This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Father’s Day is a harrowing, hopeful memoir recounting Gavin O’Donnell’s journey through unimaginable tragedy, perseverance, and love. The narrative begins with the devastating loss of his daughter Kirsty in a fatal fire accident during a family holiday on Father’s Day, a moment that irreversibly changes their lives. From that point, the memoir explores the long aftermath of grief, the struggles with childhood abuse at Catholic school, the dynamics of family relationships, and the harrowing ordeal of his son Eamon’s severe burns and miraculous recovery. Interwoven with childhood memories, personal reflections, and candid insights, the book conveys a key message: even in the face of profound loss and suffering, hope, love, and strength can emerge, guiding us through darkness toward healing. This memoir is painful to read but rewarding in the inspiration it offers.
Gavin O’Donnell’s memoir, Father’s Day, deftly explores themes of trauma, grief, healing, the destructive influence of religious authority, the brutality of childhood discipline, and the fragile bonds that bind a family together. I was inspired by the author’s relationships with his family, particularly with his brother Edward, his wife Lucy, and their children. This memoir delivers a dazzling portrait of the different seasons in the family’s life cycle. Gavin’s honest portrayal of childhood cruelty, institutional failings, and personal pain is articulated with such clarity that it makes readers question the roles of some authorities in their lives. This book left me with many lessons, one of which is that the darkest moments can create an opportunity for a family to strengthen their bond. This profoundly moving memoir will have readers questioning how they deal with pain and loss. It is a book well worth reading.
