This emotional rollercoaster follows Gemma as she navigates single motherhood with the unexpected help of a colleague, Crystal. But as Crystal becomes more involved in Gemma's life, suspicion and jealousy creep in—leaving readers wondering if there's more to Crystal than meets the eye.
Not Your Child by Sheila Norton
Genres: Psychological Fiction, Sibling Fiction

I found you because I wanted to tell you. Jack is with someone else. He’s got no intention of sending for you or the kiddie or seeing you ever again. Don’t try to contact him, you’ll never find him.</strong

All it takes is one message for Gemma’s life to fall apart. A confirmation of all she’s feared these last few months. Jack was supposed to be preparing for their new start in Australia, building their home, building their life together. And now this. Gone. Without a trace. Leaving their perfect world – all that their two-year-old daughter, Poppy, knows and cherishes – shattered.

Crystal comes into Gemma’s life at the opportune moment. This new friend, who’s been through it before, who knows how it feels for all of your hopes and dreams to suddenly implode, who wants to help, who will do anything…

Crystal loves Poppy. And Poppy loves Crystal. The minute they meet it’s as if all of the heartbreak over her dad leaving dissipates. Poppy feels whole again. And in a way, so does Gemma.

But what starts as a small kernel of jealousy soon grows into a larger sense of unease. Who is this woman who’s so obsessed with her daughter? And why does it feel like there’s something she’s not telling her?

A powerful and emotional women’s fiction novel about motherhood, friendship and just how far we’re willing to go for.

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I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

my review

This emotional story follows Gemma, who is grappling with the reality of becoming a single mom after her partner suddenly leaves with no way to contact him.

While trying to adjust to her new life, Gemma meets Crystal, a colleague who offers comfort and support. Crystal quickly becomes a significant part of Gemma’s home life, and even her daughter grows fond of having Crystal around. However, as Crystal’s bond with her daughter deepens, Gemma begins to feel a twinge of jealousy and starts questioning whether Crystal might be hiding something.

Told from both women’s perspectives, the book delves into their emotional struggles, adding a layer of mystery as you wonder what Crystal might be keeping from Gemma. The storyline builds intrigue as boundaries between friendship and family start to blur, leaving readers to question whether Crystal has crossed a line.

The novel’s core themes revolve around friendship and family, but with an added twist of drama when someone oversteps the usual limits of friendship. It’s a compelling, emotional read about support during tough times—but with the lingering question, is Crystal hiding a secret?

meet the author

About Sheila Norton

Sheila Norton is the author of contemporary, feel-good fiction set in Devon. In 2022 she won the RNA’s Best Christmas Novel for her twenty-third book Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage.

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