Scan barcode
nbrandquist's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
spatterson12's review against another edition
5.0
This one surprised me in the best way. I can’t explain why I love it so much and the feeling I got while reading it.
Growing up, I loved fairytales and watched all the Disney movies. I was also a big fan of the show Once Upon a Time the first few seasons. Taking familiar characters and putting them in alternate realities and timelines is so fascinating.
When I saw this BotM option, I immediately gravitated toward it (and like three other picks - May is an excellent book month).
This story is focused on Holly Darling, the granddaughter of the infamous Wendy. She’s a doctor running a skincare business in NY with a teenage son when she gets a call that her daughter, who no one knows about and has been in a coma for a decade, is missing from the family English cottage. Holly has to return to England to find her daughter, but all the lies she has built in place have to unravel to ensure the safety of both children.
If you’re a fan of Peter Pan as a character, you might have a difficult time with this story, but if you’re up for a darker reimagining, this will keep you intrigued to the end.
Growing up, I loved fairytales and watched all the Disney movies. I was also a big fan of the show Once Upon a Time the first few seasons. Taking familiar characters and putting them in alternate realities and timelines is so fascinating.
When I saw this BotM option, I immediately gravitated toward it (and like three other picks - May is an excellent book month).
This story is focused on Holly Darling, the granddaughter of the infamous Wendy. She’s a doctor running a skincare business in NY with a teenage son when she gets a call that her daughter, who no one knows about and has been in a coma for a decade, is missing from the family English cottage. Holly has to return to England to find her daughter, but all the lies she has built in place have to unravel to ensure the safety of both children.
If you’re a fan of Peter Pan as a character, you might have a difficult time with this story, but if you’re up for a darker reimagining, this will keep you intrigued to the end.
ash_aumi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
trivial_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Darling Girl is a hauntingly reimagined version of J.M. Barrie's classic, Peter Pan. In this novel, Peter emerges not as the charming boy who refuses to grow up but as a menacing figure. He is portrayed as a sadistic villain whose desperation to stay young leads him to take drastic and dark measures. The novel’s perspective shifts the notion of innocence associated with the original tale into a chilling narrative about the costs of eternal youth.
The protagonist, Holly Darling, daughter of Jane and granddaughter of Wendy Darling, is depicted with complex layers, her narrative carving the shape of an anti-hero. Holly’s character could be seen as selfish, particularly in her interactions with her son, Jack, and her decisions regarding her family. Her refusal to accept her son's disability leads her down a path of morally questionable actions, including illegal activities, as she strives for a cure. Her decisions, such as leaving her daughter Eden behind to maintain her cosmetics empire and keep Jack by her side, paint her as a character tormented by her own choices, showing how her isolation could have been
avoided had she been more open and accepting of her family’s support.
Despite Holly’s story's darkness, the novel culminates in a bittersweet resolution. Jane, another pivotal character, experiences a transformation that allows her to embark on her adventure, fulfilling a long-suppressed yearning for freedom and discovery. This sweet ending starkly contrasts the otherwise grim undertones of the story.
Michalski’s Darling Girl profoundly critiques the pursuit of perpetual youth, examining the moral and emotional tolls such endeavours exact on individuals and their families. It challenges the reader to reflect on the nature of villainy, both in the mystical and the mundane, and redefines what it means to grow up.
nikii94's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4. This book had me guessing the entire way through. On the edge of my damn seat. It was like playing a game of Clue but not really having an idea until LITERALLY the very end.
The ending was a bit anticlimactic ( I would have liked a bit of a fight or something or to have at least SEEN Peter die, but since the book in entirely in Hollys point of view, we don’t get to see anything as it’s Jane who goes in the end).
Christopher and Holly was hinted in a weird way, but I do like that their attraction was never in the forefront of the story. And I do like his “take no shit” personality.
My only qualm with Holly is that she might have solved some of her issues if she hadn’t lied so much.
The ending was a bit anticlimactic ( I would have liked a bit of a fight or something or to have at least SEEN Peter die, but since the book in entirely in Hollys point of view, we don’t get to see anything as it’s Jane who goes in the end).
Christopher and Holly was hinted in a weird way, but I do like that their attraction was never in the forefront of the story. And I do like his “take no shit” personality.
My only qualm with Holly is that she might have solved some of her issues if she hadn’t lied so much.
donomak's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thealexarachelle's review against another edition
4.0
This was definitely darker than the original story of Peter Pan. I enjoyed it and will never forget this version of Peter the next time someone talks about the so called hero
samn27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dumb_library's review against another edition
3.0
3.5ish* this started off soooo strong and kinda fizzled out by then. overall i really love the premise of this dark reimagining of peter pan. i think what was presented in terms of the story and how everything tied together was really cool and unique. i did feel like the ideas were all there, but the execution was just meh. i started losing interest halfway and felt like it took a little too long to get to where we wanted to be. there was also an element introduced about halfway (don’t wanna say in case it’s a spoiler for some) that i just personally didn’t need in the story in order to move the plot along. i kinda just wanted to enjoy the dark fantasy retelling without that element that wasn’t quite as strong, but it’s fine. ANYWAY, i would still recommend this if you enjoy retellings. i don’t think this was bad at all, i was just a lil disappointed
bobbie1437's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing reimagining of Peter Pan. Definitely not a children’s story though. This book keeps you guessing until the very end with a rich cast of characters some more familiar than others. You won’t regret reading this book.