Because of You: The bestselling Richard & Judy book club pick

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Because of You” is a family drama concerning a newborn girl that's stolen from a hospital by a grieving mother whose child died in birth. But above all, the idea that you could ever forgive someone for stealing your baby and causing you pain and worry every day for 18 years is just unbelievable and in my opinion, offensive. Hadn't read anything by Dawn French before so I had an open mind and was hopeful as I have enjoyed books by other comediennes turned authors. Honestly, the very thought of hinging the exploration of nature vs nurture on a stolen baby and a stillbirth makes me uncomfortable as a parent. Lee, a two-dimensional cheeky chappie builder-type who makes a good cup a tea, is lovingly referred to by everyone as “Twat” 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I’m rather an audio book novice – I have this terrible habit of falling asleep whilst listening to books – its not boredom – especially not in this case, but rather a voice in my ear soothing me to sleep! There are some funny and tender moments within the story but overall it felt a bit too forced for me to fully enjoy it or find it impactful.But the book does have an emotional – if rather unlikely – ending an overall it’s a very big hearted story - and to be honest it’s nice to have a break from books that think seem to think literary means also having to be one or more of misanthropic/transgressive/deeply pessimistic/explicit/scatological. I'm going to keep this short because I don't feel like writing a proper essay for Goodreads, and the other long option would probably be rambling and vitriolic.

Instead I found it quite odd, yet some characters, such as a narcissistic male depressingly familiar from many other stories. Hope and Minnie, a happy, bright and joyful girl, have an unbreakable bond, with their own secret codes and Wawa. I found the beginning and the end very distressing, and most of the rest of it farcical and not funny. However, I feel like there are some well-known public figures such as Graham Norton who've written popular novels which are fine but they probably receive undue attention just because the authors are already known to the public. Not sure a woman who had suffered placental abruption and very heavy bleeding during labour would be allowed home a mere couple of hours later, and I believe blood type matches are required for organ transplants.All I will say is that when there is an unexpected death, a coroner has to get involved and organ donation is not on the agenda.

Maybe it's me, but I fail to see why there should even be an expectation of warm feelings here for someone who committed the unimaginable crime of stealing a newborn, no matter what circumstances drove her to do it or how much effort she put into raising that baby. French has really gone to town with his character, a truly obnoxious man, narcissistic, vain, amoral and utterly selfish, whose world revolves entirely around him, no-one else gets a look in. year old Anna is a quiet and resolute person, unhappily married to Julius, an MP and a more obnoxious man you could not meet.

The story ends by Minnie having to cope with Hope taking her own life, while recovering from a heart transplant. It's impossible not to warm to Rosie, a funny and open-hearted woman who acts as a salve and comfort blanket for this unhappy, inhibited family. This is going to be a short review because I read this book a few months ago, and the details have gotten a bit fuzzy. if you want something special and a well done and written story, that is heartbreaking and makes you feel with the mothers and the child that goes through what’s happening in this book?