Tigerlily Books: Review: When He Fell by Kate Hewitt

When He Fell by Kate Hewitt

Publication Date: 1st June 2015
Stars: 4 ****

The Blurb

The powerfully gripping new book from USA Today bestselling author Kate Hewitt.

Josh and Ben are nine years old and best friends, until a single, careless act in the school playground destroys the lives of both families – and wrenches their small Manhattan school apart.

As both mothers Maddie and Joanna try to find out what really happened between the boys, they discover the truth is far more complicated and painful than either of them could have ever realised... with lasting repercussions for both families.

And when tragedy strikes again in the most unexpected of ways, the lives of these two women will be changed once more, and this time forever.

When He Fell explores the issues of parental responsibility and guilt, and whether there are some acts that human nature just cannot forgive...

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WH Smith

My Thoughts

This is story of two mothers and two sons, two boys who are unlikely friends and a tragic playground accident that changes the lives of all of those involved forever.

Maddie is a single mother who lives with her son Ben. Ben was the result of a one night stand and without any family to support her Maddie has struggled to raise her son on her own. Things haven't been easy for them especially as Ben is a bit of a live wire with boundless energy that constantly gets him into trouble at school.

Joanna is mother to Josh, a quiet boy who struggles to make friends. At one point he went for months without saying a word. Joanna is married to Lewis and due to Ben and Josh's friendship Lewis become close to Maddie. The two spend time with boys on playdates and Lewis has become one of Maddie's most trusted friends.

One day whilst at school Ben falls in the playground and ends up in a coma, this incident leads to many unanswered questions and Josh who was with Ben at the time isn't answering them.

What happens next left me as the reader greatly divided, as the story unravels you begin to learn more about the accident and you learn more about both Maddie and Joanna. Initially I found myself siding with one mother and then with the other and by the end of the book Kate Hewitt had taken me on a real rollercoaster ride of emotions.

It's difficult to say too much more about When He Fell as it would be so easy to give away what happens. What I can say is that it is a great read with well written characters, a plot that will seriously play with your emotions and a moral dilemma that will have you questioning everything. Kate Hewitt has written a very emotive book and handles the storyline with sensitivity. A must read for me.

I read When He Fell for Kate's blog tour hosted by Neverland Blog Tours. Be sure to check out the rest of Kate's tour

About The Author

Kate Hewitt is the author of over 40 novels of women’s fiction and romance. She loves telling an emotional story in a variety of genres, and has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award twice. An American ex-pat, she lives in the Cotswolds of England with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can follow her adventures in village life on her blog.