A Million Dreams by Dani Atkins is a tale of two women brought together under heart breaking circumstances as they try to navigate their way through life, love, loss, and motherhood.

Beth and her husband Tim worked hard to have the life they always dreamed of. They got Beth her own florist shop and were on their journey through life together. But one thing they couldn’t seem to do is have a baby. They froze embryos in a clinic so that they could keep trying. But nothing could have prepared them for Tim’s death. After finally deciding to go ahead and wanting to have her baby without Tim by her side, Beth is faced with a terrible reality.

Izzy thought she and her husband Pete would stay together forever, but sometime last year, they started having problems. They both love and adore their son Noah, but is that enough to keep them together? Can Izzy stop worrying about finances long enough to find joy in the moment with her son, and the man she still desperately wants to love?

These two women lead very different lives, and would under normal circumstances never meet. But when Beth and Izzy are thrown together through a terrible mistake, they end up in a fight neither of them wanted, but neither is prepared to give up. Will one of them be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Dani Atkins has written a heart-wrenching story of motherhood in A Million Dreams. With chapters written in alternating perspectives, from Beth to Izzy, you understand each character’s motivations, feelings, fears and wishes. The book is an emotional rollercoaster, from wonderful highs of love and fun within a family, to the depths of fear and worry, but it is so well-written that you feel like you are right there with the characters, experiencing these ups and down with them.

The very delicate subject matter has been treated with grace, elegance and respect. Even with this potentially dark storyline, the overall feel of the book is one of lightness and hope. A Million Dreams is wonderfully written and beautifully thought-provoking. The whole way through the book, you’ll question – ‘but what would I do?’. Dani Atkins is a phenomenal story-teller, as evidenced by her prior work and awards. This is a stunning tale of courage, strength, support and love – of all kinds. I would recommend keeping a box of tissues nearby – just in case.

Buy a copy of A Million Dreams here.

About the author

Dani Atkins was born in London in 1958, and grew up in North London. She moved to rural Hertfordshire in 1985, where she has lived in a small village ever since with her family. Although Dani has been writing for fun all her life, Fractured was her first novel. She has since written The Story of Us.