A depressed widow has to to give up her daughter for adoption to have a second chance at love.

>>I find that if she chooses the new love over her daughter she would lose my empathy and likely most of the audience as well.

Agree with Nir Shelter. ?She's throwing under the bus a relationship based on giving love (that's what parents do) for one based on getting love. ?It's a selfish choice. Her depression may explain that choice, but it doesn't justify it.

And if she's adopting out her daughter because her love interest doesn't want the baggage of the kid in their relationship -- that just doubles the selfishness factor in the story line.

However, if the plot were to be about a woman who is struggling to rectify that selfish error, find and reconnect with her daughter -- well then it would be a redemption story with a sympathetic character.

>>I find that if she chooses the new love over her daughter she would lose my empathy and likely most of the audience as well.

Agree with Nir Shelter. ?She's throwing under the bus a relationship based on giving love (that's what parents do) for one based on getting love. ?It's a selfish choice. Her depression may explain that choice, but it doesn't justify it.

And if she's adopting out her daughter because her love interest doesn't want the baggage of the kid in their relationship -- that just doubles the selfishness factor in the story line.

However, if the plot were to be about a woman who is struggling to rectify that selfish error, find and reconnect with her daughter -- well then it would be a redemption story with a sympathetic character.

I think all you really need to do is further add to the 2nd chance of love then you have a decent hook here.