My Husband’s Daughter: An absolutely heartbreaking and gripping emotional page-turner
<— LOVED THIS BOOK (truly a page turner just as described) however I wish so badly that the author didn’t include all of that description in the book title. Due to that (yes I was intrigued and one-clicked because of that and also because of all of the awesome reviews this book has) buuuuuttt… I went into it with an almost preconceived notion of what I was about to embark upon.
From the start, it have a one-way feel… almost seemed like a possible domestic psych-thriller, but with that “title” I couldn’t quite go with the flow and be surprised.
That said… I was TOTALLY surprised!!!! 😂😂 Not where I thought I’d be surprised (though that was a great reveal too), but there’s a definite twist in the mix that I didn’t see coming, and I ended up so connected to it.
So what’s it about? Upperclass Jack and Rebecca are happily married and perfectly settled into their careers and their lifestyle. Social, in love and both having the same vision for their future (especially the whole “not wanting children” aspect) has them excited about traveling, and the freedom they will be enjoying together for the rest of their lives.
Rebecca shook her head. ‘No. It’s both of us. I don’t want children. Never have.’
Then there was the smile. The I Know Better smile. ‘Maybe you’re just not ready yet. They are a lot of work, but it’s the best thing you can ever do, believe me.’
The best thing Rebecca could think of doing was travelling first class round the world. Not pushing a small person out of herself.
Of course, their entourage attempts to dissuade them of their set “childless” path, but they both know what they want and feel no confusion on this matter.
That is… until one of Jack’s ex girlfriends shows up (Cara… who is someone he hasn’t seen in years), with her four year old daughter, Sophie, in tow…
‘I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. What are you thinking? We dated for a short while years ago, and then you turn up here and ask if you and your daughter can stay in my house with me and my wife? This is crazy, Cara. Even for you.’
Cara flinched at his words but Jack didn’t notice; he was pacing again. ‘The more I think about it, the worse this is, Cara. I can’t believe you would just turn up here, dragging your poor daughter behind you and… and… what?’
…that looks just like him. Oh boy.
The last question was directed to Rebecca, who was shaking her head to try and stop him. It was too painful to watch and she needed to know. Right now. She looked at Cara. ‘She’s not just your daughter though, is she?’
Cara took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘No,’ she said. ‘She’s not just my daughter.’ She turned in her seat to face Jack. ‘Sophie is your daughter too.’
And that’s how the story starts… and goes. 😉
Sophie pulled Cara down to her height and whispered, ‘Can we stay here all day, Mummy?’ ‘
We’ll see,’ Cara whispered back. If all went as planned, they’d be staying there a lot longer than that.
Eeeeeeeep!!
And I’m stopping there, because all sorts of friction, deception, resentments, secrets and yes… even heartache comes to play… but all the while, a sweet tiny girl is caught in the mix.
…when she arrived home, she opened the front door really quietly and walked slowly towards the lounge. When she peered in, she saw Jack on the floor with Sophie, letting her crayon around his hands on a sheet of her drawing paper. Cara was sitting on Rebecca’s favourite chair with a mug in her hand, smiling indulgently at the two of them.
They looked like a happy family of three.
4.5 STARS! I pretty much devoured it in 1 day, and it was so worth my initial pre-conceived notions and reservations about already knowing “too much” going in. Plenty of surprises and REAL feels. I would absolutely read another book by this author!
OMGosh I’m so torn! I’m intrigued but also biased Bc marrying a man with kids is a big NO for me. Just no. Not for me. And I’m annoyed that after 30 women are expected to accept kids Bc we’re ‘no longer as desirable and can’t be as picky’. So I’m nervous this book will be the heroine slowly accepting and adjusting to this expected standard. But it sounds so angsty and dramatic.
Ok, read it. I reeeeeeally wasn’t the target audience for this book, Bc I HATED it. I want kids, but I know some professional women who don’t, and I think the, “you’ll feel differently when you have them” is extremely condescending and insulting. Not to mention wrong. Plus, this book felt like a shallow novella. No character development or necessary conversations about the really fucked up behaviors and situations that were happening. I hate to disagree since you loved it.
Ooooooh, this looks like it could have some potential marital strife…one of my all-time fave tropes! I agree about the title, btw…no need to show everybody your cards right from the get-go!
Great review, Maryse!
This is coming up next Maryse
YAY Rae!!! Let me know what you think when you’re done. 😀