Happy Tuesday! Today I have a review of Nicole Baart’s newest release, You Were Always Mine, publishing today by Atria Books!
My Thoughts:
So this is what Nicole Baart’s books are like? I am a fan!
Whether you call it a domestic drama, domestic suspense, or even a domestic psychological thriller (because it most definitely had me analyzing what was happening as it happened!), You Were Always Mine is a tense and emotional story of adoption; one that will surprise you!
Jessica Chamberlain, a high school teacher and mother of two boys, has recently separated from her doctor husband when he suddenly disappears and is later found dead.
One of Jessica’s sons is her birth son, while the younger son, Gabe, is adopted. Baart describes both boys and Jessica’s relationship with them in fleshed-out three dimension. I could easily imagine them all and could feel the palpable love between them.
The synopsis actually tells you more about the story than I want to say. Go in blind if you can because the way it all develops will keep you guessing and also feels so entirely human, so viscerally real, I would not want to take away from that experience.
Baart is skilled at writing about the complexity of relationships- wife and husband, mother and son, father and son, and father and daughter (in the scenes with Jessica’s father). At its heart, You Were Always Mine is a poignant tale of adoption, and the drama and suspense added a wealth of intrigue and propelled the dynamic plot forward.
Thanks to Atria for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
The acclaimed author of Little Broken Things returns with another “race-to-the-finish family drama” (People) about a single mother who becomes embroiled in a mystery that threatens to tear apart what’s left of her family.
Jessica Chamberlain, newly separated and living with her two sons in a small Iowa town, can’t believe that a tragedy in another state could have anything to do with her. But when her phone rings one quiet morning, her world is shattered. As she tries to pick up the pieces and make sense of what went wrong, Jess begins to realize that a tragic death is just the beginning. Soon she is caught in a web of lies and half-truths—and she’s horrified to learn that everything leads back to her seven-year-old adopted son, Gabriel.
Years ago, Gabe’s birth mother requested a closed adoption and Jessica was more than happy to comply. But when her house is broken into and she discovers a clue that suggests her estranged husband was in close contact with Gabe’s biological mother, she vows to uncover the truth at any cost. A harrowing story of tenacious love and heartbreaking betrayal, You Were Always Mine is about the wars we wage to keep the ones we love close, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult.
Have you read You Were Always Mine, or is it on your TBR? Have you read any of Baart’s other books? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Great review! Also, reading the synopsis, that cover seems so meaningful. 😮
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Thank you, Marie! Yes, it really fits! ♥️
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So glad you loved it too!! ❤ ❤
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Thanks, Holls! 💗
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Wow this one sounds intense! Awesome review Jen! Why does Atria have to have such awesome books?? 36 here this morning!! Can you believe we have snow in the forecast?? Happy Tuesday!!🤪💕💕
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Thanks, Sus! Oh my goodness, we were in the 80s yesterday, and you have snow in the forecast already?! We are going to have much cooler temps again this weekend. The seesaw of temperatures has begun. I hope you have a great Tuesday, too! ♥️
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Glad you enjoyed it, Jenn! Great review. I’ll have to add this one. ❤🎃😁 Loving the cover!
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Thanks, favorite M! The cover is wonderfully tied to the story. This one really wowed me! ♥️ I hope you enjoy it, too, if you end up reading it.
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Great review, my beautiful friend! I have mixed feelings about the story in the book. Will it make me sad? Will it make me question adoption are relationships in general?
But most importantly, did the doctor leave a living will? lol I hope he was a rich doctor. 🙂
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Thanks, Ink! This book did not make me cry, but it is definitely poignant. I think she handles the adoption aspects masterfully. The author is an adoptive parent and seemed really sensitive and thoughtful in her writing about it. ♥️
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Your review connected with a memory I have about adoption. One of my teachers, back in middle school, adapted a ten years old boy. She was a single mother and so in love with adaption and finally having another son. The relationship was turbulent and difficult to handle, but she refused to give up on that child. This story does not end well. he set the house on fire and stabbed his adoptive mom with a knife. when home from the hospital, she was still madly in love with her child. She had so much love for him, it still makes me sad to think of what he did to her.
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Aw, that is a sad and shocking story, Ink! 😞
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yes. 😦
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Awesome review. I must read this one. Thanks, Jenn.
Happy Tuesday! 💕📚🌹
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Thank you, Virginia! This is a great read, and I really hope you enjoy it too! Also hope you’ve had a great Tuesday! 💗 xo
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Sounds like a wonderful book.
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It’s pretty terrific, Marialyce!
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This is there on my amazon wish list since I saw the book in the blogging world. After your review, I have to read it📖📖
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You won’t regret it, Shalini! It’s too good to miss!
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Lovely review!
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Thanks, Siobhan! ♥️
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Ahhh now I want to know more! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a domestical thriller about adoption before and it’s great to hear the author nails both the thriller and the relationship elements. Happy Tuesday, Jennifer ❤
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Thanks, Kathy! It is definitely its own unique entity and so well-done! I love an emotional read, and this was so much more more. I hope you’ve had a great Tuesday, too, Kathy! 💗
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Yay! I’m glad it lived up to your expectations, especially since I added it to my shelf. I’ll take your advice and go in blind when I read it. Wonderful review!
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Thanks, Jonetta! I’m so excited to hear what you think! It’s such a unique read!
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Fantastic review! I’ve been hearing good things about this one. Glad you enjoyed it!
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Thanks, Darinda! It was a superb read!
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Glad you loved it too!!
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Thanks, Tina! ♥️
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This does sound amazing! 🙂 Brilliant review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Chrissi! I enjoyed it!
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Fabulous review Jennifer! Mine got up late today because I deleted my review accidentally last night somehow it’s floating up there in Internet space!🧡💛
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Thanks, Berit! That’s the worst to lose a review- yikes! Happy you enjoyed this one too! ♥️
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I’m still trying to finish this one but meant to be done by today, ugh! Last week just threw me for a loop with everything and reading was put on the back burner! But I’m loving it! I just love Nicole Baart so much–and I knew you would love this one! ❤ Great review and you're right that it is best to go into the book blind! She really does a wonderful job writing about families and adoption because she's an adoptive mother-I love her story of how she's an adoption advocate and adopted her 4 children! It's so heartwarming! I have 3 cousins who were all adopted after my aunt and uncle fostered them, so that's something very special to my heart ❤ I know I'm going to love, love this book..if I can get time to finish! Fantastic review as always my friend! xoxo
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Thanks so much, Stephanie! I’m sorry I didn’t comment back until now. I did – but onlyin my mind! 😂 I am the worst looking at WP notifications at work and then they are no longer bolded as new, and when I get home hours later, I inevitably miss one no matter how hard I try not to. I’m so sorry. I wonder if you’ve finished this one yet and how you liked it? I’ll be watching for your review. I love your connection to adoption and the author’s as well. Hope you’ve had a great end to the week and that your dad is healing and resting. Hugs and love! Xoxo
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Oh no problem!! I see mine on my phone or tablet sometimes and start to answer and then start something else, think I’ve answered, then they disappear off my WP feed, lol. I finished it Fri morning before I got out of bed, lol. I refused to move until it was done, haha. I loved it! I just wrote my review a little bit ago and it will be on my blog tomorrow. I’m a bit behind with my reads. Things have just gotten so busy. Thank you! He’s going to end up having surgery on his thigh this week actually because the hematoma on his thigh hasn’t decompressed, and he can’t walk more than 10 minutes without severe pain in his leg. They’re going to have to clean it out because it’s infected and all that…ugh. I might not be around much next week since I’ll be at the hospital and then at their house helping out. I’ll keep you updated! xoxo
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Thinking of you and your dad this week and will watch for the review! ♥️
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Thank you! Xoxo 💗
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I love your review of this one! It sounds utterly fantastic!!
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Thanks, Mackey! I loved it!
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Ooh glad this was such a good emotional, tense story! Great review!
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Thank you! It was a story well-told!
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Sounds like an awesome book! Great review. 😀
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Thank you! I really loved it! ♥️
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After your previous post about this book, I managed to snag a review copy! Now I’m even more excited. Love, love, love complex family relationships and it sounds like this story unravels in just the right way. Fabulous review, Jen!
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Thanks Myndi! I have all my fingers crossed 🤞 that you love this one as much as I did. It reminded me some of my favorite domestic suspense of the year, The Night Olivia Fell, in that it was about more than just the tension and suspense and the characters were so well-developed. Anyway, I hope you love it!
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Lovely review Jennifer! I kind of get the feeling this would be a popcorn book to me…. drama always makes me crave popcorn. LOL
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Thanks, Carrie! Yes, you’d want to have some popcorn 🍿 nearby!
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Great review 😀 I hate it when they give away too much in blurbs… sometimes I don’t even read them just in case!
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Thanks, Annie! I usually scan over synopses, but I tend to forget them, thank goodness!
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Love your review, Jennifer!!! Yes this genre was hard to place, but the book was amazing regardless!!! Loved getting to discuss this 💛
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Thanks, Mack! I loved reading and discussing with you, too! ♥️
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I’m going to have to try a Nicole Baart book. Many bloggers seem to like her books, including this one. Great review, Jennifer. Thx for telling us to go in blind with this one. ( :
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Thanks, Laurie! She’s a special author. I can see why she receives so much love! I hope you enjoy a book from her if you end up reading one. 💕
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I avoided the synopsis and I’m deliberately going in blind like you suggested Jenni! Fab review 🤗
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Thanks, Beth! Oh, does that mean you are reading this one?! Yay! Enjoy! ♥️
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Haha it’s on the wish list, who knows when I’ll get round to it? 😅😂
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Got approved for it on NetGalley yesterday. Will have to get to it soon then 😉
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I’m so excited aboout this, Nina! ♥️
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I am ready to get to this one after reading the Buddies various reviews. I have it loaded up on the kindle ready to go. Wonderful review, I am going in as blind as I can after reading reviews.
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Thank you, Carla! I hope you enjoy it, too. It’s great to go in blind. I’ll be watching for your thoughts!
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I am reading this one soon, Jennifer! After your review, can’t wait for it! ❤
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Aww, yay, Sarah! I can’t wait for your thoughts on it! I have a pretty good feeling you will love it! ♥️
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I am reading this book right now and totally agree about Baart’s ability to write the complexity of a relationship. So good so far and I cannot figure out what is going on!!!
http://www.amysbooketlist.blogspot.com
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Yay, Amy! I love that you were reading it, too! I’ll be watching for your review!
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Great review, Jennifer. Glad you enjoyed this one. The themes sound heavy, interesting to see in a thriller.
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Thanks, Diana! I think it falls a little more on the emotional side than the thriller side, but there is a nicely woven tension that builds and builds and keeps you guessing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! ♥️
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