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A Mothers Story

Date Published: 12 February 2015
Book Number: 7
ISBN 10: 978-1781856604 | Kindle UK ASIN: B00NLGBKTK

The Story:

I deserve all this because I did the worst thing a woman can do. The very worst.

Jessica's wedding was like a fairytale. Her dress strewn with crystals. Her dad made a tearful speech. Her husband Matthew declared himself the luckiest man alive.

But when their beautiful baby girl is born, Jessica is gripped by panic. She can't tell anyone how she feels. Even when her life starts to spiral out of control...

A Note From Amanda:

When I see mums who are struggling with young children, I think back to when I was in their position and how difficult it can be to try and keep things together. I used to look at other women who seemed to always be immaculately turned out, have a spotless home and be able to do some baking between going to the pool or mastering yoga and to make it look effortless along the way. I still think that Post natal depression is a taboo subject and consequently I wrote 'A Mother's Story' about Jessica's experience to encourage conversations about the subject and to reduce the stigma of those suffering. During my research for the book I didn't have to look far for examples to use as part of the story and spoke to a dozen women who shared their experiences. I used common aspects from each interview eventually homed in on two of the most severe cases which had very similar arcs and which I think demonstrate that virtually no-one is completely immune to this condition.

Standalone or Series?

Standalone

Reader Reviews:


Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 October 2015

Where do I start to tell you why I loved this book so much?

The absolute joy meeting the 2 main characters, and becoming totally absorbed in their relationship, to the absolute horror of post natal depression, and it's consequences. You will be totally captivated.

There is such light and shade in this book. The courtship, marriage, the wonderful friendship between Matthew and Jess is beautifully written. The absolute horror of post natal depression is also beautifully written but harrowing to read. I have no idea if the writer herself ever suffered from pnd but either way you are left with a sense of relief that you, as a mother, didn't.

I was thoroughly gripped from the first word to the last. So much so that I have just finished reading it and it is 4:45
am. I just could not go to sleep without getting to the end. Each time I promised myself one last chapter I just couldn't do it.

I can promise you this is one of those books you will keep and read again. I will do just that. 100% recommend you do the same.

Enjoy.
 
 
TRUE TO LIFE by Jennifer
 
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2015
 
 
Having had PND myself I was intrigued to read this fictional account. I have to say I read the book alone and sobbed most of the way through. Jessica's thoughts reflected my own at that time and the fear and guilt were powerfully true. I found the book cathartic in some sense. I felt it helped me address some of my own stored pain from many years ago. It also made me sad to read the true love and support she had from family and friends, something I did not. That made me really sad. My husband wanted to hide the fact I couldn't cope. All new mothers should be made clearly aware of PND in hospital and anyone that can help bring this to other womens' attention, even so powerfully and true in fiction, should be applauded. A wonderful heart wrenching story so real to many of us and hopefully others will read it and feel they are not alone and understood.

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