Mamma pappa barn

by Claire Lynch, Antonia Rojas (Translator)

1982. Dawn är en ung mamma som fortfarande håller på att anpassa sig till livet med sin man när Hazel lyser upp hennes värld. De har ett band som är omöjligt att motstå, och plötsligt är livet mer komplicerat, och mer lyckligt, än Dawn någonsin förväntat sig. Men hon har ansvar och åtaganden. Hon har en dotter.

2022. Heron har just fått nyheter från sin läkare som vänder upp och ner på allt. Han är en äldre man, fast i vanor och en stillsam tillvaro. Att berätta för Maggie, hans enda barn - den person som hans liv har kretsat kring - verkar omöjligt. Heron kan inte berätta för henne om sin diagnos, precis som han inte kan avslöja alla de andra hemligheter han har hållit från henne i så många år.

Mamma pappa barn är en hjärtskärande och hoppfull berättelse om kärlek och förlust, intimitet och orättvisa, vårdnad och omsorg, och om det är möjligt att läka såren från det förflutna i en förändrad värld.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, LGBT, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Queer

219 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2025

Reviews

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow i loved this book.. beautiful, yet so frustrating at times.

from the back of the book that i think describes it perfectly: "A Family Matter is a heartbreaking and hopeful exploration of love and loss, intimacy and injustice, custody and care, and whether it is possible to heal from the wounds of the past in the changed world of today." 💛

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a good sign when my only complaint about a short book is wishing it was longer.

this is a spare novel in both writing and page count, and it left me wanting MORE. i came to love these characters, or at least care about them, even as they were hurting each other and making life-changing mistakes and giving up and seeming unfeeling while feeling so much.

the two stories it tells, separated by 40 years, carry that as their through-line.

that, and a sobering reminder that things, especially cruelties, that feel very far from us, in time and in distance and in thought, can be troublingly close.

bottom line: timely and substantive and NOT ENOUGH!

(thanks to the publisher for the arc)

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family Matter is Complicated and Messy....

A wife and mother makes an irresistible connection...
The husband and father draws a line in the sand...
The young daughter is caught in the silence...
Two timelines: 1982 and 2022, with forty years of living in between...

Claire Lynch’s writing is lovely, thoughtful, and soft, but mostly, it is quiet, just like all the secrets Heron kept from Maggie, his daughter, through her years of growing up, and afterward. As this story intensifies, and the weight of what has happened is eventually discovered, it will crush you.

I am always in awe of an author who writes a book, this one at only 240 pages, that is as rich as much longer ones. This story is brief, yet complete. It is a beautifully written debut novel, both heartbreaking and uplifting, and as I reflect on it and this family, my eyes begin to well up as the emotions of reading it linger with me.

And then there's that ending...

5⭐

Thank you to Scribner and Claire Lynch for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The DRC was paired with the Audible audiobook narrated by Miranda Raison, whose voicing and recounting of the story further enriched my experience.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, heartbreaking, beautifully written, hard to put down and thought provoking! A Family Matter deals with secrets, family, love, marriage, loss, and injustice to name a few. This book is told in two timelines, 1982 and 2022, and focuses on Heron a man who must tell his daughter, Maggie, who he raised primarily alone, about his diagnosis. They have a close relationship and speak daily but there is one thing in addition to his diagnosis that he has never told her...

“This is a day she has been waiting for all her life. Her chance to repay him. The one who loved her. The one who stayed.”

― Claire Lynch, A Family Matter

This was a fast read which I read in one sitting. I did not want to put this book about love, loss, and all the things in-between down. I felt for the characters and as I finished the book, I found that I wanted more. More of Claire Lynch's beautiful writing, more time reconnecting, just more. That is a compliment, as I wanted to spend just a little bit longer with the characters. I wanted to spend time with Dawn, a mother who found love but lost a piece of her heart, a father who thought he was doing the right thing, and a daughter who is close with her father and finally learns the truth about A Family Matter.

This is a beautifully written book that had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I found myself highlighting several passages and thinking about the characters after I turned the last page.

Thank you to Scribner and goodreads who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[JanB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an intimate knowledge of a divorce and custody battle with someone I love deeply. To say I have deep thoughts and feelings is an understatement. So I wasn’t sure how this book would land.

In the author’s clear concise language, she highlights the injustices of the judicial system in the 1980s, and the far-reaching consequences on the family.

The pendulum has swung very far. Our family’s situation is very different than the situation in this book. In this story, they were good people caught in a time and a system where there is no solution possible that would have benefitted all involved.

Dawn, the wife of Heron, and mother to Maggie, fell in love with a woman, which in the court’s eyes made her an unfit mother. The family is ripped apart.

Decades later, Heron falls ill and Maggie discovers the family secrets that upended her life.

How can the ‘80s seem so long ago in the dark ages, when to me the 80s seems like yesterday?

The author’s skill in telling this story made this a compelling read which led me to feel sympathy for all involved. This is the writing style that i absolutely love.

Highly recommended

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book when I started reading this, as the first few chapters seemed a bit off. However, once the story took off, I couldn’t stop reading. I was so invested in the lives of Heron, Dawn, and their daughter, Maggie.

In “A Family Matter” the story takes place between two timelines, which are 1982 and 2022. Those two timelines are important, because we know that many changes have taken place all over the world during those decades.

The story begins with Heron finding out that he is ill, and he doesn’t know exactly how much longer he has to live. Heron is very close with his daughter, Maggie, as he raised her as a single father for the past forty years. When Heron divorced Dawn, the courts decided that Heron should have full custody, and that Dawn have no contact at all for her choices in life.

It is in Heron’s final days that the truth is coming to light. Will Maggie forgive her father, her mother, or even herself?

I just loved the writing in this book, and I was sad to see this story end. I also recommend reading the very informative and interesting Authors Note at the end. This is one book that I highly recommend.

“If you have time to worry about other people’s problems, you have few enough of your own”.

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

i could've read another 200 pages of this

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate this book for portraying the anti-queer discrimination lesbian couples and mothers have faced historically. Claire Lynch did a nice job of showing how this homophobic bigotry has a ripple effect and can affect so many people’s lives beyond just the person experiencing the discrimination (which is already bad enough). Unfortunately I found the prose in this book quite dull. Lynch’s writing style was easy to read though also bored me, despite the important subject matter. Thus I give A Family Matter three stars.

[emilybookedup · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 3 for GR. i liked this one and it definitely gives you a lot to think about. it’s more character driven and tackles a lot in under 250 pages. however the way it was executed left me wanting a bit more, mainly bc i really wanted even more character development to better connect emotionally with the characters (esp Dawn + Maggie). i felt it wrapped up rather quickly!

i had no idea the events in this book happened (based on real events) and its crazy that this wasn’t that long ago :( i applaud the author for telling this story and also for Jenna for making this her June pick or else i wouldn’t have learned + heard of this!

if you like family drama + character driven stories this is for you!

i did the audio and it was easy to follow the dual timelines and a really quick listen. the book is under 250 pages, so it can certainly be finished in one sitting. more on the emo side for sure, i felt really sad but also happy at the end. trying to keep spoiler free!

thanks to Simon Audio / Libro FM for the gifted audio copy. def recommend that route!

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. The author took her time developing two timelines in the past and present, 1982 and 2022, and then bringing them full circle at the end.

In 1982 Dawn is adjusting to life as a mom, and a wife to her husband. When she meets Hazel, she gets caught up in a whirlwind of feelings, and feels so much joy. Relationships like this tend to be inappropriate or looked down upon, but she's finding her feelings hard to resist. Now she is more confused than ever on what to do. In 2022, Heron, her ex husband, in his 60’s, receives a terminal diagnosis that will change everything. He needs to tell his only daughter Maggie, but he feels like he can't do it. He's afraid for her to find out about the secrets that he's hid from her for so long.

This is a character driven book, and the characters are fleshed out and well developed. Some parts felt a little slow, but I still was pulled into these characters lives to find out how it was all going to turn out. It was a sad story but also full of hope. I was definitely impressed that this was a debut. Can't wait to see what Claire writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to A Family Matter, a story set in 1982 when Dawn, a young married mother to a little girl, meets Hazel, a woman who brings joy to her life. Dawn’s husband, Heron, is not happy and takes action against Dawn.

In 2022, Heron receives somber news from his doctor. He doesn’t want to share this diagnosis with his daughter, Maggie, or all of his other secrets, but maybe it is time to reveal some truths.

A Family Matter is a dual timeline story that is packed with emotion though it’s not a long book. I listened to the audiobook quickly and Miranda Raison narrated the story well.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most heartbreaking novels I've ever read.

A Family Matter tells us the story of Dawn, Heron and Maggie. It is split into two timelines. In the 1980s Dawn and Heron are married with a 4 year old daughter, Maggie. At a church sale Dawn meets Hazel and, quite simply, falls in love. Buy when she admits the affair, the outcome is not what she expected and Dawn may have to lose everything.

In 2022 Heron has just discovered he is dying. He knows he must tell daughter, Maggie, but he's not sure how and he's also sure that he is then going to have to tell her the truth about her mother's abandonment of the family.

This is a very touching and emotional story of a woman finding out what her background truly is. Maggie's reaction first to the news and then to Dawn were dealt with very sensitively. In fact the whole book is gentle and tender in tone. Claire Lynch has done a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. It wasn't sensationalised or melodramatic, just beautiful and heartfelt prose.

Reading this book I was absolutely amazed to learn that these kind of legal ramifications went on in the 1980s for a lesbian mother. In the Author's Note she tells us that the words used by the courts is taken from real documents. They disgusted and horrified me and you begin to wonder how many more families were torn apart by such prejudice. I defy anyone not to be affected by it.

Very highly recommended.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Random House UK for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

[Drop of Jupiter ⊙°˚*✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written and tackles a powerful, often overlooked subject: mothers in same-sex relationships being forced to give up custody of their children in the 1980s. It’s mind-blowing to realize this was happening only about forty years ago.

A mother forced to choose between her child and her happiness. A father pushed by society into making choices he believed were “best.” It’s heartbreaking. It’s cruel. This book shook me to my core.

I hated the decision Heron made. And I hated that Dawn chose to leave, knowing it meant losing Maggie. Would I have stayed in a relationship with no love, no passion, and no future at 23 just to make sure my daughter had a mother? I want to scream YES! YES! YES! But honestly—how can I really know? Judging as an outsider, it’s easy to say yes. Living as a gay woman in the 80s was probably a very different reality.

The only part that disappointed me was the scene when Maggie meets Dawn near the end. I wanted more—I wanted to feel both of their emotions in that moment. It felt too short for such a powerful reunion.

Still, the characters are beautifully written, complex, and deeply human. The story lingers long after finishing.

And if I’m honest, reading this emotional roller coaster made me realize something: maybe literary fiction isn’t my favorite genre. I need more “fiction” in my fiction—something that lets me escape this reality we’re already living.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
It’s 1982 and Dawn, a young woman married to Heron and mother of their toddler daughter Maggie, encounters Hazel, a delightful woman who’s a teacher and has the gift of gab. Something about her lights Dawn from within in a way she’s never experienced. It soon becomes apparent that Dawn needs to make a change. Transition to 2022 and Heron is struggling with bad news from his doctor that he doesn’t know how to share with his daughter Maggie and two grandchildren. It’s what happened in between that truly matters.

the heart of the story…
Marriages have crumbled because of affairs for centuries but in 1982, a woman leaving her husband for another woman wasn’t customary. Heron made decisions regarding custody of Maggie that had devastating consequences, making it a commentary on Dawn’s sexual preference rather than what was best for the child, egged on by a rabid judicial system. We see the consequences forty years later and now Heron has to face telling his daughter the truth about what happened and dealing with the fallout. It was heartbreaking on so many levels.

the narration…
Miranda Raison was wonderful in letting the beauty of the writing flow without much embellishment. She’s a terrific storyteller.

the bottom line…
I was surprised to find so much complexity in a short story. Lynch skillfully presents an uncomplicated and pure romance that was tainted by other’s prejudices, turning it into something ugly and detrimental to parenting. She made Heron a villain and sympathetic at the same time, surprising me in how I experienced him that way. I loved the rawness of it all and there’s an authenticity here that prevented me from taking sides, which that was extraordinary. This is why I almost always add a Read With Jenna selection.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most character driven books I’ve read in awhile. If this is your jam, pick it up, the last few chapters will linger with me. While there are slow moments, Claire Lynch’s prose if deft and moving.
Dual timelines - 2022 and 1982.
1982: It goes back and forth with with Dawn and Hazel, who share an forbidden attraction
2022: Present day, where Hazel is confronted with a life changing revelation about her father and mother.

This is a shorter book and can be read in one day. The sentences are lyrical with prose. If you like a book where not a lot happens, but packs an emotional punch.

“Just before I fall asleep, I kiss the inside of my left wrist, on the hidden place beneath my watch, just where you always kiss it. I’m sure there must be some trace of your lips that stays there. Will you pay in some deposits when I see you on Wednesday? I need you to leave one hundred kisses on my wrist so I can cash them in when we’re apart.”

[Aly Lauck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa read this in one sitting! Fast read, but jam packed with drama and a good plot. I’m glad this came out during Pride month. Great book to read to learn more about historical context.

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh this book could have been so good in my opinion because it talks about a very recent time in history in the UK regarding save sex couples and heterosexual marriages and what was law. And while I thought this book was great at explaining the father daughter relationship I felt like it missed the boat on describing the mother’s life. Very sad that this existed but so long ago for sure but I wish there were more chapters on the mother’s life as well.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An exquisite and revelatory debut novel about the devastating consequences of one woman’s affair."

1982 Dawn meets Hazel and instantly falls in love with her. But she has responsibilities at home. Obligations to her husband Heron and their young daughter Maggie, whom she loves with all her heart.

2022 Heron receives a devastating diagnosis and can't bear to bring it up to Maggie as it will also unearth secrets he has kept from her for forty years.

Honestly, I was on the fence for a while about reading this at the invitation of the publisher. I am so glad I decided to read it. It is a worthwhile exploration of love and loss, injustice, and custody battles. We have come a long way in our treatment of lesbian couples where women are more frequently granted custody of their children. This is an illuminating and poignant read that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I loved the story of this family and found this to be a great read. The characters are fully fleshed out and you understand all their points of view whether or not you agree with their choices. If you enjoy thought-provoking family sagas, this is one to add to your TBR!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner, and Claire Lynch for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Dona's Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Sometimes, especially in the early years, the two of them would be invited to Christmas dinner at someone else’s house. A gathering of waifs and strays, other families like theirs who had been cracked open by death or divorce. Maggie hated those Christmases, they weren’t a distraction at all, but an underlining. Bringing all the spare people together made it even clearer who was missing." p111

Final Review

I read this one twice. Not because it was a great book, but because it has great elements and I felt at the end of my first read that I missed some things. I normally don't give a book a second read immediately, but I was really curious here.

Unfortunately, I wound up just as vague on the plot at the end of the second read. I liked this story the most for its theme work. But a book needs details to ground the reader in the story world, and this book needs more. At less than 200 pages, I would say this one needs at least 50 more pages of them. I struggle to connect to books that lack detail and utilize a lot of summary and dialogue.

I still recommend this one to fans of feminist themes, experimental form, and summary-and-dialog books. If you liked Margot's Got Money Troubles, you might like A FAMILY MATTER.

Thank you to the author Claire Lynch, publishers Scribner Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of A FAMILY MATTER. All views are mine.

[TracyGH · Rating 4 out of 5]

UK 1980s - when lesbian women were in family court for divorce, a whopping 90% had their children taken away from them. That is mind blowing. We have come away a long way and yet we have much more ground to make up.

A story of a grown up daughter, who finds out the real reason her lesbian mother has had no contact with her. Her mother never ran away….never gave her up. A court made that decision, so the daughter would not be immersed into her perverted lifestyle. How does she reconcile her feelings with both parents? Truly heartbreaking.

I loved this book. It was short, too short. I would have loved to have had more information on how the mother survived, after the daughter was awarded to her father. A gripping tale and I am happy I picked up this little gem. 💎 It really had me deeply thinking on a subject I was unaware of. 4 ⭐️

“When we know better, we do better.” Maya Angelou

[Lee Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great book, until it just stopped.
How about an ending? It’s like self checkout with some novels, and I really don’t want to create my own conclusion. I found it really annoying. The book just dropped out with so many unanswered questions.

[Claire Fuller]

Gorgeous writing and beautifully told. From the first lines I was caught up in this family's net, the half-truths, the lies, and the love. Heron is dying but he doesn't know how to tell his adult daughter, Maggie because although it has almost always just been the two of them they don't talk about the difficult stuff. Maggie, with a two children of her own is just about managing. And then back in the 1980s there is Dawn, Maggie's mother who falls in love with a woman. It's a sad, complicated tangle that highlights the shocking prejudice in the 1980s.

[Martine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You will be so many people in your lifetime that you'll look back one day and not even recognize some of the people you have been."

This is a moving and thoughtful story about the weight of family secrets and the struggle to move forward. We follow a family's journey across two timelines—1982 and 2022—revealing the fallout of a hidden lesbian relationship and a painful custody battle. A well-written debut novel that explores love, loss, and the chance for reconciliation. An important and timely read.

[fulcrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished this book weeks ago and only now managed to write something, because i was left more upset than satisfied. the story had potential, the writing is careful, even good in places, but it didn’t feel strong enough for me.

so: heron, a father who finds out he’s dying, finally has to confess a secret to his daughter. back in the 80s, his wife — her mother — realised she was a lesbian. yes, that hurts, but it wasn’t her fault. especially not in the uk back then, when compulsory heterosexuality was strong and being openly queer was nearly impossible. instead of meeting this with compassion, he drags her through court, takes their daughter, and cuts the mother out completely.

the result: the mother spends her life grieving, never seeing her daughter or grandchildren. the daughter grows up with a carefully constructed lie. and the father? he does the bare minimum — raises the child — and somehow gets praised as a hero.

what makes it worse for me: he keeps this secret for forty years. only when he’s dying does he reveal it, not to heal or take responsibility, but to unburden himself. decades of connection stolen, never once he admitted the cruelty of choice he made. that’s not redemption, it’s cowardice.

and i’ve seen some people praise him for “looking after his daughter.” well, damn. that was his job. imagine he stole a little girl from her mother and abandoned her — that would’ve been the full disaster. the bar is so low it’s practically in hell, and yet he’s rewarded for stepping over it.

excuses like “times were different” don’t work for me because he had choices. he didn’t have to out her. he didn’t have to argue she was unfit. every step, he chose active cruelty. and if the roles were reversed, i mean, if a woman did this to her gay ex-husband, she’d be crucified. but when a man does it, it becomes “tragic” and “complicated.”

the book shows how systemic homophobia wrecks lives, but the way the narrative (and some readers) excuse him, even praise him, is the problem in my opinion. men get empathy for doing the bare minimum; queer women and mothers are left erased and blamed.

and yet, despite all this, the book still feels important. i’m glad the author chose to write about it, to give context, to educate. as i said, the writing isn’t bad, but i was left a little unsatisfied. it felt like i was only given a glimpse into their lives, like overhearing someone else’s gossip without ever getting the full picture. what i wanted most — clarity about the daughter and mother at the end — was left unresolved. i wanted to see her final thoughts, her decision, a sense of hope. instead i was left guessing, and i’m not sure hope was really there.

[Camilla tra le righe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bellissimo romanzo d'esordio, toccante e poetico al punto giusto, senza risultare stucchevole. Claire Lynch ha una scrittura da far invidia.

[T · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a message than a story. Characters are shallow, storytelling is dry, and the world the author builds is lacking. This book felt reads like: “Sad things have happened in the past. Here is an example of a sad thing. Here are the sad people who were affected. Now maybe they will reconcile, and the rest is left to the readers imagination”. There, maybe I’ve saved you 200 pages of reading.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 - very strong debut with a powerful author’s note at the end to really punctuate the importance of progress and how much as a society we stand to lose if that progress in equality is rolled back.

Thank you to scribner Books for the gifted finished copy and Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family secrets never stay hidden forever. Maggie was raised by her father, Heron, and the story she was told about her mother was riddled with omissions and lies. Maggie discovers the truth one day as she helps Heron clear his home of clutter. Dawn is young mother who has had no opportunity to learn about herself. She loves her daughter. She is naive about the world.

This story is told in a dual timeline format, it alternates between 1982-83 and 2022-2023. I appreciate the subject matter and the spotlight this story provides. I think it is an important reminder of what people are willing to do in the name of fear and ignorance. The story is told in a straightforward, almost dry, style and a little dry which made it less emotionally affective. Overall, I appreciated the story but felt it was lacking. A Family Matter is less than 250 pages and there was definitely room for more. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Scribner for sending me a free copy of A FAMILY MATTER by Claire Lynch!

I have a great track record with Read With Jenna book club picks so I dove right into June’s selection and ended up finishing the book within a day. It’s a family drama that goes back and forth between the 1980s when Dawn is a young wife and mother living in England and 2022 when Heron has health issues that he is putting off discussing with his adult daughter, Maggie.

Clocking in at a little over 200 pages, it was a gripping read from the start. There’s some historical content woven into the story regarding custody cases. I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note after finishing the book as she shares statistics that are horrifying. A character driven novel that is heartbreaking but also provides some moments of hope.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 Stars!

An incredibly sad story.

A Family Matter is a fictional story about a true time in history where humans treated other humans as though they were less than human.