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The Mother and Baby Home
A charming new saga by Sheila Newberry, author of The Nursemaid's Secret and The Winter Baby, set in post-war London. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife.
Sunny grew in the mother and baby home on Grove Lane, London. The daughter of a wartime nurse and a Polish pilot, she was abandoned by her mother shortly after her birth and taken in by Nan, the warm and gentle proprietor of the home.
Never having known her parents, Sunny has always felt like she doesn't quite fit in, but now at sixteen-years-old, she is ready to find her place in the world. Heading out to start her first job, she finally feels she has some idea of who she wants to be.
As 1950s post-war London is changing at a rapid pace, so is Sunny. And when someone from her past returns, Sunny has some tough decisions to make. Decisions that could affect the rest of her life . . .
Praise for Sheila Newberry
'The Forget-Me-Not Girl is a drama-packed and emotional saga full of nostalgia, warmth and charm.' The Lancashire Post
'So gloriously nostalgic . . . a perfect example of her talent.' Maureen Lee, bestselling author of The Seven Streets of Liverpool
'Like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen.' Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family
Sunny grew in the mother and baby home on Grove Lane, London. The daughter of a wartime nurse and a Polish pilot, she was abandoned by her mother shortly after her birth and taken in by Nan, the warm and gentle proprietor of the home.
Never having known her parents, Sunny has always felt like she doesn't quite fit in, but now at sixteen-years-old, she is ready to find her place in the world. Heading out to start her first job, she finally feels she has some idea of who she wants to be.
As 1950s post-war London is changing at a rapid pace, so is Sunny. And when someone from her past returns, Sunny has some tough decisions to make. Decisions that could affect the rest of her life . . .
Praise for Sheila Newberry
'The Forget-Me-Not Girl is a drama-packed and emotional saga full of nostalgia, warmth and charm.' The Lancashire Post
'So gloriously nostalgic . . . a perfect example of her talent.' Maureen Lee, bestselling author of The Seven Streets of Liverpool
'Like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen.' Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family
- GenresFiction
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2020
66 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 16, 2020
Sunny grew up in a mother and baby home in Grace Lane, London. She had been abandoned by her mother shortly after birth and Nan, the proprietor of the home, took her in. Sunny has always felt she doesn't fit in. But she's now sixteen and ready to find her place in the world. As 1950's London changes at a rapid pace, so is Sunny. When someone from her past returns, Sunny has some tough decisions to make.
Sunny's mum, Serena had been in the mother and baby home when she gave birth to her. But Sunny was three years old, Serena could no longer care for her so Nan adopted her. Serena was originally from Trinidad and worked as a nurse. We watch Sunny grow from a young girl into a teenager taking her first job at Rowland Printing. But she also wants to go to Trinidad to search for her mother. This is a heartwarming read with likable characters and the story is true to the era.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #BonnierBooksUK and the author #SheilaNewbury for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sunny's mum, Serena had been in the mother and baby home when she gave birth to her. But Sunny was three years old, Serena could no longer care for her so Nan adopted her. Serena was originally from Trinidad and worked as a nurse. We watch Sunny grow from a young girl into a teenager taking her first job at Rowland Printing. But she also wants to go to Trinidad to search for her mother. This is a heartwarming read with likable characters and the story is true to the era.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #BonnierBooksUK and the author #SheilaNewbury for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2025
another book set in Croydon
December 14, 2020
All About This book Book
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It just shows that what is meant for you won't pass you by. It is well worth reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It just shows that what is meant for you won't pass you by. It is well worth reading.
March 2, 2021
Really enjoyed reading this book, love a happy ending
March 1, 2022
The Mother and Baby Home by Sheila Newberry.
Firstly, I must say that the author is new to me and I was fascinated with the beautiful book cover hence my decision to read the book.
The Mother and Baby Home is a good book in the sense that; the themes were easy to identify. The characters were numerous but each stood independent.
What I find disappointing in this book is the absence of suspense. I was not gripped by any action. The plot was just flowing and I wanted to give up but the character “Sunny” and her unique love life kept me glued to the end.
I am not going to give out spoilers. It might be a nice cup of tea to you if you read it.
I am rating it 4 stars because the author did a good job and I loved the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed this book. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Firstly, I must say that the author is new to me and I was fascinated with the beautiful book cover hence my decision to read the book.
The Mother and Baby Home is a good book in the sense that; the themes were easy to identify. The characters were numerous but each stood independent.
What I find disappointing in this book is the absence of suspense. I was not gripped by any action. The plot was just flowing and I wanted to give up but the character “Sunny” and her unique love life kept me glued to the end.
I am not going to give out spoilers. It might be a nice cup of tea to you if you read it.
I am rating it 4 stars because the author did a good job and I loved the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed this book. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
November 28, 2021
Sunny grew up with her adoptive mother Nanette in the mother and baby home.
Left by her mother not long after she was born Sunny with a mixed heritage feels quite adrift and struggles to fit in, until in the course of her new job she meets Alec Rowland.
But Sunny also has another admirer, a boy from her childhood called Rodney.
Sunny has to decide where her heart will lead her.
Now I adore these kind of books but God almighty did the author play about with who loved who!
Personally I couldn't STAND the Rowland family, Alec was just like his grandfather Alexander, a total player and a cad, all through the book he was a cheating little shit and quite frankly I hoped his character would conveniently go and die somewhere to leave the field clear for Rodney.
But near towards the end the author brought a lady friend in for Rodney just to hedge his bets for when Alec bedded Sunny again!
Didn't that girl have any self respect?
He kept openly telling her he was cheating on her!!!
Plus Nanette turned into the female version of Alec and Alexnader by keeping BOTH Alexander and the Major on the string!
I loved the story and the style but hell I haven't been so irritated with characters in a long time.
Hated the ending and how she ended up with that total loser when sweet old Rodney was waiting in the wings I will never know.
Knocking off a point due to hating Alec so much.
Left by her mother not long after she was born Sunny with a mixed heritage feels quite adrift and struggles to fit in, until in the course of her new job she meets Alec Rowland.
But Sunny also has another admirer, a boy from her childhood called Rodney.
Sunny has to decide where her heart will lead her.
Now I adore these kind of books but God almighty did the author play about with who loved who!
Personally I couldn't STAND the Rowland family, Alec was just like his grandfather Alexander, a total player and a cad, all through the book he was a cheating little shit and quite frankly I hoped his character would conveniently go and die somewhere to leave the field clear for Rodney.
But near towards the end the author brought a lady friend in for Rodney just to hedge his bets for when Alec bedded Sunny again!
Didn't that girl have any self respect?
He kept openly telling her he was cheating on her!!!
Plus Nanette turned into the female version of Alec and Alexnader by keeping BOTH Alexander and the Major on the string!
I loved the story and the style but hell I haven't been so irritated with characters in a long time.
Hated the ending and how she ended up with that total loser when sweet old Rodney was waiting in the wings I will never know.
Knocking off a point due to hating Alec so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2021
Abandoned as a baby, by her mother, Sunny, grows up safe in the knowledge that she is much loved by the woman she calls, Nan. Now sixteen, Sonny is about to step out into the world with her first job in a office and in branching out she starts to wonder about the mother who gave her up as a baby.
The Mother and Baby Home captures the spirit of the 1950s, there's a refreshing naivety about Sonny, she is such a lovely young woman and is a credit to her adopted mother. Everyone loves Sonny's warm personality and she makes friends easily but she's always searching for her place in the world. As as the story progresses we get to know more about Sonny's search for the truth and enjoy watching as she takes her first tentative steps towards the happiness she deserves.
This gentle historical saga looks at the complexity of family, the joy of young love and the power of hope over adversity.
The Mother and Baby Home captures the spirit of the 1950s, there's a refreshing naivety about Sonny, she is such a lovely young woman and is a credit to her adopted mother. Everyone loves Sonny's warm personality and she makes friends easily but she's always searching for her place in the world. As as the story progresses we get to know more about Sonny's search for the truth and enjoy watching as she takes her first tentative steps towards the happiness she deserves.
This gentle historical saga looks at the complexity of family, the joy of young love and the power of hope over adversity.
November 11, 2020
Oh my goodness what a really good book I could not put it down.
This is about Sunny who is adopted by Nan when she was 3. Her Mum Serena came to the the Mother & Baby Home when she was just about to have Sunny, she is from Trinidad and is a nurse in war time and her Dad is a Polish soldier. Serena could not look after Sunny as she needed to make a living.
When Sunny leaves school she gets a job at Rowland Printing. The owner is Mr Rowland who is a bit eccentric and is helped by his grandson Alec who sees Sunny as a wee girl.
Over the years we see what Sunny goes through she does want to go to Trinidad to meet her Mum who they think is still living there. Will Sunny find happiness.
This is about Sunny who is adopted by Nan when she was 3. Her Mum Serena came to the the Mother & Baby Home when she was just about to have Sunny, she is from Trinidad and is a nurse in war time and her Dad is a Polish soldier. Serena could not look after Sunny as she needed to make a living.
When Sunny leaves school she gets a job at Rowland Printing. The owner is Mr Rowland who is a bit eccentric and is helped by his grandson Alec who sees Sunny as a wee girl.
Over the years we see what Sunny goes through she does want to go to Trinidad to meet her Mum who they think is still living there. Will Sunny find happiness.
May 13, 2025
I thought this book was by Sheila Newberry. I tried to get myself into it but I didn't care about Sunny and her problems. It's a very boring mundane book. Sunny's mom left her at this Mother and Baby Home and the lady there, Nan, took her in. Now Sunny's mom comes back and bla bla bla. Aldo Sunny is pushing herself on Alec in the chapters I read which I didn't like. I don't understand how Newberry writes her stories. It's a bunch of boring mundane stuff about characters that all have the same traits. I don't think I'll be reading a Newberry book after this
June 27, 2022
Because I'm such a fan of historical fiction, I'm always going to be quite critical with the books that I read in that genre. Unfortunately this book just didn't really do it for me. It took me quite a long time to read as I wasn't overly interested in the story. Sunny and Nan were great characters and I did have a soft spot for them but overall, I wasn't impressed.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for the opportunity to read this book.
February 12, 2021
Wooden characters, stilted conversation, no real storyline and a choice between two ‘romances’ that were more tedious than intriguing. Would probably not have bothered finishing if it weren’t lockdown with nothing else to do!
September 26, 2021
Calm no nonsense life of the time
This novel uses no frills to pretty up life. The author does not need to look for the good in most people and the frailties in is all. Not indeed is there a necessity to introduce villians.
This novel uses no frills to pretty up life. The author does not need to look for the good in most people and the frailties in is all. Not indeed is there a necessity to introduce villians.
November 1, 2021
A lovely gentle story set in the 1950s with characters you really warm to.
A new author to me, unfortunately after her death last year but I'm grateful that I've got so many more of Sheila's books to read.
A new author to me, unfortunately after her death last year but I'm grateful that I've got so many more of Sheila's books to read.
February 5, 2022
An easy to read story about Sunny, a teenager during the 1950's. It's a sort of coming of age tale as she finds her first job, gets her first boyfriend and deals with family difficulties with the help of her best friend, Chrissie.
December 14, 2022
The story was ok, but I didn't like the writing style - almost like a rushed personal journal, crossed with a determination to include as much social history as possible; it felt a little as though I was in a classroom at times!
Read
February 19, 2025I can’t even give it a review
The writing was terrible, she wrote is a condescending manner…
About a woman who keeps going back to a partner she loved but he doesn’t really want her. Really rubbish story line!
The writing was terrible, she wrote is a condescending manner…
About a woman who keeps going back to a partner she loved but he doesn’t really want her. Really rubbish story line!
January 15, 2022
A lovely ,relaxing read. Story of family and friendships . Love and life .
November 25, 2022
I enjoyed the storyline but thought the narrator was a bit wooden.
July 19, 2023
First book by this Author was really great read lovely story could not put it down!
August 6, 2024
Excellent read lovely book
March 19, 2025
Very simplistic story and i found the main characters very annoying
September 18, 2021
Lovely story starting in 1940, with great characters. Started to look forward to reading this again every time I put it down.
August 25, 2021
I’m torn over this book. Part of me enjoyed it. Part of me is really frustrated with it.
The premise is really good. A coming of age story set in the 1950s of a girl, Sunny, born in a mother and baby home to an unmarried immigrant mother (from Trinidad) and whose father (a Polish pilot) died in the war. Sunny was adopted by Nan (Nanette) who ran the home as her mother, Serena, felt she could have a better life.
The book starts with Sunny starting her first job.
What follows is a charming enough tale of friendships, relationships and Sunny starting to forge her way in the world.
However, it’s so superficial. There’s so much time covered in such a relatively short book and too much time spent on high level inconsequential events when it might have been better to spend more time on the key parts and have some passage of time between chapters.
What also doesn’t sit right is how the era is represented.
The first, albeit minor, niggle is the serving of Yorkshire puddings with the roast turkey on Christmas day
It’s the mid to late 1950s. Attitudes around race, single mothers & children born out of wedlock were not as accepting as this book portrays. Sunny (and her friend Chrissie) would have faced difficulties on all fronts but this book ignores any of it. It’s a missed opportunity and maybe as a result of the author not having the experience or exposure to such young women in that era.
The attitudes of the adults around sex before marriage and even allowing overnight stays with boyfriends seems completely out of place. It really jars.
There’s lots of stringing along and Sunny puts up with being left hanging so much by Alec, who goes months without contacting her and even admits to cheating on her. Yet she forgives him time and again.
Then there’s Sunny’s response to her birth mother not only coming back into her life, but moving into her home and becoming a family with them. Sunny doesn’t show any anger; she just accepts ‘it was for the best’ and becomes friends.
There was so much potential in the characters and themes but nothing was really explored, which was really disappointing.
The premise is really good. A coming of age story set in the 1950s of a girl, Sunny, born in a mother and baby home to an unmarried immigrant mother (from Trinidad) and whose father (a Polish pilot) died in the war. Sunny was adopted by Nan (Nanette) who ran the home as her mother, Serena, felt she could have a better life.
The book starts with Sunny starting her first job.
What follows is a charming enough tale of friendships, relationships and Sunny starting to forge her way in the world.
However, it’s so superficial. There’s so much time covered in such a relatively short book and too much time spent on high level inconsequential events when it might have been better to spend more time on the key parts and have some passage of time between chapters.
What also doesn’t sit right is how the era is represented.
The first, albeit minor, niggle is the serving of Yorkshire puddings with the roast turkey on Christmas day
It’s the mid to late 1950s. Attitudes around race, single mothers & children born out of wedlock were not as accepting as this book portrays. Sunny (and her friend Chrissie) would have faced difficulties on all fronts but this book ignores any of it. It’s a missed opportunity and maybe as a result of the author not having the experience or exposure to such young women in that era.
The attitudes of the adults around sex before marriage and even allowing overnight stays with boyfriends seems completely out of place. It really jars.
There’s lots of stringing along and Sunny puts up with being left hanging so much by Alec, who goes months without contacting her and even admits to cheating on her. Yet she forgives him time and again.
Then there’s Sunny’s response to her birth mother not only coming back into her life, but moving into her home and becoming a family with them. Sunny doesn’t show any anger; she just accepts ‘it was for the best’ and becomes friends.
There was so much potential in the characters and themes but nothing was really explored, which was really disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2021
Lovely story .
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews