A review by trivial_reads
Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

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.