The Day She Came Home – Emma Dhesi
A Scottish Redemption Series · Book 1

The Day She Came Home

A women's fiction novel set in Scotland.

Motherhood, identity and forgiveness, as a woman returns home to face long-buried truths. Ideal for readers who love reflective, character-driven stories rooted in emotional truth.

Book cover for The Day She Came Home by Emma Dhesi, showing a child's yellow shoe on grass under a dark, moody Scottish sky
The story

When Nicola returns to Scotland after years away, she is drawn back into a life she thought she had escaped. Familiar places stir long-buried memories, and the past she has avoided begins to demand her attention.

At its heart, The Day She Came Home is a novel about motherhood and identity. Nicola must face the choices she made as a younger woman and the emotional distance that grew between her and the people she loves most. Returning home forces her to question who she was, who she became, and whether it is possible to reconcile the two.

Set against the emotional landscape of Scotland, the novel explores the quiet tensions that live within families – the unspoken resentments, the weight of guilt, and the fragile hope of forgiveness. As Nicola navigates fractured relationships and unresolved grief, she begins to understand that coming home is not just a physical act, but an emotional reckoning.

The Day She Came Home, the first in A Scottish Redemption Series, is a compassionate and thoughtful novel about family, self-forgiveness, and the strength it takes to face the past in order to move forward.

Glasgow cityscape evoking themes of homecoming and identity from The Day She Came Home
At a glance

Key book details

GenreWomen's fiction · contemporary family drama
SeriesA Scottish Redemption Series, Book 1
ThemesMotherhood, identity, forgiveness, returning home
ProtagonistNicola
ToneEmotional, reflective, compassionate
First published2019 · Second Edition 2025
PublisherRowanbrae Press
ISBN9781068420108 (print) · 9781068420115 (ebook)
Who this book is for
  • Readers who enjoy women's fiction set in Scotland
  • Anyone who loves emotionally rich stories about motherhood and identity
  • Readers drawn to family-centred narratives and second-chance stories
  • Those who prefer character-driven novels over fast-paced plots
  • Readers who appreciate themes of forgiveness, healing and self-reflection
The Day She Came Home by Emma Dhesi displayed as a paperback and eReader
Book reviews

What readers say

"Just a lovely read. The twists and turns of the story served to hold my interest. Read from start to finish in one go."
DJ
"Captivating from start to finish. I devoured this book in just a few days."
Joy
"Unexpected twists that will keep you hooked. This is a real page turner that will keep you up till the wee hours."
Amazon Reviewer
"Really enjoyed this book, liked how the characters developed. The book also looks at the value of support."
Sandra
"Page turner, good plot and loved the references to Glasgow. Would recommend to others looking for escapism."
Kindle customer
About the author & this book

The Day She Came Home is Emma Dhesi's debut women's fiction novel and introduces her interest in exploring family dynamics, female identity, and the emotional cost of silence.

Emma Dhesi's novels focus on women navigating complex emotional landscapes, particularly within families, and often examine the tension between who we are expected to be and who we truly are.

Readers who enjoyed Emma Dhesi's later novel More Than Enough may also connect deeply with Nicola's story.

Emma Dhesi leaning against a wall and reading a book
Where to buy

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Frequently asked questions
Is The Day She Came Home part of a series?

Yes! It's the first in A Scottish Redemption Series. All three books are set in Scotland, and can be enjoyed as standalone books.

What genre is The Day She Came Home?

It's women's fiction, with a strong focus on family dynamics, identity, and emotional healing.

Who is the main character?

The story follows Nicola as she returns home and confronts unresolved truths and relationships.

What themes does the book explore?

Motherhood, identity, forgiveness, family fractures, and what it means to "come home" emotionally as well as physically.

Is this book suitable for book clubs?

Yes, it's perfect for book clubs. The book is very discussion-friendly because it centres on relationships, choices, and self-forgiveness.

Are there content notes I should know about?

The novel includes themes of emotional trauma, family conflict, and personal loss.

Keep reading

Next in the series: Belonging

A family's carefully constructed security unravels when long-buried secrets come to light. Book 2 in A Scottish Redemption Series.

Discover Belonging →