The Hand That First Held Mine - Heartwarming Novel About Motherhood & Love | Perfect for Book Clubs, Gifts & Emotional Reading Moments

I adored "Hamnet" and enjoyed Maggie O'Farrell's most recent book "The Marriage Portrait." I liked "The Hand That First Held Mine," especially the development of parenting and new motherhood. The central story is solid and interesting. Lexie and Innes are memorable characters. But for me, waiting for the two main stories and their two main couples to blend together was at times cumbersome. If I'm engaged in a book, I tend to keep reading, even all night. This book didn't pull me in during its first half, but I was willing to hang in there. During the second half, the story took sail for me. Considering O'Farrell's abundant skills, I couldn't help but feel it needed one more revision before going to press.