Freya is torn between her two mothers. Liv, her adoptive mother who nurtured and raised her, is earthy, no-nonsense. The total opposite to Melody: with her vibrant, explosive personality and extensive, brightly coloured wardrobe, Freya's birth mother is still apt to find herself thrown out of Top Shop for bad behaviour. Hard as it has been for Freya to try to reconcile her two families, it has been harder for her mothers. Proud of her mature and sensible adoptive daughter, Liv fears Melody's restless influence. Meanwhile, forced to give up her baby when she was just a teenager herself, Melody now craves Freya's love and acceptance - but only really knows how to have fun. Then tragedy strikes, and the bonds of love that tie these three women together will be tested to the max. Can they finally let go of the past, and pull together in order to withstand the toughest challenge life could throw them?
Before She Was Mine
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'The new novel from best-selling writer of The Bad Mother's Handbook tells the story of Freya, torn between her free-spirited birth mother Melody and Viv, the woman who brought her up. When tragedy strikes, can the three women put their differences behind them and help each other live in peace?' --Bella 20/03/12
'Freya has two mothers - her adoptive mother Liv, and her birth mother Melody. And her two mothers are two extremes. One is strikingly down to earth and the other, frankly, all over the place. She is torn between them in this heart-warming and funny tale' --The Lady 09/03/12
'Kate Long manages to create a unique voice for each of the characters - Freya, especially. Also the theme of adoption is one that's rarely covered, so it's a bit of an eye-opener and a chance to see how all the parties involved really feel' --Heat 10/03/12
'Freya has two mothers - her adoptive mother Liv, and her birth mother Melody. And her two mothers are two extremes. One is strikingly down to earth and the other, frankly, all over the place. She is torn between them in this heart-warming and funny tale' --The Lady 09/03/12
'Kate Long manages to create a unique voice for each of the characters - Freya, especially. Also the theme of adoption is one that's rarely covered, so it's a bit of an eye-opener and a chance to see how all the parties involved really feel' --Heat 10/03/12
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Reader
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another brilliant Kate Long book.
Freya was adopted as a baby but as an adult got in contact with her birth mum. Since then she's been juggling adoptive mum Liv, who is a down to earth environmentalist, and birth mum Melody who is vibrant and bohemian, acting as though she's still a teenager. Freya herself feels as though she doesn't really fit in with either mum and at the age of 23 doesn't really know where she's going in life. When Liv gets cancer and Melody gets pregnant, both mums need to lean on their daughter for support, and Freya is pulled in several directions. Add to this her best friend is marrying a man Freya fancies, and then the wedding falls through, and Freya's disastrous on-off relationship with her loser boyfriend and she's got loads to deal with.
As always with Kate's books I felt I really got to know all the characters well. The little details she sprinkles throughout make you feel you're living the plot along with them. The voice of Freya is particularly strong. There's humour mixed in with the heartache too. The ending is lovely, but slightly open which makes me wonder whether a sequel is possible...
Freya was adopted as a baby but as an adult got in contact with her birth mum. Since then she's been juggling adoptive mum Liv, who is a down to earth environmentalist, and birth mum Melody who is vibrant and bohemian, acting as though she's still a teenager. Freya herself feels as though she doesn't really fit in with either mum and at the age of 23 doesn't really know where she's going in life. When Liv gets cancer and Melody gets pregnant, both mums need to lean on their daughter for support, and Freya is pulled in several directions. Add to this her best friend is marrying a man Freya fancies, and then the wedding falls through, and Freya's disastrous on-off relationship with her loser boyfriend and she's got loads to deal with.
As always with Kate's books I felt I really got to know all the characters well. The little details she sprinkles throughout make you feel you're living the plot along with them. The voice of Freya is particularly strong. There's humour mixed in with the heartache too. The ending is lovely, but slightly open which makes me wonder whether a sequel is possible...
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before She Was Mine is not the kind of 'story' I would normally read (I love horror!) but I found myself absorbed in the characters and situations and it quickly became a 'page turner'! I vowed to make the book last more than a few days but was so interested in 'what happened next' that I found myself thinking it about it during the day and wanting to go and read a bit more! Kate has an acute eye for detail and tension in relationships and a very honest portrayal of women's thoughts and fears. Loved it!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once again Kate Long proves that when it comes to family politics, no one writes better. Before She Was Mine is an affectionate and touching look at twenty-three year old Freya, who is torn between her fun-loving biological mother, Melody, and her adoptive and literal Earth mother, Liv. When both suffer a crisis at the same time, Freya is torn between wanting to do the best for both of them, whilst being unable to split herself in two. Add to that her friend, Nicky's impending nuptials and the issues surrounding that, one begins to wonder if Freya will ever have time or energy to sort out her own problems.
Peopled with a cast of very believable characters, the novel is a beautifully written and beautifully observed look at family in all its forms.
Peopled with a cast of very believable characters, the novel is a beautifully written and beautifully observed look at family in all its forms.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full of heart
This was my introduction to Kate Long's writing and I am keen to next read The bad mother's handbook. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tracy Fells
5.0 out of 5 stars
Realistic and touching
I have read most of Kate Long's novels and this one did not disappoint. Immensely touching and moving, this one will strike a chord with many for the realistic portrayal of one of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by MRS M J SHELTON
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Loved it ~ my new favourite author ~ emailed Kate today and just bought lastest novel today and can't wait to read it
Published 2 months ago by Gillian Booton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh some, cry some.
I love this author. She has a no-nonsense style of writing that is easy to relate to, a quirky sense of humour and a way of telling even the most bittersweet stories so that you,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vicky-Lou
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read - highly recommended!
Kate Long never fails to amaze me with her sense of character voice. She creates believable and realistic protagonists that we can alternatively root for and be frustrated with but... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Clare Doran
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing
I thouroughly enjoyed this book. Kate Long is one of my favourite authors and again this time she did not disappoint!
Published 11 months ago by danmc_85
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best family novelist around
I have always loved Kate Long and can't believe it took me so long to read her latest novel Before She Was Mine which is the story of 23 year old Freya and her two mothers - her... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sophie Stenner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yet another great read from Kate Long
Yet another great read from Kate Long.
Freya with 2 mothers to juggle - her birth mother and her adoptive mother - has to meet the demands of both mums as they each go... Read more
Freya with 2 mothers to juggle - her birth mother and her adoptive mother - has to meet the demands of both mums as they each go... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just what I want from a book!
The blurb on the cover described Kate's book as "warm, witty and wise". That's just how I would describe it.
A lovely read.
A lovely read.
Published 13 months ago by Dawn Treader
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant read
Freya is a 23 year old with no real sense of what she wants in life. For the past few years she's been juggling her birth mum Melody and her adoptive mum Liv, and wondering if she... Read more
Published 16 months ago by A Reader
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