings all over this trilogy for child abuse, some parts of this are not easy to read.
April 30, 2016
This is a long book, but to be honest I enjoyed it and the story is so good. I binge listened to it all day Saturday to get it finished. While I was a little annoyed by the decidedly unNZ accent by the narrator, she did so well on every other count I can't really complain.
This story had me tearing up, I hated the little excerpts from Chloe - because they were so sad. I loved Anthony, you might say he was too good to be true, but in actual fact there are people like him, I know. So Charlotte was fortunate. Liked how characters stayed true to her and those that changed. Sad look though at the child welfare system and I take my hat off to all those caring social workers we have in the world.
This story had me tearing up, I hated the little excerpts from Chloe - because they were so sad. I loved Anthony, you might say he was too good to be true, but in actual fact there are people like him, I know. So Charlotte was fortunate. Liked how characters stayed true to her and those that changed. Sad look though at the child welfare system and I take my hat off to all those caring social workers we have in the world.
March 12, 2014
This is an emotionally engaging read and there were times of tears, anger and frustration from this reader. I liked so much about this book including Charlotte and her relationship with three year old Chloe. Together they have left home, which is England and travelled to a new life in New Zealand. There they are absorbed into the family with Charlotte’s birth mother Anna who had come back into Charlotte’s life after 26 years, her stepfather Bob, who is just a lovely character, her stepbrother Rick, stepsister Shelley and others in the family. Never having been to New Zealand I loved the clear picture I received of it from this book.
A couple of things that did trouble me was how Charlotte hadn’t quite let go of her past and allowed too many people to know where she had gone. If she was trying to disappear I would have thought she would have e been more circumspect about it. The other thing that concerned me was how easily Katie, Rick’s fiancé uncovered the truth about Charlotte.
When the past catches up with Charlotte and Chloe, it sets in motion a train of events that seems able to lead only to one conclusion. While not going into unnecessary detail( thankfully) it presents a very sad picture of the torment some children are subjected to and the failure at times of social service , foster carers and social workers to adequately protect and care for them. In that respect it is heartbreaking.
Charlotte herself is a great character and easy to see how she behaves as she does. However I did get a bit turned off hearing how adorable, cute etc Chloe was. I got the message. Despite these few reservations this is an emotional rollercoaster that will keep you reading. Once again my poor darling husband got no sense out of me at breakfast till, teary-eyed, I had finished the book.
Like the Light Between Oceans, this book raises the question whether it is ever okay to do something illegal for all the right reasons. It makes you wonder how you would react. I have to say I easily understood how Charlotte did what she did, at least as far as Chloe was concerned.
A couple of things that did trouble me was how Charlotte hadn’t quite let go of her past and allowed too many people to know where she had gone. If she was trying to disappear I would have thought she would have e been more circumspect about it. The other thing that concerned me was how easily Katie, Rick’s fiancé uncovered the truth about Charlotte.
When the past catches up with Charlotte and Chloe, it sets in motion a train of events that seems able to lead only to one conclusion. While not going into unnecessary detail( thankfully) it presents a very sad picture of the torment some children are subjected to and the failure at times of social service , foster carers and social workers to adequately protect and care for them. In that respect it is heartbreaking.
Charlotte herself is a great character and easy to see how she behaves as she does. However I did get a bit turned off hearing how adorable, cute etc Chloe was. I got the message. Despite these few reservations this is an emotional rollercoaster that will keep you reading. Once again my poor darling husband got no sense out of me at breakfast till, teary-eyed, I had finished the book.
Like the Light Between Oceans, this book raises the question whether it is ever okay to do something illegal for all the right reasons. It makes you wonder how you would react. I have to say I easily understood how Charlotte did what she did, at least as far as Chloe was concerned.
April 14, 2017
This was an excellent book with many twists and turns well worth reading and a real tear jerker from start to end. Charlotte is a social worker and wants to forget her past and look to the future with chloe who is only 3 years old and had a terrible life so far. There nightmare returns and they are separated but can they get through it all and be together again or is this never going to happen. A must read.
October 3, 2013
You would think that after 20 books, Susan's editor/s would have encouraged/taught her that "less is more" - of course not.
Another novel that feels like it has swallowed a ten part mini series with every piece of dialogue, exposition, interior monologue articulated and then described for good measure.
Honestly at the end of the book, I don't care anymore what happens to Chloe.
Another novel that feels like it has swallowed a ten part mini series with every piece of dialogue, exposition, interior monologue articulated and then described for good measure.
Honestly at the end of the book, I don't care anymore what happens to Chloe.
February 23, 2017
I'm glad there was a sequel to No child of mine. This answered a lot of questions and kept me thinking and questioning my own opinions in a situation like Charlotte faced. I'm excited to see there is a 3rd book being published in this series.
March 26, 2018
This book was every bit as wonderful and heart-wrenching as the first one in the series and I'm already looking forward to reading the next one!
September 22, 2018
a really good heartrending read. the bond that Chloe and Charlotte had was definitely unbreakable. I
March 9, 2013
Charlotte Nicholls is keeping a secret. With 3yo Chloe they are building a new life for themselves in an idyllic and isolated part of New Zealand. Charlotte had to get Chloe away from the terrible things she experienced and the little girl remains deeply traumatised. She clings to Charlotte, needing her presence for security. Slowly she has begun to accept members of Charlotte’s family – her mother Anna, stepbrother Rick, stepsister Shelley and Shelley’s almost-teenage daughter. But Chloe still has fear of most men and even Charlotte’s stepfather, the affable and gentle Bob strikes fear into her and she has not yet been able to bond with him.
The months have gone by and Chloe has begun to adjust to her new life, making friends at her playgroup and stretching her wings without Charlotte’s constant presence. They begin to feel safe in their new home, like they can finally relax. But when a misunderstanding leads to someone looking to get rid of Charlotte, the world she has carefully constructed for herself and Chloe comes crashing down around them.
They are separated, hauled back to England. Charlotte is arrested and Chloe put back into state care, the one thing that Charlotte didn’t want for that little girl, who she knows will become so traumatised at having the only stability she has ever known taken away, that she may not recover. Charlotte has to fight, to prove to the community that although what she did was wrong, that she did it for the right reasons and that she deserves a second chance.
I feel as though I should mention before I launch into my thoughts on this one that this story, Don’t Let Me Go is a continuation of another Susan Lewis novel, entitled No Child Of Mine which details how Charlotte and Chloe come to be in New Zealand. I didn’t know that before I read this one, in fact I was nearly finished when I found out. I think that this novel can be read stand alone, it does provide you with most of the information that you require but for a deeper understanding of the relationships and the horrors that led to their flight to New Zealand, it might well be worth checking out that book first.
This book is written in way to wring emotion out of the reader and it does so admirably. From the moment you meet Charlotte and Chloe you can’t help but feel so dreadfully for that tiny girl. It takes a little while for the full picture to unfold of what has happened to her for a reader coming into this one without the benefit of having read No Child Of Mine but you know she is so deeply traumatised that it could only have been the worst thing your mind could conjure up. As a mother, this book hit me so hard and made me so deeply sympathetic to Charlotte and made me want to stand up and fight with her to protect Chloe. This book makes no apologies for what Charlotte has done, she herself doesn’t either. She did what she thought was best and having seen the way that Chloe blossomed, it has to be argued that what she did was right even if it was not entirely legal.
The welfare of children under the protection of the state is a strong thread in this book and I know that situations in Australia are most likely just as dire as they are described in England in this book. The whole departments are under funded, under staffed and overworked. It’s hard to find people to take in children, especially older ones. Kids get bounced from home to home, trying to find one that fits for both of them, which is what happens to Chloe in the second half of the novel. Already mute without Charlotte and believing that she has been taken away from Charlotte because she has been naughty and is being punished, Chloe is moved from one unsuitable home to another, further deepening the heartbreak and trauma she has experienced. It’s a clear case of how the law can actually work against the very person it’s supposed to be protecting and make things worse when really it could have made things better. This was definitely a book I became emotionally invested in, more and more as the story went on. I was invested in both Charlotte and Chloe’s story, both when they were together and separate because it wasn’t hard to see that they truly needed to be together.
This was a very powerful and well told story – it sucked me straight in and I read it in an afternoon, reluctant to put it down even to eat! I don’t recall having read Susan Lewis before but given her impressive backlist, it’s entirely possible I have in my university years when my books were supplied solely by my Nan and what she passed on. These sorts of books sound exactly like what she likes to read and I’ll be recommending she buy this one, if she hasn’t already. It’s such a compelling book and I particularly loved that the first part of it was set in New Zealand, which is not a setting I tend to see very often. It made the most of New Zealand’s beautiful landscape and rich history, incorporating Maori traditions. It really did seem like the most perfect place for Charlotte and Chloe to try and begin to heal.
I enjoyed this book a lot – it was hard to read in places but I think it dealt well with a very emotional and sickening topic. I’d definitely be interested in tracking down No Child Of Mine. Even though I know the basics of the story, I’d like to see how it all began.
The months have gone by and Chloe has begun to adjust to her new life, making friends at her playgroup and stretching her wings without Charlotte’s constant presence. They begin to feel safe in their new home, like they can finally relax. But when a misunderstanding leads to someone looking to get rid of Charlotte, the world she has carefully constructed for herself and Chloe comes crashing down around them.
They are separated, hauled back to England. Charlotte is arrested and Chloe put back into state care, the one thing that Charlotte didn’t want for that little girl, who she knows will become so traumatised at having the only stability she has ever known taken away, that she may not recover. Charlotte has to fight, to prove to the community that although what she did was wrong, that she did it for the right reasons and that she deserves a second chance.
I feel as though I should mention before I launch into my thoughts on this one that this story, Don’t Let Me Go is a continuation of another Susan Lewis novel, entitled No Child Of Mine which details how Charlotte and Chloe come to be in New Zealand. I didn’t know that before I read this one, in fact I was nearly finished when I found out. I think that this novel can be read stand alone, it does provide you with most of the information that you require but for a deeper understanding of the relationships and the horrors that led to their flight to New Zealand, it might well be worth checking out that book first.
This book is written in way to wring emotion out of the reader and it does so admirably. From the moment you meet Charlotte and Chloe you can’t help but feel so dreadfully for that tiny girl. It takes a little while for the full picture to unfold of what has happened to her for a reader coming into this one without the benefit of having read No Child Of Mine but you know she is so deeply traumatised that it could only have been the worst thing your mind could conjure up. As a mother, this book hit me so hard and made me so deeply sympathetic to Charlotte and made me want to stand up and fight with her to protect Chloe. This book makes no apologies for what Charlotte has done, she herself doesn’t either. She did what she thought was best and having seen the way that Chloe blossomed, it has to be argued that what she did was right even if it was not entirely legal.
The welfare of children under the protection of the state is a strong thread in this book and I know that situations in Australia are most likely just as dire as they are described in England in this book. The whole departments are under funded, under staffed and overworked. It’s hard to find people to take in children, especially older ones. Kids get bounced from home to home, trying to find one that fits for both of them, which is what happens to Chloe in the second half of the novel. Already mute without Charlotte and believing that she has been taken away from Charlotte because she has been naughty and is being punished, Chloe is moved from one unsuitable home to another, further deepening the heartbreak and trauma she has experienced. It’s a clear case of how the law can actually work against the very person it’s supposed to be protecting and make things worse when really it could have made things better. This was definitely a book I became emotionally invested in, more and more as the story went on. I was invested in both Charlotte and Chloe’s story, both when they were together and separate because it wasn’t hard to see that they truly needed to be together.
This was a very powerful and well told story – it sucked me straight in and I read it in an afternoon, reluctant to put it down even to eat! I don’t recall having read Susan Lewis before but given her impressive backlist, it’s entirely possible I have in my university years when my books were supplied solely by my Nan and what she passed on. These sorts of books sound exactly like what she likes to read and I’ll be recommending she buy this one, if she hasn’t already. It’s such a compelling book and I particularly loved that the first part of it was set in New Zealand, which is not a setting I tend to see very often. It made the most of New Zealand’s beautiful landscape and rich history, incorporating Maori traditions. It really did seem like the most perfect place for Charlotte and Chloe to try and begin to heal.
I enjoyed this book a lot – it was hard to read in places but I think it dealt well with a very emotional and sickening topic. I’d definitely be interested in tracking down No Child Of Mine. Even though I know the basics of the story, I’d like to see how it all began.
February 27, 2017
This is my first book by this author. It hooked me at the very beginning and I could not put this book down.
March 24, 2023
I must admit I found it difficult to get into this novel - perhaps not helped by reading it in small bursts. The New Zealand setting made it seem an idyllic place to live, but I did not "take" to Charlotte and found the many characters introduced in the early chapters confusing and the oft repeated sentiments on Chloe's background (very understated at this point) began to get irritating. It took me until Charlotte's arrest and engrossing court case to become closely involved in the storyine, and the chapters regarding the traumatized little Chloe were very moving. Predictably the ending is a bit too sugary sweet. I could see this being a good book club choice for discussions on the themes of relationships, child care policies and "do the ends justify the means".
October 20, 2013
I read the first book, No Child of Mine, and because I knew this book was a follow-up, I decided to read it. While it was nice to see where the story took me, I have to admit I felt it was at least 100 pages too long. I kept thinking, come on already, come to a conclusion, and was bored towards the end.
February 1, 2015
I hope there's a "three-quel!"
June 6, 2017
Wonderful
Couldn't put it down. I love happy endings. So much suspense, sorrow, and happiness. Makes me want to go to New Zealand.
Couldn't put it down. I love happy endings. So much suspense, sorrow, and happiness. Makes me want to go to New Zealand.
January 26, 2023
Voto libro: 3.5
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
October 7, 2024
5/10 An ok read but could have done with some tighter editing, there's not enough content for 450 pages and it was a bit slow at times.
March 26, 2013
What do you do when your good intentions are not seen as such in the eyes of the legal system?
From the beautiful countryside of Te Puna in New Zealand to the inclement weather of the United Kingdom, child abuse to child kidnapping, this story takes us on a compelling journey in which we get to see first hand the guilt suffered by one woman and the pain and abject fear suffered by a young child who has no control over her own destiny.
Charlotte Nicholls, still trying to come to grips with her own family history after reuniting with her biological mother, has now settled in New Zealand in an attempt to build a positive family life for herself and Chloe. Constantly fearful that her unlawful actions will be discovered, she does everything in her power to protect Chloe, but when one perfectly innocent friendship stirs up a hornets’ nest, the unthinkable happens and both Charlotte and Chloe are swept up into a seemingly awful nightmare – one where Charlotte’s greatest fear is realised and the well-being of Chloe’s mental health is at risk with her trying to understand why her mother has allowed this to happen.
With a court-room drama looming before her and the prospect of true love in the offing, will Charlotte be able to convince a jury that whilst her actions were unlawful, they were always in the best interests of the child?
While this is the sequel to No Child of Mine: A Novel and not having read anything by this author before, besides adding a whole lot of graphic content and a bit more depth to the reasons behind them fleeing England, Susan Lewis has done a great job of fleshing her characters out that in no way did I feel I had missed anything from the first novel. Needless to say, much like Jodi Picoult, Ms Lewis tackles subjects that are extremely controversial and pulls no punches with the subject matter which, at times, can be confronting - in this case, child abuse, and the ramifications of one woman’s actions to try and protect a child in the only way she knows how.
Being a mother myself, child abuse is a reality I have always feared and I take my hat off to all child protection agents out there who bear witness to these despicable acts perpetrated against children on a daily basis but who somehow find the strength to fight to the bitter end for justice on behalf of those young victims.
Although I did initially struggle with Ms Lewis’ style of writing, I’m glad that I persevered with the novel since, having spent the majority of my working life as personal assistant to a variety of Barristers in South Africa (Senior Counsel being the closest I got to a Queen’s Counsel (QC)), I could understand the legal procedures behind the courtroom battle and relate so well to the hard work that goes into consulting, drafting papers and calling witnesses, and the author is to be commended for so skilfully drawing me in to Charlotte and Chloe’s world where I was able to experience both heart-wrenching and warm moments, some of which had me reaching for the tissues.
Unsettling and suspenseful with a steely core of gritty reality beneath it, Don’t Let Me Go is a story which places emphasis on the fragility of trust as well as the strength of love and one which will leaving you questioning what you would have done in a similar situation!
I wish to thank the publisher, Random House Australia, for providing me with an ARC of this fine novel
From the beautiful countryside of Te Puna in New Zealand to the inclement weather of the United Kingdom, child abuse to child kidnapping, this story takes us on a compelling journey in which we get to see first hand the guilt suffered by one woman and the pain and abject fear suffered by a young child who has no control over her own destiny.
Charlotte Nicholls, still trying to come to grips with her own family history after reuniting with her biological mother, has now settled in New Zealand in an attempt to build a positive family life for herself and Chloe. Constantly fearful that her unlawful actions will be discovered, she does everything in her power to protect Chloe, but when one perfectly innocent friendship stirs up a hornets’ nest, the unthinkable happens and both Charlotte and Chloe are swept up into a seemingly awful nightmare – one where Charlotte’s greatest fear is realised and the well-being of Chloe’s mental health is at risk with her trying to understand why her mother has allowed this to happen.
With a court-room drama looming before her and the prospect of true love in the offing, will Charlotte be able to convince a jury that whilst her actions were unlawful, they were always in the best interests of the child?
While this is the sequel to No Child of Mine: A Novel and not having read anything by this author before, besides adding a whole lot of graphic content and a bit more depth to the reasons behind them fleeing England, Susan Lewis has done a great job of fleshing her characters out that in no way did I feel I had missed anything from the first novel. Needless to say, much like Jodi Picoult, Ms Lewis tackles subjects that are extremely controversial and pulls no punches with the subject matter which, at times, can be confronting - in this case, child abuse, and the ramifications of one woman’s actions to try and protect a child in the only way she knows how.
Being a mother myself, child abuse is a reality I have always feared and I take my hat off to all child protection agents out there who bear witness to these despicable acts perpetrated against children on a daily basis but who somehow find the strength to fight to the bitter end for justice on behalf of those young victims.
Although I did initially struggle with Ms Lewis’ style of writing, I’m glad that I persevered with the novel since, having spent the majority of my working life as personal assistant to a variety of Barristers in South Africa (Senior Counsel being the closest I got to a Queen’s Counsel (QC)), I could understand the legal procedures behind the courtroom battle and relate so well to the hard work that goes into consulting, drafting papers and calling witnesses, and the author is to be commended for so skilfully drawing me in to Charlotte and Chloe’s world where I was able to experience both heart-wrenching and warm moments, some of which had me reaching for the tissues.
Unsettling and suspenseful with a steely core of gritty reality beneath it, Don’t Let Me Go is a story which places emphasis on the fragility of trust as well as the strength of love and one which will leaving you questioning what you would have done in a similar situation!
I wish to thank the publisher, Random House Australia, for providing me with an ARC of this fine novel
July 1, 2014
Charlotte and Chloe seem like any other mother and daughter making a new start in New Zeland. Though Charlotte has been apart from her birth mother most of her life, the beginning of the book sees them forging a new friendship and Charlotte loving being part of an extended loving family. Chloe clearly has had some traumatic event in her life, but it isn't fully revealed. Unfortunately, her new step brother Rick and her get a bit too close for Katie, (Rick's girlfriend). Not knowing her fiancé is secretly gay and confiding in Charlotte, she mistakes their friendship for an affair so lashes out at Charlotte the only way she knows how.
What starts as a day helping her estranged mother on a photo shoot, ends with Charlotte being arrested. It is revealed that Chloe is not actually her daughter, but a girl she kidnapped from the UK, or more to the point, in her job as a Social Worker, she unlawfully rescued Chloe from her abusive father, and whisked her away to a new life. The authorities hand her over to the UK and Chloe is taken into the care of Social Services and flown back to the UK too.
Chloe goes through three foster homes as a mute child who hangs on to her toy 'boots'. She says little more than "I want mommy" but even that sentence is gone when the last foster parent tells her, her mother is dead. Charlotte in the meantime is charged, bailed, and subsequently tried for kidnapping. She also forms a relationship with her lawyer, Anthony, someone who also tried to contact her after she moved.
Quite predictably, it all ends well. Charlotte is found NOT guilty, Chloe is returned to her custody and at by the end of the book they all plan to go back to New Zeland, where Anthony has purchased a vineyard, Charlotte is also secretly pregnant and has a marriage proposal on the table.
582 pages of my life I will never get back, but it was s nice heart-warming ending with the reunion of Charlotte and Chloe.
What starts as a day helping her estranged mother on a photo shoot, ends with Charlotte being arrested. It is revealed that Chloe is not actually her daughter, but a girl she kidnapped from the UK, or more to the point, in her job as a Social Worker, she unlawfully rescued Chloe from her abusive father, and whisked her away to a new life. The authorities hand her over to the UK and Chloe is taken into the care of Social Services and flown back to the UK too.
Chloe goes through three foster homes as a mute child who hangs on to her toy 'boots'. She says little more than "I want mommy" but even that sentence is gone when the last foster parent tells her, her mother is dead. Charlotte in the meantime is charged, bailed, and subsequently tried for kidnapping. She also forms a relationship with her lawyer, Anthony, someone who also tried to contact her after she moved.
Quite predictably, it all ends well. Charlotte is found NOT guilty, Chloe is returned to her custody and at by the end of the book they all plan to go back to New Zeland, where Anthony has purchased a vineyard, Charlotte is also secretly pregnant and has a marriage proposal on the table.
582 pages of my life I will never get back, but it was s nice heart-warming ending with the reunion of Charlotte and Chloe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2015
As the prequel to this book, No Child of Mine, this was an absolute page turner.
Without giving any spoilers, I was glad the ending from the first book was resolved. The situation with Ottilie was horrific, but I didn't agree with Alex's actions, but understood why she did what she did.
Sometimes the sequels to books should not be written, for often they fall short of the previous. This was not the case with this book. The author gave us believable realistic characters. I was at times frustrated with Alex/Charlotte, about her obsessive behavior and over thinking all the "what ifs". I thought her mother, Anna, was a perfect balance for her, and helped Charlotte to be less stressed about things she had no control over.
I also think the author did an excellent job with her research into the legal and foster care system. Raising the questions of what is the best situation for a child? Do we always keep the child's best interest at heart, or at times does it so bogged down in the legal system that it isn't what is always best for the child? Probably more times than we would care to know, there can be power plays by superiors. The author approached this delicate subject with a candor that was neither condescending, nor condoning.
I would recommend this book to others! After you read No Child of Mine!!
Without giving any spoilers, I was glad the ending from the first book was resolved. The situation with Ottilie was horrific, but I didn't agree with Alex's actions, but understood why she did what she did.
Sometimes the sequels to books should not be written, for often they fall short of the previous. This was not the case with this book. The author gave us believable realistic characters. I was at times frustrated with Alex/Charlotte, about her obsessive behavior and over thinking all the "what ifs". I thought her mother, Anna, was a perfect balance for her, and helped Charlotte to be less stressed about things she had no control over.
I also think the author did an excellent job with her research into the legal and foster care system. Raising the questions of what is the best situation for a child? Do we always keep the child's best interest at heart, or at times does it so bogged down in the legal system that it isn't what is always best for the child? Probably more times than we would care to know, there can be power plays by superiors. The author approached this delicate subject with a candor that was neither condescending, nor condoning.
I would recommend this book to others! After you read No Child of Mine!!
September 29, 2017
WARNING: This novel is about child abuse
Don’t let me go is the sequel of No child of mine. This novel is as heartbroken as the first.
It is not an easy read, far from it, I had to take breaks and couldn’t help myself to care for Charlotte and Chloe. In many occasions, I wanted to hug them tight and tell them that everything will be alright. This is a story of abuse, lost and love in the purest sense between a mother and a daughter.
Charlotte and Chole are living in New Zealand, surrounding by the love of their family and the beauty of the island. For little Chloe is like a dream, finally she is letting go and starts to enjoy her little life, making new friends and adores to go riding on her cousin’s horse.
One day all Charlotte’s fears come true, she is guilty of a horrible crime and for that she will pay. But was it a crime or an act of love? Would she lose everything that she had achieve? Most of all is she ready to fight for her daughter and herself.
Highly recommend to read No child of mine first.
Don’t let me go is the sequel of No child of mine. This novel is as heartbroken as the first.
It is not an easy read, far from it, I had to take breaks and couldn’t help myself to care for Charlotte and Chloe. In many occasions, I wanted to hug them tight and tell them that everything will be alright. This is a story of abuse, lost and love in the purest sense between a mother and a daughter.
Charlotte and Chole are living in New Zealand, surrounding by the love of their family and the beauty of the island. For little Chloe is like a dream, finally she is letting go and starts to enjoy her little life, making new friends and adores to go riding on her cousin’s horse.
One day all Charlotte’s fears come true, she is guilty of a horrible crime and for that she will pay. But was it a crime or an act of love? Would she lose everything that she had achieve? Most of all is she ready to fight for her daughter and herself.
Highly recommend to read No child of mine first.
October 24, 2013
Thick, rich with lots of juicy words and lovely descriptions.
I love any book that is thick, and this one just blew my socks off. I couldn't have asked for me! I didn't want to put it down, until the last word. Charlotte and her daughter, Chloe, are starting over in a new place, as well as starting over after many years of being estranged from Charlotte's mom, Anna. Don't let me go, is rightly titled. What a gripper.
I couldn't put it down to save my life! What secrets lie dormant after so many years are slowly uncovered -- and no one is safe.
If you want a book that is going to grab you and not let go, this one is IT. Like I said, rightly titled. Bloody stinkin brilliant!!! Can't wait for the next Lewis book!
I love any book that is thick, and this one just blew my socks off. I couldn't have asked for me! I didn't want to put it down, until the last word. Charlotte and her daughter, Chloe, are starting over in a new place, as well as starting over after many years of being estranged from Charlotte's mom, Anna. Don't let me go, is rightly titled. What a gripper.
I couldn't put it down to save my life! What secrets lie dormant after so many years are slowly uncovered -- and no one is safe.
If you want a book that is going to grab you and not let go, this one is IT. Like I said, rightly titled. Bloody stinkin brilliant!!! Can't wait for the next Lewis book!
December 3, 2013
I give this 3.5 stars. It started really slow and and was really WAY to detailed for me, I found myself skimming a lot. There is a term or statement referenced several times in the book ( a key part, so can't much) that just made my stomach turn each time. But the story itself was good, and as I got into, I did want to keep reading to see how it ended (if my prediction was correct!).
March 6, 2013
good book but the NZ references although pretty correct were over done.
May 19, 2014
I loved this book. I wish she would write a 3rd book in this series!
August 2, 2014
A little boring at times but overall an ok book. I didn't like how the characters referred to "real" children versus adopted children rather than using biological children
June 26, 2016
Again, very long but a great story. I recommend these if you enjoy Jodi Picoult books.
November 29, 2017
Love this series, couldn't put it down and so did my mum and Nan. Recommend to anyone and everyone. I think I read this on the beach in Spain. Just Wow.
August 23, 2020
Amazing
Seriously couldn’t get enough of these books Highly recommend this to read it’s truly fab nd had me hooked since i started xx
Seriously couldn’t get enough of these books Highly recommend this to read it’s truly fab nd had me hooked since i started xx
February 23, 2018
Partiamo da un presupposto importante: ho pianto come una fontana e questo la dice molto lunga dal momento ho pensato di abbandonare questo libro dopo circa 200 pagine di....nulla!
Eh si, perché "Abbracciami ancora" parte molto lentamente, Susan Lewis inzia con una lunga premessa descrivendoci in tutto e per tutto la Nuova Zelanda ed il rapporto tra Charlotte con la famiglia ritrovata dopo circa 25 anni di lunga assenza, nonché dell'amore materno tra lei e la piccola Chloe.
Ma ad un tratto, quando meno il lettore se lo aspetta, come un fulmine a ciel sereno la trama cambia e la storia prende una piega frenetica per cui mi è stato decisamente difficile staccarmi, tanto più mi sono ritrovata ad addormentarmi solo alle 3 di notte pur di finire la lettura e mai e poi mai avrei immaginato, dalla prefazione del libro, di provare un tale dolore ed una tale sofferenza.
Mai avrei potuto capire cosa avrebbe raccontato l'autrice e ammetto è stato davvero un colpo al cuore apprendere la vita di Chloe ritrovandomi ad amare tantissimo il suo personaggio così come ad odiarne altri, partendo da Katie, alla polizia negligente, ai servizi sociali incapaci tante volte di proteggere bambini tanto indifesi dentro un sistema fatto solamente di burocrazia e privo di qualsiasi altra cosa possa occorrere a chi ha già subito fin troppa violenza dai primi anni di vita.
Se consideriamo all'estero sono dati contributi statali alle famiglie ospitanti, ci troviamo dinanzi ad un quadro tutt'altro che positivo, in quanto molte persone ospitano i bambini tramautizzati per soldi e non per empatia o compassione nei loro confronti, esattamente come Susan Lewis, per qualche motivo, ci tiene a denunciare tramire il suo libro.
Nell'insieme ho amato molto "Abbracciami ancora", perché racconta la storia di ognuno di noi, di quanto la vita può essere davvero ingiusta in determinate occasioni, di quanto le persone possano essere crudeli per gelosia e di come tutto possa sgretolarsi da un momento all'altro facendoci rendere conto di come abbiamo dato sempre tutto per scontato.
Ho solo due appunti: avrei preferito un inserimento meno lento all'interno di questa storia, perché comprendo fosse voluto il colpo di scena, ma si rischia anche di annoiarsi prima di riuscire ad arrivarci e spesso non è una buona scelta quello di usare più della metà delle pagine prima questo arrivi.
Inoltre non sono le 500 pagine a fare di un libro un gran bel libro, ma la storia, i personaggi, le emozioni trasmesse, per questo avrei preferito una parentesi iniziale riassuntiva, magari riprendendo in mano certi rapporti durante la narrazione inserendone la loro importanza alla base di quanto raccontato, ed un approfondimento del finale purtroppo scritto, per quanto mi riguarda, frettolosamente lasciando tutto in sospeso come se vi dovesse essere ancora qualcosa da leggere pur avendo davanti soltanto i ringraziamenti proprio nel momento in cui si sarebbe dovuto scrivere di più su come si era evoluta la storia e concludere con un finale con i fiocchi .
In sostanza si sarebbe potuto fare un passettino in più, ma ciò non toglie sia stata un ottima lettura, nonostante il dolore al cuore e le tante tante lacrime.
Eh si, perché "Abbracciami ancora" parte molto lentamente, Susan Lewis inzia con una lunga premessa descrivendoci in tutto e per tutto la Nuova Zelanda ed il rapporto tra Charlotte con la famiglia ritrovata dopo circa 25 anni di lunga assenza, nonché dell'amore materno tra lei e la piccola Chloe.
Ma ad un tratto, quando meno il lettore se lo aspetta, come un fulmine a ciel sereno la trama cambia e la storia prende una piega frenetica per cui mi è stato decisamente difficile staccarmi, tanto più mi sono ritrovata ad addormentarmi solo alle 3 di notte pur di finire la lettura e mai e poi mai avrei immaginato, dalla prefazione del libro, di provare un tale dolore ed una tale sofferenza.
Mai avrei potuto capire cosa avrebbe raccontato l'autrice e ammetto è stato davvero un colpo al cuore apprendere la vita di Chloe ritrovandomi ad amare tantissimo il suo personaggio così come ad odiarne altri, partendo da Katie, alla polizia negligente, ai servizi sociali incapaci tante volte di proteggere bambini tanto indifesi dentro un sistema fatto solamente di burocrazia e privo di qualsiasi altra cosa possa occorrere a chi ha già subito fin troppa violenza dai primi anni di vita.
Se consideriamo all'estero sono dati contributi statali alle famiglie ospitanti, ci troviamo dinanzi ad un quadro tutt'altro che positivo, in quanto molte persone ospitano i bambini tramautizzati per soldi e non per empatia o compassione nei loro confronti, esattamente come Susan Lewis, per qualche motivo, ci tiene a denunciare tramire il suo libro.
Nell'insieme ho amato molto "Abbracciami ancora", perché racconta la storia di ognuno di noi, di quanto la vita può essere davvero ingiusta in determinate occasioni, di quanto le persone possano essere crudeli per gelosia e di come tutto possa sgretolarsi da un momento all'altro facendoci rendere conto di come abbiamo dato sempre tutto per scontato.
Ho solo due appunti: avrei preferito un inserimento meno lento all'interno di questa storia, perché comprendo fosse voluto il colpo di scena, ma si rischia anche di annoiarsi prima di riuscire ad arrivarci e spesso non è una buona scelta quello di usare più della metà delle pagine prima questo arrivi.
Inoltre non sono le 500 pagine a fare di un libro un gran bel libro, ma la storia, i personaggi, le emozioni trasmesse, per questo avrei preferito una parentesi iniziale riassuntiva, magari riprendendo in mano certi rapporti durante la narrazione inserendone la loro importanza alla base di quanto raccontato, ed un approfondimento del finale purtroppo scritto, per quanto mi riguarda, frettolosamente lasciando tutto in sospeso come se vi dovesse essere ancora qualcosa da leggere pur avendo davanti soltanto i ringraziamenti proprio nel momento in cui si sarebbe dovuto scrivere di più su come si era evoluta la storia e concludere con un finale con i fiocchi .
In sostanza si sarebbe potuto fare un passettino in più, ma ciò non toglie sia stata un ottima lettura, nonostante il dolore al cuore e le tante tante lacrime.
March 27, 2019
Charlotte e la piccola Chloe vivono in Nuova Zelanda, dove si sono trasferite dopo che Anna, la madre naturale della prima, è tornata a cercarla dopo averla data in adozione. La loro vita sembra idilliaca e scorre serena ogni giorno, e come potrebbe essere altrimenti nella Bay of Islands, luogo dalla natura incontaminata?
Ma entrambi nascondono dei passati angoscianti da cui hanno cercato di fuggire, cambiando anche i propri nomi. Purtroppo però non sanno che dal passato non si può mai fuggire, perché ce lo portiamo dietro di noi, in noi, perché è parte di quello che siamo.. e così, per una piccola incomprensione, tutto tornerà come prima e il passato tornerà a cercarle chiedendo anzi pretendendo giustizia! Ma la giustizia è sempre la cosa giusta realmente?
Ho iniziato questo libro convinta, dopo il primo centinaio di pagine, che si trattasse di un romance rosa e, visto che non succedeva nulla di che, l’ho messo da parte per dare spazio prima ad altre letture. E mai avrei potuto rendermi conto di aver sbagliato così tanto!!!
In realtà è proprio dopo quelle cento pagine che accade tutto e il libro diventa una cosa completamente diversa!!!
In realtà affronta, con le diverse storie e i vari punti di vista che si intrecciano, tematiche molto delicate ma quantomai attuali, quali la maternità, i traumi, le violenze fisiche e non, il sistema delle adozioni, ma, prima fra tutte, cosa sia realmente giusto fare quando ci si presenti la necessità di difendere qualcuno, e se il sistema legale vigente corrisponda alla risposta che ci diamo.
Le vicende delle due protagoniste riescono a toccare profondamente le corde della nostra psiche e ci spingono a immaginare cosa avremmo fatto noi se fossimo state al loro posto.
Ovviamente alla fine si rivela comunque un romanzo, nel senso che (per non fare spoiler) le vicende prendono la piega attesa, e devo dire che forse è stata la parte che mi ha convinta meno, ma probabilmente questo è possibile dal fatto che si concludano in Inghilterra, mentre se fosse successo in Italia non so se sarebbe stato così possibile.
Ma non è questo comunque a renderlo meno valido, a mio parere.
Charlotte è il personaggio più fastidioso per me, perché per tutto il libro, non tira fuori il carattere ma continua ad essere lamentosa e debole come se certi eventi non li avesse decisi lei, e fa scegliere sempre gli altri per se stessa, ma soprattutto continua a recriminare senza poi decidersi mai a fare qualcosa per poter superare i suoi traumi.
Chloe è adorabile ed è forse anche un po’ romanzata, in quanto, nonostante bambina, per tutto il romanzo resta forte e controllata per entrambi, e il massimo che si conceda è piangere.
Anna ed Anthony sono le figure che mi sono piaciute di più e mi chiedo come abbiano fatto a non stufarsi della tizia!!!😆
Ora però il mio dilemma è: chi e come può aver mai deciso di dare a questo libro un titolo e una copertina che non c’entrino assolutamente nulla?!?🤔
Ma entrambi nascondono dei passati angoscianti da cui hanno cercato di fuggire, cambiando anche i propri nomi. Purtroppo però non sanno che dal passato non si può mai fuggire, perché ce lo portiamo dietro di noi, in noi, perché è parte di quello che siamo.. e così, per una piccola incomprensione, tutto tornerà come prima e il passato tornerà a cercarle chiedendo anzi pretendendo giustizia! Ma la giustizia è sempre la cosa giusta realmente?
Ho iniziato questo libro convinta, dopo il primo centinaio di pagine, che si trattasse di un romance rosa e, visto che non succedeva nulla di che, l’ho messo da parte per dare spazio prima ad altre letture. E mai avrei potuto rendermi conto di aver sbagliato così tanto!!!
In realtà è proprio dopo quelle cento pagine che accade tutto e il libro diventa una cosa completamente diversa!!!
In realtà affronta, con le diverse storie e i vari punti di vista che si intrecciano, tematiche molto delicate ma quantomai attuali, quali la maternità, i traumi, le violenze fisiche e non, il sistema delle adozioni, ma, prima fra tutte, cosa sia realmente giusto fare quando ci si presenti la necessità di difendere qualcuno, e se il sistema legale vigente corrisponda alla risposta che ci diamo.
Le vicende delle due protagoniste riescono a toccare profondamente le corde della nostra psiche e ci spingono a immaginare cosa avremmo fatto noi se fossimo state al loro posto.
Ovviamente alla fine si rivela comunque un romanzo, nel senso che (per non fare spoiler) le vicende prendono la piega attesa, e devo dire che forse è stata la parte che mi ha convinta meno, ma probabilmente questo è possibile dal fatto che si concludano in Inghilterra, mentre se fosse successo in Italia non so se sarebbe stato così possibile.
Ma non è questo comunque a renderlo meno valido, a mio parere.
Charlotte è il personaggio più fastidioso per me, perché per tutto il libro, non tira fuori il carattere ma continua ad essere lamentosa e debole come se certi eventi non li avesse decisi lei, e fa scegliere sempre gli altri per se stessa, ma soprattutto continua a recriminare senza poi decidersi mai a fare qualcosa per poter superare i suoi traumi.
Chloe è adorabile ed è forse anche un po’ romanzata, in quanto, nonostante bambina, per tutto il romanzo resta forte e controllata per entrambi, e il massimo che si conceda è piangere.
Anna ed Anthony sono le figure che mi sono piaciute di più e mi chiedo come abbiano fatto a non stufarsi della tizia!!!😆
Ora però il mio dilemma è: chi e come può aver mai deciso di dare a questo libro un titolo e una copertina che non c’entrino assolutamente nulla?!?🤔
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