Mary Grace, or MG, is a native Filipina, but like many in her country, she wishes for a better life for herself and her family. For some, including MG, this means moving out of the country (and away from family) to become an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). We follow MG’s journey all the way from own birth to becoming an OFW in China and Canada, told through the eyes of her unborn child. This was such an interesting and educational read. The story is told from the perspective of a newborn baby and recounts the story of his mother’s life from the Philippines to Hong Kong and later to Canada. The Story of Us is the second book by Dani Atkins. It was first released in the UK last year and is due out in June here in the U.S. Her first book, Then and Always was a completely wonderful book. So I had high expectations for this second one. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. When you’re a single cell in the body of a giant, it’s hard to understand what the giant’s doing, or why it is the way it is, because you can’t really zoom out and look at the whole thing all at once. But we do our best. What I can promise you is this: there are Maybe Babies inside of me now, witnessing you, the light of you, and there are Maybe Babies inside of them that will keep your legacy alive well after your last breath."

Author Catherine Hernandez (centre) in discussion with moderator John Boyko (left) and author Iain Reid ( We Spread (2022)) at the 2023 Lakefield Literary Festival, Canada. Although the accident includes Emma and her two friends Amy and Caroline and all is not well for them, I felt that I was able to really connect with the characters and got to know them well. The story was definitely an emotional one; one in which really makes you question decisions in your life and wonder what if… Reading the side story about Emma’s mum was one that got to me personally, I have experienced this first hand with another member of the family and know how distraught it can make you feel. (I don’t want to say too much as to spoil the book for you.)

The Story of Us is creative—like nothing I’ve read before. And it’s thoroughly enjoyable, but then so was A Grandmother Begins the Story. So, what’s the verdict? I'm sorry, Alan. I’ve decided to call it a tie! They’re both so absolutely wonderful that it’s impossible for me to choose one over the other. I recommend both these books very highly and suggest you read them BOTH! From the author of Canada Reads finalist Scarborough, a stunning new novel about the unbreakable bond of family and the magic that can happen when we meet in the middle

I am a MASSIVE fan of Dani Atkins and her writing. Her first novel, Fractured, was one of the BEST books I read in 2013, so with this in mind I was eagerly anticipating her latest novel! Terwijl ik de laatste bladzijde omsloeg, veegde ik stiekem de traan die over mijn wang rolde weg en trok ik de mouwen van mijn vest omlaag om de mierentietjes te verbergen. Ik weet niet wat het precíés is wat mij zo heeft gegrepen, maar feit is dat ik het zeer zeker niet heb drooggehouden. Bij Fractured, het eerste boek dat ik van Dani Atkins las, had ik hetzelfde gevoel. I was absolutely hooked on this story in the beginning but didn't like how the author made the reader like and dislike the two love interests for the sake of convenience. Dani Atkins has an astonishing talent for making readers instantly care about the characters she writes about, making this once more an emotionally gripping read from start to finish.This book made me both cherish and resent humanity a little more, in the true Catherine Hernandez fashion. I raged, I wept, I was swept away in waves of gratitude and awe in how frightening and beautiful this little life of ours can be. Those places people go to be a hero, to be an Overseas Filipino Worker, are all places constructed only through imagination."