And Then There Were Four

by Emma Sutton

Newly-wed, Andy and Emma threw caution and condoms to the wind, ready to welcome their magic baby. You know, the one who rocks up the first time you have unprotected sex, carried by the optimism stork? They were excited and waited patiently.Then impatiently.Then somewhat forlornly.They tried pillows and pee sticks, doctors and dowsing, before finally arriving in the Land of Adoption. After years as a couple, Andy and Emma found themselves with two toddlers practically overnight. And they had to pedal faster than Bradley Wiggins to catch up.And Then There Were Four is an unforgettable, unputdownable roller coaster through the hilarious highs and pass-the-gin-now-the-tissues lows of infertility, adoption, and parenting. “One of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. Emma dumps you right into her emotional experience, yet writes with such lightness as to keep your spirits up. This book is like your favourite pastime; time flies by because you’re so engrossed in the story. Delightful. Heart-filled.” Pam Burrows“The bittersweet ambiance of this book grabs you very, very it’s hard not to get caught up in the moment, in the flow, in the too-painful-to-bear beauty of it. It’s written from the heart, raw and chatty . . . and what a heart!” Simon Raybould“This book will strike a chord with any parent. It’s utterly compelling, witty and beautiful, achingly sad, and packed full of love.” Sarah Fox“That’s not how I remember it.” Andy Sutton (Husband)Described as "an essential read" for adopters and their friends and family, it has been praised (see Amazon.co.uk reviews) for being "down to earth" and telling the truth, in a book that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next.If you are thinking of adopting, have already adopted or are friends of someone who is going through the process, then this book will let you behind the curtain of the secret world of adoption in the UK.Find out what really happens so you can prepare for the rollercoaster experience of your life.

Genres: Adoption

326 pages, Paperback

Published July 27, 2017

About the author

Emma Sutton writes about adoption, family life and the considerable gap between the parenting books and what actually happens in your kitchen.

She is the author of And Then There Were Four, the story of how she and her husband became parents to two siblings, and And Trauma Made Five, which picks up their story a few years later, when they discover that they have also welcomed an invisible and rather disruptive fifth member into the family: trauma.

Her writing combines honesty, humour and the occasional parenting catastrophe with an exploration of what happens when traditional parenting stops working. Drawing on lived experience, therapeutic parenting ideas and a great deal of trial and error, she writes about the messy business of learning to understand the story beneath a child’s behaviour.

Emma lives in Yorkshire with her husband, children and an assortment of animals. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found drinking tea, buying books she definitely has room for, or enthusiastically starting another project.

Reviews

[Victoria Chapman]

Brilliant book! Completely unputdownable. An honest, raw, funny insight into life, love, parenthood, motherhood and taking a leap into the unknown. Everyone should read this book regardless of whether you’ve ever been or wanted to be a parent. who has been a parent or a child!
Where is book 2 please.

[Oliver Atherton]

Insightful about adoption but can connect with every parent

Feels like a Phoenix of love arising from sorrow. Keeps you glued to the emotional rollercoaster and the intense different ways that love for you children develops.

[Debra Parfitt]

Fantastic

This book is a real insight into adoption, we are curently going through this process. I have found this book ensightful and very help ful. Thank you for allowing us to see how scary, challenging, excruciating and fabulously amazing adoption can be.

[mrs c e smith]

What an amazing story !!

Emma's mum was a fear friend of mine, and this book explains to me just how much Maralyn loved and was deeply proud of those two delightful children.

[Annabel Attwell]

A fantstic book. If you've read many horror stories of adoption read this book next. It is honest and real but also uplifting and encouraging.

[Vivien Badaut]

The first good account of a personal journey to adoption I am reading. There's not many.
It's funny, pretty well written, and interesting.
There are lengths though. I jumped through whole paragraphs of Emma describing her internal turnmoils as they did not resonate with me - or even strike me as honest. The epilogue was very important though, to set the score at the end of the book: it's her account, her feelings and who am I to judge on that?
I would recommend this book to any prospective adoptive parent.