Two women and a young girl are at the center of this story. Sarah Walker and Amy Townsend. Amy Townsend is a wife, mother and full time employee. She is not exceeding at all of these things as most people can't do it all. Sarah Walker owns a company, but hasn't become a wife or mother. At a chance encounter she meets Amy, her husband and child and has immediate feelings about her and the family. When she acts on those feelings, the story begins . . .

The story is divided into Sarah's parts and Amy parts and then subdivided into before, during and after. I love how this story was presented. It was all easily labeled, so the reader knows when and where we are and who is talking. I like when the set up is elaborate but spelled out!

I love when I read a book and it makes me question everything in my being. This book straddles so many ethical lines and it is so hard to make a decision and decide what side of the street you live on. Even after a few days of finishing it I can't put into words how I feel about the story AND the ending. I was so glad that my mom had read the book recently so I could talk to her about it, but we just kept saying WOW and REALLY! I love when I have a hard time putting into words my feelings and thoughts about a book.

I will definitely be on the look out for Rea Frey's next book. I can't wait to see where she goes from here.

A bit of an unsatisfying read. It's not a terrible book, but it was a bit of a let down. The plot was okay but the ending was pretty unrealistic and I just found myself wishing some things were wrapped up.

Not Her Daughter is a riveting tale about a missing child. But this is not your usual missing person story. It is something that will leave you in conflict with your morals. It was very thought-provoking. It started with Sarah running away with Emma and from there the story alternates from before, during, and after the kidnapping with the point of views from two women, Sarah and Amy. It can get really confusing but once I get used to the format, I can’t let go of the story. It is engaging. Sarah is the kidnapper you can’t help but root for. On the other hand, Amy is a mother with the missing child yet it was hard to feel sympathy towards her. Her indifference towards her own kid is not something that will warm you to her. They both have mommy issues during childhood and how they treated Emma was influenced by their past experiences. It is definitely a well-written tale, conflicting yet also compelling. An entertaining read, overall.

I really wanted to like this book. Faced with a moral decision what do you do? Sarah owns a successful business and she has two brief encounters of seeing a child being disciplined severely by her mother. What does she do? On an impulse, she takes the child. The story has unbelievable characters and an unbelievable plot that just does not make sense.

The premise of this book intrigued me. I was caught up in the drama of the story in the first page or two. I enjoyed experiencing the story through the perspectives of Sarah and Amy. I did find the ending to be disappointing and a bit unbelievable. There seemed to be a lot of loose ends that never got taken care of. I felt like I was waiting for a twist that never arrived. I'm sure many readers will love this story, but it fell a bit short for me.

Not Her Daughter is well-written and the story has a building tension that keeps the pages turning. The story is written in dual points of view, alternating between our kidnapper, Sarah, and Emma's mother, Amy. We also get before, during, and after chapters to give some perspective into the characters and their frame of mind. All of this should've added up to a high-praise review. However, there were a few things throughout the story that niggled at me. Amy is unlikable from the start, which is kind of the point, and Sarah makes a rash decision to kidnap Emma, thus freeing her from a bad home life. Why Sarah chose kidnapping over calling authorities is explained, but suffice it to say that her emotions and mental state weren't exactly where they should be. Okay, I can get with that. My problems started from there. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll just sum it up with either Sarah is extremely lucky or everyone involved is completely inept at their jobs because her name is never brought up. Not once. The ending, while unexpected, was unsatisfactory at best. I understand that this one is in the works for the big screen and maybe it will work better in that format, but for me, there were just too many things that required a suspension of disbelief. On the whole, the story had great potential, but fell a bit short of that wow factor.

Not Her Daughter is a riveting story of a 5 year old girl, Emma, who has been taken from her home. I'm not exactly sure what genre this book is. It could be Women's Fiction, domestic fiction or there is a bit of suspense.

The story is told from two POVs: Sarah and Amy. Sarah is a loving, caring 33 year old entrepreneur who sees a child being abused by her mom. Amy is unhappy and horrible. She can't stand her daughter Emma.

This book is divided into before, during, after and now.

This story will definitely make you think. Because Sarah comes across as a lovely person. And Amy comes across as a terrible mom. Although once we got Amy's point of view I actually could empathize with her a bit. Her chapters give so much insight into her character. So as a reader you feel bad for rooting for a kidnapper. Yet you also feel bad for feeling for an abuser.

There were a lot of interesting things that happened in this book. And I honestly could not figure out how this story would end.

This story had such an intriguing premise. What should a person do when they see a child being mistreated? Sarah obviously went about things completely wrong. But Emma was so much happier with her. I really enjoyed this story. Although where the story went wrong for me was with the ending the author chose. I just did not love the ending. I really wanted more. The story felt like it was moving to a dramatic conclusion. And while there was a surprise decision towards the end, I just really needed more closure and more of an ending.

This book was amazing - exciting! I did not expect the ending – but it totally worked!

Sarah Walker first observes the interactions between Amy Townsend and her five-year-old daughter Emma in an airport. Amy is scolding and pushing Emma while arguing with her husband. Unable to get Emma out of her mind, Sarah sees her again a few months later. This time when Amy physically lashes out at Emma Sarah snaps. Having herself grown up in a home where her mother was first verbally and emotionally abusive to Sarah and then walked out of the home, Sarah is shaken to her core to see this happening to Emma. So – Sarah takes Emma – just to keep her safe. Can this be so wrong? Now Sarah is on the run. She has to do this. She can’t let Emma be returned to her mother.

Amy Townsend – nagging wife. How did life go so wrong? Why can she never catch a break? Unfit mother? Her small son never seems to push her buttons like Emma does. Now Emma is missing. How did she let this happen? Does she want a second chance with Emma? Would life be better without Emma? Did I want her to have a second chance?

Two women – one child. Which woman is a “real mother”? What does it take to be a “god” mother?

Such a beautifully written story – and so difficult to put down. How dare life get in the way when I have such a phenomenal book to read!

The characters are believable. The situation is impossible – or is it? We know the law, but is the law always right? Quite the moral dilemma. We definitely dive into that gray area here. Emotionally wrenching! Suspenseful! I loved it!! Perfect book club read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. This review is solely my opinion.

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Sarah Walker is heartbroken. Her mother abandoned her and her father when she was a child. The good thing in her life is that she has a successful business, but it’s not enough. She wants more.

When Sarah sees five year old Emma being mistreated by her mother, she takes matters into her own hands. She risks everything to protect this child she doesn’t even know. Sarah manages to take Emma and they go on a cross-country adventure. Meanwhile, the authorities are conducting a nationwide hunt to find the missing girl.

Emma’s biological mother, Amy Townsend, is unhappy with her life and can’t seem to get a handle on her daughter. She treats her cruelly, but she never intended for her child to disappear. As she tries to help with the search, she also wonders if she really wants the girl back at all.

This is edge-of-your-seat reading at its best. I couldn’t put it down. I had to force myself not to look ahead to see how it ended. Instead, I just sat back and read through the book without peeking at the ending.

The story is told from the point of view of both Sarah and Amy. I found this interesting as it gives readers a chance to get into the heads of these two women with very different roles in this story. It gives you a better understanding of the situation.

It’s an intriquing take on a missing child storyline that I haven’t read before. It’s well written and the characters are realistic. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.

The story revolves around 5-year old Emma Grace Townsend, who is missing.
Kidnapped.
Taken by Sarah Walker – a successful entrepreneur, heart-broken from a recent nasty breakup, and abandoned by her own mother in childhood.

The moment Sarah sees Emma, she feels an instant connect, compounded by the fact that Emma’s mother, Amy, treats her atrociously, which Sarah has witnessed, by chance, on more than one occasion. Emma was never wanted and Amy is downright horrible to the girl, being verbally and physically abusive as well.

Missing children stories are common; wherein you expect the children to be abused and tortured. But the author here has managed to turn the idea a complete 360o to come up with an angle that’s quite novel. What if a child is taken from the family just to keep them safe, and avoid any danger? What if their life at home is so full of stress and abuse that being taken away by a stranger, with the promise of a good life, is the best option for them?

As Sarah and Emma break into a run, avoiding the nationwide hunt, they form a deep bond – of trust, companionship and warmth. Is It only a matter of time before they are caught?

Told alternately between Amy and Sarah as Before, During, After and Now, the book has a nice pace and tautness to it. Tension builds gradually and you may find yourself rooting for a kidnapper, and not the grieving parents, for a change – because is Amy really grieving? The difference in personalities between Sarah and Amy is so stark you can’t help praying that Emma remains in the confines of Sarah’s safety.

This was an emotionally powerful and though-provoking read, though the premise perhaps doesn’t “seem right”. You will definitely question Sarah’s action. Is she really only trying to protect Emma or perhaps fill some void in her life?
This book raises the pertinent question of what it means to be a mother; and to what extent can someone go to keep a child safe.

My rating: 4.5/5

In her debut novel, Not Her Daughter, Rea Frey has written a compelling and often emotional tale about loss, the struggles of parenting and love for a child.
I took this book on holiday recently to Boston and when we weren't out exploring that great city, I was glued to these pages. The story jumps between the points of view of Amy (the unhappy mom) and Sarah (the child abductor) and includes scenes before, during and after the abduction to give readers better insight to the characters' inner thoughts and motivations. It's hard to like Amy and while I didn't jump on the Amy bandwagon, Frey enabled me to understand how Amy got to that very low point.

Sarah was a little hit and miss for me and that stems from some of her choices that were hard to believe. At times she seemed immature for a successful businesswoman in her mid-30's and a few of her choices, especially those that put herself and Emma in danger, were hard to swallow. Readers may also have to suspend belief with some aspects of the plot (especially in this digital/public camera/cell phone age) and how smoothly things went for Sarah. That said, I quite enjoyed this read and found the plot moved at a good pace.

I have to give Frey credit, she doesn't shy away from broaching some difficult subjects including the issue of the public's responsibility when they see child abuse and the darker side of parenting some people experience - the struggles, extreme stress and loss of self. Life is not all play dates, park outings and cute photo ops for many parents and Frey brings many of those issues to light.
While I would have welcomed more resolution in the ending, overall this was an impressive debut that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and emotionally connected to the plight of this five-year-old girl. If you've got a good mother, this book will make you want to give her a call and be oh so thankful for what you have.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

It was the cover and blurb that drew me wanting to read this book and I'm so glad that I did. It was a great read, truly heartfelt and entertaining. This is no ordinary tale of a kipnapping, it has quite a twist to it.

I loved how the story was told by the two main characters Sarah and Amy, as it really gives the story depth and different viewpoints. You truly get a feel for both of the characters, seeing how they coped, the decisions they ultimately have to make and all of the experiences/events they have to go through. 

The story was detailed and so very well written throughout. The story was emotional and captivating in equal measures, completely drawing you in, making you want to turn those pages quickly to see how things would develop and what would happen next.

That was the hardest thing about this book, having no clue as to how the story would end, forever wondering who would end up with Emma, what would be the rightful ending. It was because of this that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Suffice to say I loved how the story concluded and think it was the right decision.

I've just realised that this is the author Rea's debut book, which I'm completely shocked by as its so very well written from start to finish.  I will definitely be watching out for this author in the future.

Sarah Walker, a successful entrepreneur, was abandoned by her mother as a child. So she knows a bad mother when she sees one and Amy is one. Twice she has witnessed tense scenes between Amy and her five-year-old daughter Emma, the most recent ending in a slap across the child's face that leaves a bright red handprint.

Sarah can't resist the compulsion to grab that poor girl and run off with her. She knows how to treat her right! But then reality sets in and she realizes she will have to come up with a plan for what to do next. With AMBER alerts sent out, someone is sure to spot the little girl soon if they are out in public. Will they have to spend the rest of their lives running and hiding? And what about Sarah's business, her father, her friends? Can she leave all that behind and start over? And doubts begin to creep in...is even a bad mother better than a stranger?

Very enjoyable reading but I couldn't figure out why law enforcement, both local and nationwide, seemed so inept, focusing on family for so long and missing certain suspicious details that should have lead straight to Sarah. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. But the ending was satisfying, if perhaps a little unbelievable.

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for providing me with an interesting story.

I read Not Her Daughter as a group with Berit, Holly, Kendall, and Melisa, and what a fun and engaging read this was to share. There is so much to relate to in this book, and so much to think about...Much more than the typical suspense read.

Emma is five-years old living with her mother, Amy, who is uncaring and hateful towards her, as well as her unobservant father who has no idea what happens in his own home, and her younger brother who is preferred by Amy.

Sarah is successful at work and with owning her own business, but she has secrets of her own difficult upbringing. Shockingly, Sarah is a kidnapper.

When Sarah notices Emma in the airport, she finds it hard to look away. Amy is in rare form picking at Emma at every turn, overcorrecting her, and physically hurting her. Haven’t we all witnessed something like this at one time or another? What would do you do, if anything? Sarah does not take Emma at the airport, but she cannot get the child off her mind...and when a second opportunity presents itself, she takes Emma and runs.

The structure of the narrative is between past and present with the voices of Sarah, Amy, and later, Emma. Being privy to the thoughts from all narrators added to the empathy I felt for each character. There was not one right or wrong answer for me. There were shades of gray, and adults who grew up in challenging environments finding it hard to choose a different path in life. It is easy to judge Amy. All her faults are splattered all around her for the world to see, but when you look deeper into the narrative, she is a person out-of-control who cannot seem to stop the way her life is spinning. And while Sarah may look like the more caring type, she, too, has scars and is imperfect, and hello- she abducted a child!

I appreciated the discussion we had in our group because thoughts arose around the ethics of what happened. Who was right? Who was wrong? What is best for Emma, and who decides that? It is definitely a book you will want to discuss. And beyond that, Frey writes with precise intention. The narrative flows with tension building, and the story could not have been more original . A mass of kidnapping stories are out there, but Not Her Daughter turns a new page.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Full review to post on my blog on pub day.

I don’t think I have ever read a book that I was more emotionally and morally conflicted about. The story of a little girl who is kidnapped because of observed abuse and ends up being happier with her abducter was so emotional. It was a very engaging story, the characters were easy to get to know and relate to. Usually I’m not easily able to connect with a story that not only jumps back and forth between time, and this one jumps back and forth between 2 characters lives. However the writing in this debut made it very easy to do so. I never once felt lost or that I had to re-read something because I was getting confused. The writing was excellent and made the story flow and easy to follow. There were a few plot points that I didn’t really see the need for, such as the past life regressions and the whole Ryan and Charlie encounter. That aside, I really enjoyed this book that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Riveting, affecting, and unique!

Not Her Daughter is a thought-provoking, clever, tight thriller that highlights just how fine the line between criminal intent and morally acceptable behaviour can be when it comes to the protection of children.

The writing is taut and emotive. The characters are complex, troubled, and authentic. And the plot told from dual points of view and alternating timelines, before-and-after the kidnapping, builds subtly to create tension and suspense as it unravels piece-by-piece all the motivations, actions, personalities, and relationships within it.

Not Her Daughter at its core is a novel about family, relationships, secrets, parental abuse, abduction, and the lengths one will go to protect, care, and love a child. It’s expressive, absorbing, unnerving, and without a doubt an exceptional debut for Frey.

I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it out. It was certainly not what I was expecting. I had many conflicting thoughts while reading it. I enjoyed reading it and it kept my interest - wanting to see what was going to happen in the end. The writing was good; it was easy to read. The author certainly painted a very vivid picture of the characters; they were very realistic. The book is divided into "before and during" rotating back and forth between the 2 main characters which once you get the hang of it is easy to follow.
My conflict was that I didn't find this believable. There were so many things that I just don't think could really happen; especially the ending. However, I had to remind myself that this is a work of fiction. If you look at it that way you will enjoy the book!

If you are going to root for anyone in this well written novel, root for Emma. It's really hard for me to cheer a kidnapper, not matter why she did it. Sarah is not entirely stable when she takes Emma after witnessing her mother Amy berating her. Amy's got issues too, as you will discover from the alternating narration of Amy and Sarah. This as interesting and fast paced but I kept shaking my head. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey. If you love Brenda Novak suspense you will like Not her Daughter. This book takes surprising twists and turns.

Not her daughter was such an excellent story.
I was very surprised and blown away of how much I really loved this novel.
This was a amazing novel that I really enjoyed and it explored some important topics such as parenting, loss and child abduction.
This author writing style is so easy to get into, she easily grips her readers and makes her readers connect with the characters in this novel. She did an amazing job with the characters, they were very well developed.
I don’t want to spoil anything between the the woven stories and characters so I’m just going to say first off, this is definitely a novel you should pick up and read. It’s so good and this story will grip you and have you hooked all the way until the very end.