For years, Chelsea Maynard has longed to be a mother. She's imagined caring for a new baby in the lovely house she shares with her husband, Leo, fondly planning every detail. But after a difficult birth, those dreams of blissful bonding evaporate. Chelsea battles sleep deprivation and feelings of isolation. Little Annabelle cries constantly, and Chelsea has dark visions fueled by exhaustion and self-doubt. Her sister, Emma, insists she gets help for post-partum depression, but Chelsea's doctor dismisses her worries as self-indulgent.

Doubting her ability to parent—even doubting her own sanity—Chelsea is close to collapse. Then an unthinkable crisis hits. And suddenly, Chelsea is compelled to face both the fragility and resilience of life, and the extraordinary depths of love.

With uncompromising candor and clarity, acclaimed author Rosalind Noonan creates a mesmerizing novel that is gripping, heart-wrenching, and unforgettably poignant.


Praise for Rosalind Noonan's The Daughter She Used to Be

"The author once again takes on an emotional topic with great sensitivity." –Booklist

"An engrossing family saga. . .this novel would fuel some great book-club discussions."--Shelf Awareness

"Noonan delivers another earnest drama." –Publishers Weekly