‘When You Were Mine’ by Kate Hewitt is most definitely a story that will touch your heart it did mine! A beautiful, emotional story of a mothers love and the things mothers will do for their children.
Beth dotes on her seven-year-old son Dylan, she protects him with her life and she has made their world, just for them. If she is always with him no harm can come to this little boy who has chosen not to speak, elective mutism and the doctors name it these days. The world Beth has built for them means that Dylan does not attend school, go to the doctors or dentist. He has no friends as that would mean play dates and mixing with people who could cause harm. Beth lives exclusively for her darling son, nothing else. Then the day arrives that Beth is reported to the Child Protection Services for abusing Dylan, immediately he is taken away from her.
Ally is a woman who is desperate to be a foster carer, she has a family, two older children and her husband. Ally is ready for a foster child but when they place Dylan in her care it turns out harder than she ever expected. Dylan is heartbroken and distraught. He has never left his mother and knows nothing else. Ally, this pretender in Dylans eyes, knows nothing about him, not even his surname! She has no clue what food he likes, how to calm him down or that he doesn’t like touching unless he wants to be touched and most of all Ally doesn’t even know he doesn’t speak! Ally and her family are in for more than they planned, a steep uphill ride.
Beth is truly desperate to get Dylan back and will jump through any hoop they put in front of her to make them see she is a good mother and return her son to where he belongs. She can’t wait to visit him in his foster home and when she does, she automatically hates Ally just for being the one with her son. Ally has everything she doesn’t, a beautiful home, clever kids and a wonderful husband. Beth slowly comes to a realisation that shakes her to the core but, she knows in her heart that maybe Ally is the better mother for her son.
My word! A heartbreaking and uplifting story of the journey through motherhood. Kate Hewitt has brought it as it is, no rose coloured glasses, the heartbreak, the stress and the worry that comes with the word mother is showcased to the hilt in this book. I thought both Beth and Ally were brilliant characters, Ally due to her total acceptance, inclusivity, determination and dedication throughout the book. Beth, because although she didn’t get it right first time, she became aware and opened her eyes to what was right for Dylan. I know how hard that can be and how much pain it can cause, so hat’s off to her for that inner strength. Dylan just showed how strong kids can be, I loved him for the way he adapted to the best of his ability.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of this emotional book for my review today.
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