Reviews

My Darling Daughter by JP Delaney

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es_the_book_hoarder's review against another edition

3.0

I really, really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I didn't. It's not that it's an awful read - it's not at all: Delaney writes as well as he usually does, and it's a decent enough plot, and even though the author has researched the topics covered in this novel, I found it to be very deliberately negative towards social services and the care system in general. While it's a viewpoint I can understand, I don't necessarily agree with it, and I couldn't read it without noticing the negative connotations. I'd also say that it's more of a family drama than a thriller.

So what did I like about it?...

The writing, as I've said, was on point. The pace was well balanced. The plot was predictable, but decent.

In the end, I think it just wasn't for me.
TW: Miscarriage, fibroids, infertility, drug use, prostitution, social workers and injustice, Baby P, adoption, fostering, infant death, adopted child syndrome

My Darling Daughter publishes on 15th September 2022.

Many thanks to the author, Quercus Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

geokl7's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

hal8752's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nika_nix's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There was so much packed into this novel. I'm not even sure I'd call this a thriller, it felt more like literary fiction with some suspensful and thrilling elements.

It was interesting, I feel like I learned a lot, but often time all the legalities and music talk went over my head. Reading about all the accusations and laws and how all of that works in the UK was at the same time frustrating, tiring, confisng and aggravating, but the bottom line is that to me, it makes no sense, but I guess that is the sign that it's actually real, and not a product of author's imagination.

I didn't really like any of the characters except for Gabe, who was surprisingly loveable and reasonable. Susie was an idiot who I could not stand and she does not deserve Gabe.

I truly don't know how I feel about this book afrer finishing it. It was extremely readable, just like all JP Delaney's books, there were definitely some interesting parts of it, but overall it was also a very tiring and frustrating experience and ultimately, it covered way too many topics I don't care about - celebrities, music, pregnancy and laws about adoption. It was well written and well researched, though.

flintsloveofbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Far more emotionally realistic than I expected frankly. Honestly I was looking for suspense/murder, not the realities and patterns of adoption trauma.