A CHILD OF MY OWN by VANESSA CARNEVALE

My Rating: ★★★★★

Isla and Ben are devoted parents to their beloved daughter, Reese. She is their little miracle, the child they thought they’d never have until donors made her existence possible. But Isla has never told Reese about her biological parents. She wants to be honest with her daughter, but can she bear to open up old wounds?

Then Isla receives a call from Lucy, once her closest friend and the donor who made her dreams come true. They haven’t spoken in almost ten years, but Lucy has devastating news: she has lost her beloved husband Nate.

Heartbroken for her friend, Isla welcomes Lucy back into her life. But then Lucy comes to Isla with a request that changes everything. If Lucy gets what she wants, Isla’s perfect family could be destroyed. But would she deny the woman who helped her become a mother the chance for her own happiness?

This is such a beautiful story! Right from the first page I was drawn into the story and found myself unable to put the book down until I finished it.

Narrated beautifully in alternating versions of Isla and Lucy, it covers the entire journey of these two remarkable women. Right from how they became best friends, Lucy willing to become a donor so as to give her friend one of the best gifts ever, the unexpected change in their friendship which eventually led them to be estranged for almost a decade to their emotional reunion. Each of these events, have been so wonderfully presented.

Apart from the characters, who each leave a mark in this story, even all the other social and legal issues involving donor embryos have been well highlighted.

Overall, this is a book which is full of heart and I don't think my words will enough to explain what a wonderful read this is!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!