This was okay. It often came across as "trauma porn" to me, which could be because I am a survivor of adoption.

If the author had included a note, interview, or other bonus content explaining what motivated her to write this story (as the author did with [b:Before We Were Yours|32148570|Before We Were Yours|Lisa Wingate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498910914l/32148570._SY75_.jpg|52786185]) it might have helped diminish the trauma porn vibes.

What I can say is this book is a bright light reminder that the Catholic church still has many sins it needs to pay for and too, adoption hurts everyone. We must stop selling the bullshit fantasy "the child will have a better life" and "find a nice rich family who can better provide." Adoption does not give anyone a better life, just a different one and one that is, most often, full of pain and trauma.

Let me be very clear here: any parent who wants to keep their baby should and we, as a society, should give them the resources they need to make that happen. Likewise, if a mother does not want to be a mother, then we should not force her to be. Nor should we put that baby into the adoption system.