What do readers think of Safe with Me by Amy Hatvany? Write your own review.

I was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of this book. I have mixed feelings about the book. On one hand, it was a compelling read that was hard to put down. On the other hand, I was only prepared to read about the devastating loss of a child and her organ donation; I didn't expect to read about a book about domestic violence, and I didn't really want to. I have read enough books about domestic violence, and I think this didn't add to the genre.

I would have preferred the book to have focused on the organ donation part of the story. I didn't appreciate the addition of wife beating, and it detracted from the more interesting and unusual theme of organ donation for me. I think fans of Jodi Picoult would appreciate this book, but the stress I felt reading it would keep me from recommending it to book groups.

As I received this book as an advance copy and the publication date is till 2014, I was sad to be unable to use it as my current book club choice. I loved it and think the other ladies would too! It was a quick read, but partly because I didn't want to put it down. It touches on several sensitive issues-spousal abuse, organ donation and death of a child among others. The central characters are all dealing with major life challenges - Hannah with the death of her daughter, Olivia with an abusive husband and sick daughter, and Maddie, not only dealing with the physical trauma of being sick for so long, but having a violent, controlling father.

I got this advance copy from bookbrowse for which I am extremely grateful.
It is a quick read. Ms. Hatvany deftly links hot topic issues of organ transplant, domestic violence, loss of a child to death and women's independence in one artful narrative. She profiles a domestic violence victim with an affluent and influential background, very different from societal perceptions of DV. The story deals with the harsh reality of a child's sudden death and her mom agreeing to organ transplant to benefit other children, thus throwing together two women with entirely different lifestyles. An engrossing read which is also a tear jerker.