The Life You Longed for

Grace's son, Jack, is a miracle. At three years old, he is fighting a mysterious and deadly disease that doctors predicted would kill him as a baby. Everyone around the family credits Grace's blind dedication with helping Jack survive. But perhaps not everyone. Grace's world is upended when she discovers that she's under investigation for Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a psychological disorder whereby a mother makes her otherwise healthy child sick in order to gain approval and attention for herself. Soon Grace is in a constant state of suspicion - of every doctor, nurse, friend, acquaintance...and even her husband. And the private secrets she has kept finally come to light. The Life You Longed For is gripping, suspenseful, and the definition of a page-turner - readers will want to skip to the end to figure out if the accusations are true. By mixing this controversial topic with endearing characters and a delicately layered plot, Maribeth Fischer has established herself as a voice to be reckoned with among today's finest women writers.

Review :
""The Life You Longed For" pulled me from beginning to end without pause. Maribeth Fischer's beautiful, clear, descriptive writing engages all the senses while immersing the reader in mystery."-- Sheri Reynolds, author of "Firefly Cloak" and "The Rapture of Canaan" ""The Life You Longed" For moves swiftly and painfully through so many levels of grief, anger, and fright -- but it never loses sight of the power and majesty of love. This book should be required reading for every single person who makes a living in the medical profession, and everyone who has ever longed for the duties and rewards of parenthood."-- Robert Bausch, author of "A Hole in the Earth" and "The Gypsy Man" "A fiery and modern-day version of the witch hunt, "The Life You Longed For" is the story of how a mother can be accused of the worst offense by any doctor, friend, or neighbor. But this is no dark tale, "The Life You Longed For" is beautifully written and filled with characters who are fallible, utterly human, and completely compelling. It is a novel brimming with joy, heartbreak, and the power of love."-- Colleen Curran, author of "Whores on the Hill" "Grace is as vigilant, astonishing, and brave as she is exhausted and imperfect. Simply put, she is a mother. In intimate and achingly lyrical language, Maribeth Fischer tackles the question: How do we love in the face of inevitable loss? The answer she gives us is: Fiercely, completely."-- Marisa De Los Santos, author of "Love Walked In" "Maribeth Fischer is as much a scientist as she is a poet: in her heartbreaking exploration of motherhood and the way tragedy can grow out of everyday choices, she analyzes and deduces, layers and uncovers, to teach us things we never knew about the science of love, the biology of betrayal, and the epidemiology of loss."-- Carolyn Parkhurst, author of "Lost and Found" "The fear of losing a child is horrifying. The fear of knowing people think you hurt that child is annihilating. In "The Life You Longed For," Maribeth Fischer probes the netherworld of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy in an affecting, startling story. This may be the novel you longed for."-- Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of "The Deep End of the Ocean" and "Cage of Stars"