5.0 (1 rating)
When You Were Mine: An utterly heartbreaking page-turner
“OMG I couldn’t put this one down. It was just that good… Definitely a tear jerker… Touched my heart so deeply and will affect me on some level for many years to come.”Blue Moon Blogger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mother-of-two, Ally has always dreamed of fostering—it feels like her chance to give back when she has been so lucky in life. And when seven-year-old Dylan joins her family in their big suburban home, Ally is overwhelmed by love. But Dylan doesn’t speak and Ally isn’t prepared for the impact he has on her family. Each day has its struggles, but she would never give up on the child now in her care. Dylan’s mother, Beth, can’t forgive herself for losing her son. He’s her world and she’ll do whatever it takes to get him back. Everything is different now, and he belongs with her. With his whole life at stake, which mother can truly give Dylan the love, security, and home he deserves? Which mother can help him find his voice? Beth and Ally sit on opposite sides. Two mothers, both desperate to do what is best for Dylan, but neither able to imagine their lives without him… A beautiful, powerful and ultimately uplifting story about the heartbreaking power of motherly love, for fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes. Praise for When You Were Mine: “My poor heart will never be the same. A hole’s been punched straight through it. This is an incredible book… I cried so much… My eyes are still sore… This will stay with me for a long time.” The Book Lover’s Boudoir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “With this heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching drama Kate is hot on the heels of the likes of Jodi Picoult and Kelly Rimmer… Tearjerking.” Rachel M Writer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “To say this story is a five-star read is an understatement. There are not enough stars in the world to show how much this book has touched me. It is sad, thrilling, gripping and completely pulls on your heart strings. Beautifully written.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This amazing book packs an emotion punch!… I could not put this down. I found myself originally on the side of one character, then the other. Both sides absolutely tear at your heartstrings… A must read.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Heart-breaking… I was completely engrossed… an incredibly moving story that tugs at the heartstrings… When I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it… A beautifully-written story with a perfect ending that will stay in my thoughts for a long time…
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781838886493
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5.0
1 rating
Rachel S.
Apr 6, 2026
When You Were Mine had me in bits from the beginning, I felt that I understood so well Beth’s life with her little boy Dylan and how other people look on in judgement when they do not see disability, therefore judged as a bad mum. My heart broke as soon as Dylan was taken away and I felt the need to not like Ally the foster mum. My feelings for her changed as the book went on and I actually really liked her by the end of the book.
Both Beth and Ally had to deal with a lot, in different ways and I think this book bought a lot of awareness into it too which is always a good thing as I don’t think it is written about enough and it does happen in real life.
I do not live in America but the “system” seems to be very similar to what I have watched and heard about in the UK so it seems the book was well researched.
It was written in a compassionate way and I had to get tissues a few times. It’s the second book I have read by Kate Hewitt and it definitely will not be my last, she has a way of drawing you into her books and feeling like you are actually living the lives of the characters and once you have finished the books, you will not forget them!
Merged review:
When You Were Mine had me in bits from the beginning, I felt that I understood so well Beth’s life with her little boy Dylan and how other people look on in judgement when they do not see disability, therefore judged as a bad mum. My heart broke as soon as Dylan was taken away and I felt the need to not like Ally the foster mum. My feelings for her changed as the book went on and I actually really liked her by the end of the book.
Both Beth and Ally had to deal with a lot, in different ways and I think this book bought a lot of awareness into it too which is always a good thing as I don’t think it is written about enough and it does happen in real life.
I do not live in America but the “system” seems to be very similar to what I have watched and heard about in the UK so it seems the book was well researched.
It was written in a compassionate way and I had to get tissues a few times. It’s the second book I have read by Kate Hewitt and it definitely will not be my last, she has a way of drawing you into her books and feeling like you are actually living the lives of the characters and once you have finished the books, you will not forget them!
Both Beth and Ally had to deal with a lot, in different ways and I think this book bought a lot of awareness into it too which is always a good thing as I don’t think it is written about enough and it does happen in real life.
I do not live in America but the “system” seems to be very similar to what I have watched and heard about in the UK so it seems the book was well researched.
It was written in a compassionate way and I had to get tissues a few times. It’s the second book I have read by Kate Hewitt and it definitely will not be my last, she has a way of drawing you into her books and feeling like you are actually living the lives of the characters and once you have finished the books, you will not forget them!
Merged review:
When You Were Mine had me in bits from the beginning, I felt that I understood so well Beth’s life with her little boy Dylan and how other people look on in judgement when they do not see disability, therefore judged as a bad mum. My heart broke as soon as Dylan was taken away and I felt the need to not like Ally the foster mum. My feelings for her changed as the book went on and I actually really liked her by the end of the book.
Both Beth and Ally had to deal with a lot, in different ways and I think this book bought a lot of awareness into it too which is always a good thing as I don’t think it is written about enough and it does happen in real life.
I do not live in America but the “system” seems to be very similar to what I have watched and heard about in the UK so it seems the book was well researched.
It was written in a compassionate way and I had to get tissues a few times. It’s the second book I have read by Kate Hewitt and it definitely will not be my last, she has a way of drawing you into her books and feeling like you are actually living the lives of the characters and once you have finished the books, you will not forget them!