Publication Date: April 17, 2025
If anyone walked in on our cosy family dinner, they’d think my daughter and her boyfriend were the perfect couple. I watch as he puts his arm around her. Her eyes shine as she gazes at him lovingly. But I know that he is hiding a secret. A secret that would devastate my daughter…
My son sits across the round oak table, his jaw set as he plays with his food. I catch his eye, pleading with him silently. Not now. Only we know the truth. My husband pulls his beautiful girl in for a hug, and my heart breaks. My happy family is so close to ruin. How much longer can I hold us together?
We’ve all seen the warning signs: Jemma’s unanswered phone calls, the too-charming way Will wormed his way into our family, the dark rumours about just how far he’ll go to get ahead. I hoped Jemma would uncover his secrets and as I look at her now, I wonder if she’s simply playing a part. After all, she’s watched me play my roles of loving daughter, perfect wife and devoted mother for years. Is my daughter more like me than I could ever imagine?
I steel myself. The only way to get Will out of our lives is for me to finally reveal the secret I’ve been keeping. But once the truth is out, will Jemma ever trust me again? Or am I about to lose my darling girl forever?
An utterly gripping and emotional read about the sacrifices we make for those we love. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Susan Lewis.
What happens when you discover a secret that could have a serious impact on a loved one? Do you tell or maintain silence?
That’s the dilemma Alexis Drummond faces in Just Like Her Mother. Author Julia Roberts serves up a first-person narrative focusing on family and challenging relationships.
Although billed as “tear-jerking,” I was pleasantly surprised that no tissues were required. There were certainly some heartfelt moments for the Drummond family, with both Lexi and her husband, Stuart, dealing with aging mothers.
As a main character, Lexi is caught up between compassion and duty. The author does an excellent job illustrating all the responsibilities falling on Lexi’s shoulders.
The story takes a turn after a tragedy that ultimately leads to a deeper dive into complex sibling relationships. Meanwhile, Lexi searches for answers to save her career.
Just Like Her Mother showcases what can happen when secrets are kept from those you love.
Julia was born in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, and began her career as a professional singer/dancer. This enabled her to travel the world in her late teens storing up experiences she has since included in her writing.
Following roles as a hostess on The Price is Right and a member of the Beadle’s About ‘hit squad’ in the 1980s, she became a TV Presenter and filmed features for Sky Sports before launching the QVC shopping channel in 1993 where she still presents today. Having always wanted to write, she penned her first book, a memoir sold on QVC, in 2013 and has since written twelve full length novels, two novellas and several short stories.
