Review: The Secret of Midwives

The Secret of Midwives

by Sally Hepworth

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The story of three generations of women devoted to delivering new life into the world—and the secrets they keep that threaten to change their own lives forever. Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy—including the identity of the baby’s father— hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s situation thrusts her back 60 years in time to a secret that eerily mirrors her granddaughter’s—a secret which, if revealed, will have life-changing consequences for them all. Will these women reveal their secrets and deal with the inevitable consequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden?


Kritters Thoughts:  Three generations of women and three generations of midwives all take turns to tell the story from their own points of view.  Each has something they are dealing with during the course of the book and they could each help the other through it.  

Neva the daughter and grand-daughter is pregnant and is not dealing with who the father of her baby really is.  I loved that her storyline intertwined the family job as midwives with the drama that she is dealing with.  Grace also has mid life crisis level of drama that she has to deal with and it involves her livelihood and her marriage.  Neva the oldest generation has been holding on to a secret that will both hurt and help Grace and Neva, but it takes everything in her to reveal it.  

As I have said in generational books before - I love how one generations decisions impact the next and maybe without them even knowing it.  It was really interesting to read the flashbacks of Neva and see the similarities between her story and Floss'.  I loved how each woman had their own individual story, but none overshadowed the others and instead they all complimented each other.

I absolutely adored this book - read it in just two sittings.  I am a new fan of Sally Hepworth and will be watching out for her next thing!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.