Book: Because of You by Dawn French

A charity shop find that delivers everything its fans promised; an achingly beautiful, gut-wrenching story of motherhood.

I stopped reading the introductory paragraphs by Richard and Judy no less when they mentioned a baby is abducted. It turns out that is in the opening chapter so no spiler. It’s what happens in the next 18 hours and then next 18 years that make this a compelling read.

ItBecause of You does manage to retain Dawn French’s habitual humour, even in its darkest moments. But those are limited. The book is full of a mum's unconditional love for her child.

It also explores, who the mother is, the person who loves and brings up a child or the one that gave birth to it. I think we all know the answer to that one. The book, however, delves deep into parental love.

I did enjoy the antagonist being a bully of a self-serving MP, especially as I picked this up a week before the general election.

It’s lengthy at almost 400 pages, although it didn’t seem so.