Overall, I enjoyed this book. Each woman involved in the story had her own mental health demons to fight, and none was particularly good at it, and it was interesting to see how that played out in their interactions. My main complaint is that it is a bit predictable. The premise of the book could have been so wonderfully, darkly explored, but it ended up going exactly the way I thought it would. It was still an enjoyable read; I just feel like some of the potential was wasted. I liked Norebäck’s writing style and never felt like anything was getting lost in translation, so to speak. I ultimately decided on the 4 star rating, mostly because of the relationships between the women and the writing itself. ( )

When Stella was little more than a teenager, her year old baby went missing at the seaside. Investigators determined that the baby drowned and closed the case. Stella slowly regained her life, marrying, having a second child, and establishing a career as a successful psychotherapist. When Isabelle steps into her office Stella immediately, believes that she is her lost daughter.

I thought this was a well paced book. The author did a good job of building up suspense and slowly unraveling the story. I thought Stella was a hard to like character, and wished she was a bit more relatable. Otherwise, I thought this was a well written and engaging book. Overall, well worth reading. ( )

Tell Me You're Mine by Elisabeth Noreback shifts perspective between three women – two mothers and a daughter, bringing the pieces of their past together and putting them on a collision course. With a small cast of characters, the suspense in this book is not there for me. Without a compelling suspense to keep me turning the pages, the book becomes a very slow read. The “action” towards the end brings no twist or surprise, so the book ends on the same note on which it begins.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/03/tell-me-youre-mine.html

Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program. ( )

Tell Me You're Mine is the debut novel of Swedish writer Elisabeth Norebäck.

Stella is a psychotherapist. Isabelle is a new patient - and Stella is sure she is her daughter Alice. But, Alice went missing over twenty years ago, presumed drowned. Stella has always believed she is still alive. But she has been wrong before. Kerstin is Isabelle's mother and she is quite worried about Stella's interactions with her child.

Norebäck gives each woman a voice in Tell Me You're Mine. The lead is Stella. Stella is a decidedly unreliable narrator. She has been hospitalized in the past for mental issues. She is determined, obsessed really, with the idea that she has found her long lost child. But has she? Norebäck keeps the reader guessing - could Isabelle really be Alice? Isabelle's chapters give us background into her childhood, giving the reader more food for thought. And Kerstin. Kerstin is an interesting character - is she simply worried about her child - or something more?

I became quite caught up in the story - yes or no? My opinion solidified as I got closer to the end of the book. I was correct, but enjoyed the fast paced action of those last chapters. I did find the first part of the book a bit slow and somewhat repetitive for me. Norebäck does explore the emotions of parenthood - love, loss and obsession - with a sharp eye.

Tell Me You're Mine was a solid debut for this reader. ( )

I received complimentary access to this galley from FirsttoRead in exchange for a review.

I enjoy reading world literature. I find the glimpse into an unfamiliar-to-me setting and culture educational and fascinating. The immensely popular Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson paved the way for other Swedish authors to introduce their work to a new and wider reading audience.

For Stella Widstrand, a psychologist/psychotherapist, life with her husband, Henrik and teenage son, Milo, is normal. Her professional life, however, is another story. New patients are an everyday occurrence for those in her field, but this particular one was different. Stella felt an instant connection to her. Could she be Alice, her daughter, who vanished as an infant? But, she had introduced herself as Isabelle Karlsson. Did her daughter seek her out? Was she resentful and looking to exact revenge for what she perceived as negligence and abandonment? These questions would very soon torment her, wreaking havoc on her ordered life.

The story is told from the multiple perspectives of Stella, Isabelle, and Kerstin(Isabelle’s “mother”) alternating by chapter. Intermittently included are Stella’s diary entries from her earlier life with Alice and Daniel, the love of her life and father of her child.

I loved this book! The plot was engrossing and the multiple perspectives aided in character development. Not surprisingly, children are often affected by the goings-on in the household and their parents’ relationship dynamics. So Milo’s point of view could have been included. Although I correctly predicted the culprit as I neared the end, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. This was an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from her. ( )