Every Precious and Fragile Thing

A Novel

By: Barbara Davis

Narrated by: Sara Sheckells, Marni Penning, Petrea Burchard, Sarah Beth Goer

A mother and daughter try desperately to reconcile just as a decades-old secret threatens to shatter their relationship forever in this powerful story from the bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face—and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

But hidden among Helen’s mementos are the keys to her past…and a terrible secret that threatens to destroy the fragile new trust between them forever.

©2025 Barbara Davis. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“If I loved this book anymore, I’d marry it. International bestselling author Barbara Davis outdoes herself with a moving, time-skipping, life-and-death mother-daughter powerhouse that will steep in your mind long after you read it. Beautifully written riveting pages, breathtaking family secrets from a born storyteller…Every Precious and Fragile Thing is a masterpiece.”—Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Who Loves You Best

“Every Precious and Fragile Thing will grab readers’ hearts and squeeze. Davis delivers a skillfully woven tale of broken dreams, second chances, and unlikely allies. It’s about letting go of the people and things we need the most and how we love our children so blindly we end up pushing them away. With a shocking twist you won’t see coming, Davis packs a punch and a heaping scoop of forgiveness. Powerful and evocative, this one you feel deep in the heart.”—Rochelle B. Weinstein, bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends and What You Do To Me

“Every Precious and Fragile Thing was an absolute delight! The über-talented Barbara Davis has a way of notching up your curiosity till you just can’t stand it. And what a marvelous set of characters. I loved following the troubled Mallory as she navigates her return home with all the grace of a bulldozer. Upon wiping away my tears, I’m reminded of how the past is a door to healing if you can sift through the pain.”—Boo Walker, bestselling author of The Stars Don’t Lie and An Echo in Time

Wow!

Starts a little slow but when it warms up it is awesome! These characters are flawed and it makes the storyline flow beautifully.

Chapter 51 is missing!!

I loved the story and was furious when I'd listened to nearly 14 hours only to discover that all of Chapter 51 was missing and Chapter 52 was repeated twice! I didn't pay to have an entire chapter missing. Very disappointed in Audible.

Too many plot lines

The performance was well done and the story was mildly interesting. Those multiple plot lines were pulled together in the end in a very predictable fashion.

Terrible narration/producing

I'm a few hours in and the quivering sappy narration voice for every sad/ sentimental/ nostalgic chapter is grating on my nerves. I'm going to switch over to read it on Kindle unlimited, especially since there is a chapter apparently missing at the end of the narrated book! I'll give the narrator another chance with another book because it could be the producer telling her how to verbally transcribe it, but it's terrible!

Love and atonement

That love finds a way if we are able to get out of our own way. A good illustration of ways different people are healed by forgiveness.

Raw and complicated

I love the complexity of this book. I had no expectations when I began listening, but the reader did an excellent job of changing up the voices of the characters, and I was soon drawn in. I can’t say that there wasn’t some confusion, but I caught on quickly. I may go back and read it again to make sure that I didn’t miss something between the characters and the time changes. This story goes to the core of what it means to be a woman, a mother, and a daughter. I fought tears many times as the story unfolds, and many of the scenes made me feel like forwarding the book to my daughters with the message “SEE, it isn’t just me!” Many passages had me thinking, and questioning my relationship with my own mother, and regretful that I didn’t ask more questions when I had the chance. There is more internal reflection in this book than descriptions of place or physical situations. It’s very raw and personal, and yes, it reminds me that nothing is as it seems on the surface. Everyone has a story, and most people will never know it.

Spectacular

This book got me right in the feels from the beginning. It was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. Love this author.

Prepare yourself for a beautiful story!

It took 2-3 chapters to really grab me and then really had me glued to it! And just as I thought I had it figured out it took a big twist! I loved it! A bit of a mystery with lots of love thrown in.

Thoroughly entertaining story!

A little over a year ago I read/listened to the Echo of Old Books. This was my introduction to the story telling of Barbra Davis. At the time I was struck by how she wove so many elements into an immersive entertainment experience.
When I saw Every Precious and Fragile Thing show up in Kindle Unlimited four days ago, I immediately borrowed a copy that included the audiobook. This book sat in my library for one day while I finished the book I was reading at the time. About all I can say after reading/listening to this book is wow, I’m blown away. If I thought the Echo of Old Books was created with several elements, this book easily carried six separate points of view throughout the entire story. I was allowed to experience just as many lives and their progressions through several experiences that left each character damaged in diverse ways.
This book took my emotions on an unending roller coaster ride from the opening right up to the epilogue. I honestly can’t remember a book that kept my eyes lubricated as much as Every Precious and Fragile Thing.
To be honest this book isn’t in one of my preferred genres, but since Barbara Davis wrote it, I had no doubt I was going to enjoy the entertainment I would experience by reading/listening to her latest offering.
Speaking of the listening experience, each of the four narrators did an excellent job of keeping the story moving through their pacing and character voices. Honestly, I didn’t realize there was more than one narrator until I looked at the book information as I was writing my review.

Surprises along the way

Stories of lost and found love, redemption, self discovery always appeal to me. This one knocked my socks off with its twist.
Just can't understand why the narration for Helen had to be so annoyingly whining through the whole book. There were times I seriously very nearly just trashed it.