Nearness of You

By: Amanda Eyre Ward

Narrated by: Therese Plummer, Suzy Jackson, Susan Bennett

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

A deeply personal story about what defines a mother from the critically acclaimed author of How to Be Lost and The Same Sky.

In this profound and lyrical novel, acclaimed author Amanda Eyre Ward explores the deeper meanings of motherhood - from the first blissful hello to the heart-wrenching prospect of saying goodbye.

Brilliant heart surgeon Suzette Kendall is stunned when Hyland, her husband of 15 years, admits his yearning for a child. From the beginning they'd decided that having children was not an option, as Suzette feared passing along the genes that landed her mother in a mental institution. But Hyland proposes a different idea: a baby via surrogate.

Suzette agrees, and what follows is a whirlwind of candidate selections, hospital visits, and Suzette's doubts over whether she's made the right decision. A young woman named Dorothy Muscarello is chosen as the one who will help make this family complete. For Dorrie, surrogacy (and the money that comes with it) are her opportunity to leave behind a troubled past and create a future for herself - one full of possibility. But this situation also forces all three of them - Dorrie, Suzette, and Hyland - to face a devastating uncertainty that will reverberate in the years to come. Beautifully shifting between perspectives, The Nearness of You deftly explores the connections we form, the families we create, and the love we hold most dear.

©2017 Amanda Eyre Ward (P)2017 Recorded Books

A lovely yet hard story! T wrenching times

Kinda hard to put into words. I so enjoyed the story wishing it went on just a bit more. I wasn’t expecting the story line I was searching for books narrated by Therese Plummer. I was a Gestational Surrogate. Kinda different than a Traditional Surrogate. It’s the first story I’ve read that had a surrogate. Amanda did a nice work on writing this book. I enjoyed it I kinda with there were more stories that included surrogacy. They are not all so sad. But I know some are. It’s a true gift of life and selfishness to become a surrogate: I know as I did twice having twins both time I’m blessed to see and know the second set still 23 years going. I feel for all of the characters in this book. These is such a desperate desire to become a parent!! I would be a surrogate again and again to help those people become parents, knowing how hard it is but of course, gestational surrogacy is a bit easier.
Thank you for this book Amanda Ward.

But what happens next?

Interesting story and characters. However, the ending left me hoping for more closure, as I found myself curious about the fates of the characters. Despite the slight disappointment in the conclusion, the book is worth the read.

Alright but not her best

I have read several books by this author. she is pretty reliable. The subject of this book was topical and she tried to address both sides of the issue. However, the characters and their actions didnt quite feel believable or particularly engaging to me.

The first book I read was How to be Lost I really enjoyed that one, so far that was definately her best for me.

Great story but abrupt ending

I just wanted a little more - an epilogue. It was still worth it. Heart wrenching story of a complex topic.

Um seriously

Such an abrupt, awful ending especially after all of the character development. Just makes no sense…

It was okay

Lots of profanity through out. This story is hard to listen too. Ending slightly abrupt,

Extremely abrupt ending

So not the best book but not horrible till the end. Like seriously it just ends and you are like really that is it? Did the author die and they published a half done book? That is what it felt like.

Did not like anything…

I didn't like anything about this story. I didn't like the main characters. The story was unrealistic. The birth was absurd. In this day and age that run away teen would be kidnapped and trafficked.

Sappy

Ended abruptly - like they ran out of paper! Or tape! Narrators excellent though - very much appreciated that!