Another Woman’s Child

By: Kerry Fisher

Narrated by: Emma Spurgin Hussey

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Could you take in your best friend’s child, even if it risked destroying your own family?  

Jo had thought that her life - and her heart - was full. With a busy job, a husband and a teenage daughter who is going off the rails, keeping her life running smoothly had already felt hard enough.

But now Jo sits at the funeral of her best friend, Ginny, crushed by the loss of a friendship that had endured for 30 years: from college and their first days at work through to settling down and raising their own children.  

Against her husband’s wishes, Jo has made a life-changing decision: to take in Ginny’s teenage son, Victor, and raise him as her own. Despite her misgivings, Jo feels she had no choice: Ginny was a single parent, and Victor had no other family who could take care of him.  

But Victor’s arrival is about to break open the fragile cracks that were already forming on the surface of Jo’s family life and in her small rural community...and expose a secret that has remained hidden for many years, with devastating consequences.  

From the best-selling author of The Silent Wife and The Woman I Was Before, Another Woman’s Child is an gripping and heartbreaking listen about the secrets we keep from our families and the sacrifices we are willing to make for those we love. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.

©2020 Audible Ltd (P)2020 Audible Ltd

Drawn out story with no real surprises

Kerry Fisher, once again, showed how good of a writer she is. I’ve read/listened to all of her books and am always amazed at how she paints a scene, characterization, and story. As a black American woman who only knows British terms from movies and television shows, I always feel like I’m peeking behind the curtain of another world when I read Ms. Fishers books. The Mother I Could Have Been is the book that revealed to me that motherhood, in all its intricacies, is complicated for everyone. And no matter your age or class, no one is immune. Race was never mentioned, which didn’t matter because I was still able to see myself in the main characters. It was such a brilliant book.

This book was harder for me to relate to. I did appreciate the subtle, and not so subtle, commentary about casual racism. I’ve never been privy to conversations that happen in a room full of white people, so I can only imagine what types of conversations occur when race comes up. I’d never thought about it before, so I liked having the opportunity to hear those conversations. The writing was very well done. That newfound insight was what I enjoyed most about this book. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much more.

The book was very slow. I mean like snail slow. The main character, Jo, was far too weak and self deprecating for me. Her lack of strength was draining. And her parenting skills were tiring. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman her age with children that I had no sympathy for her. Every time her daughter spoke to her I cringed. I mean, what parent allows her child to talk to them that way? Yes, it could be a cultural thing, but really?? I cringed throughout the book.

Then there’s Ginny. What kind of mother leaves her child’s welfare and future to chance? And what kind of best friend only tells a material truth after her death. I must say, however, that Ginny’s letter to Jo did bring tears to my eyes.

I did enjoy Jo’s mother, the meddlesome yet loving every-mom. I really liked Victor, quite the young gentleman. And I liked Jo’s husband, Patrick. There were other interesting and entertaining elements of the book, but overall, the story was boring. I kept waiting for something to happen (teenage drinking, drug use, and partying doesn’t count). I waited and waited. The big “reveal” was no reveal at all. Pretty much from the second chapter, you already knew the secret and where the book was heading.

I liked the books ending (here comes the but)...but it took too long to get there. This is my least favorite of Ms. Fishers books to date. I wanted something that I could really sink my teeth in. I wanted the complexities of her other books, not just a woman who spent her time trying not to ruffle anyone’s feathers. That was just exhausting.

Though the story fell flat for me, I’m still a fan of Kerry Fisher and look forward to future novels. The narration by Emma Spurgin Hussey was spot on as usual. I absolutely love her narration.

Another winner!

Kerry Fisher so beautifully articulated the struggles of teenage life along with the challenges of being parents in an age where everything is new (nothing like when they were kids). Throw in a second child and you’ve got one heck of a family rollercoaster. But what family doesn’t have their own collective seats on one these days? Thank you, Kerry, for pointing out how racism is still very much a present issue and, unfortunately, widely accepted and equally as much ignored as just “this is how it is and there isn’t another way of thinking”. We must do better as a whole in breaking old school ways of thinking and learn to embrace and love one another. No one chooses to be born a certain color.

Amazing book. Five stars! Emma, as always, does a fantastic reading!! My inner voice is starting to sound like her instead of like my southern Arkansan accent. Ha!

Wonderful

Loved the twist and turns of this book. I was originally frustrated with Jo and then bam...major plot twist! Amazing as usual Kerry Fisher!!

Good but...

I found it hard at times to keep listening due to Jo’s lack of a backbone, over and over. But I suppose that’s real life for some. Like this author very much but this title wasn’t one of my favorites.

Good read!

Well written, realistic family drama that kept my interest. The dynamics between parent and teenagers and husbands and wives was very relatable.

Good listen

This is the 3rd book I listen to from this author. She always has interesting story lines. I absolutely love her narrator. She delivers witty lines with such ease. I was able to relate to this book as I too have a 16 year old teenager exploring what life glows to offer and all to willing to be on the fringe of trouble. I felt comfort in knowing that I am not the only one dealing with the difficult teenage years and how scarry and frustrating that can be. Another job well done!

Great listen

This was the first book by this author I have listened to and enjoyed not only the story but the narrator so much. Families are complex and the author did a great job exploring this.

great book!

lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. this was a most enjoyable book!

Brilliantly Done.

The narrating of the preface nearly did me in. However I stuck through to chapter 1 and it was brilliant from there on out. This story was so well written. The topic of casual racism well addressed. Loved everything about this book.

disappointed

The main character was so weak and unappealing, I had to stop listening a couple hours in....I NEVER DO THAT.

A Mixed Bag

I've gone through all of Kerry's books during my lockdown walks and enjoyed them both because of the stories themselves, but also Emma's narration which I thoroughly enjoy

This one, I struggled to get beyond the prologue, primarily due to the not so great Welsh accent which was a major distraction. It became less of am issue as the book went on but I found the same with the main character's husbands accent as it drifted between Northern and Southern Irish (or at least that's what it sounded like, it was never explained) Full disclose I am Irish with a mother who was born and bred in Cardiff so I'm probably extra picky!

The story itself was interesting, many of the characters were extremely unlikeable (as I believe they were meant to be though Phoebe was especially grating) but the references to "casual" racism were important, particularly in these times.

Accent

Great listen when you get past dodgy accents..... Stick with it as well worth it

Easy Listen

I enjoyed this book although I didn’t think I would at first as I found the narrators accent for one of the characters really grated on my nerves , however from listening further this character isn’t constant so didn’t stop the enjoyment of the story x

Stick with it

I nearly returned this after 10 mins as I wasn’t sure I could listen to the narrators attempt at welsh accent. I have listened to other stories narrated by Emma and generally enjoy her narration. Both the Irish and Welsh accents were not her forte, though I’m glad I stuck with the book. Whilst somewhat predictable in places, on the whole a good tale.

Great read

I have become a fan of Kerry Fisher. I stumbled upon one of her books and have now listened to four!!
This one has been as excellent as the others
Emma Spurgin Hussey adds to the experience and narrates beautifully.
If you like light hearted reads - but need it to be realistic and being able to feel some connection - then try Kerry

Always a lovely read and inspiring.

Kerry’s books always draw you in so that you have sit and listen to the end!!

brilliant read

i really loved it. Sorry when it finished. looking forward to the next one .

A Cure For Negativity?

If you have ever been told that you are a glass-half-empty kind of person then this book will ensure that you change your ways, for fear of people feeling about you the way you will inevitably feel about the protagonist. God, does she moan on? About everything. I'm struggling to find the resolve to finish the book but I am kind of interested to see if she can be happy about anything. I may update ... if I ever reach the end.

Emotional and Bittersweet

Two best friends Ginny and Jo one is vivacious and charismatic the other a people pleaser. A tragedy makes Jo determined to take care of her best friend Ginny’s son Patrick to fulfil Ginny’s last wish. After some deliberation which includes her husband Victor and teenage daughter Phoebe How will it impact her family as she welcomes Patrick into their life, what secrets lie ahead, will their family survive when they find out the identity of Patrick’s father.... throughout this Jo learns to toughen up and she soon finds out who her real friends are

Great read

Really enjoyed the story true to life in so many ways. Reading this while going through the teenager stage would give you light at the end of what can be a very long tunnel!!!