I was riveted from the very start. My stomach hurt for Emma, as she was subjected to repeated abuse. When she was kidnapped, I felt terribly for her family, even if they were not good parents. I was utterly torn. Root for Sarah, Emma’s kidnapper, and hope she isn’t caught or pray that she is returned to her parents, because they are her parents. This was a page turner. The ending was unexpected, but I wish last pages were better developed.

See my review at goodreads.com

Unfortunately, I found this book to be slow and not relatable, so I am unable to finish it. However, I think the slow build will be a hit with many readers. I do think that the plot will also be interesting for lots of people, and they will be caught up in this whirlwind kidnapping.

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey is not for me. I could not relate to the characters or to the storyline. Not at all believable. I did like how the book was split into before, during and after the kidnapping, but that was about all I liked. Thank you St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the Arc and give my opinion.

Literally couldn’t put this book down. Devoured it in just 24 hours. Engaging story that goes back and forth between different points of view. Glued to the book until the last page. The ending didn’t let me down. Will definitely read additional books by this author.

This was a wonderful book. Emma is a 5 year old at odds with her mother, who has no patience for her and is always bruising her.

Sarah first sees Emma at an airport and observes the mother daughter interactions specifically how Emma's mother treats her.


Emma has a red dress and a red bow in her hair which is something that imprints on Sarah's mind.


Several months later she happens to view photos a co worker took of children at a Montessori school and sees that Ema was one of the children. She doesn't remember seeing her but she remembers a child screaming.

Sarah's mother abandoned her her when she was 8 so she empathizes with Emma's relationship with her mother.

Sarah returns to the school where Emma was, initially to observe her and determine if she is in danger.

She goes to her home also and watches nearby and observes how Emma is left alone in her backyard which backs to the woods and has no enclosed fence. She observes Emma's mother slapping her.

For some time Emma is left alone in the yard in the gradual darkness of the evening with no one coming out to get her.


We learn that Emma's mother has locked the doors to the house. a fact that is unknow to her husband.

Both parents fall asleep and 3 hours later Emma's mother wakes up and realizes that Emma is missing.


Sarah has entered the yard in the meantime and persuades Emma to go with her.

She and Emma travel around the country during the summer and Emma bonds with Sara and grows stronger and healthier.. Sarah dyes her harr and cuts it and does the same for Emma in hopes that no one will recognize Emma.

After a neighbor informs the police as to what she observed in Emma's backyard the night Emma went missing her mother becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance..


After Sarah and Emma are spotted a few times in their travels Emma calls the hotline and provides them with false information hoping to throw the investigators off their trail.


Sarah takes Emma home after a few months but Emma doesn't want to return home she wants to stay with Sarah.

Sarah calls Emma's mother to tell her she has Emma and that she is being well taken care of and is happy. She tells her that she brought Emma home but Emma doesn't want to go home and Sarah askes Emma's mother if she can keep Emma. Emma's mother agrees without asking if she can have contact with Emma or at least be kept updated on her.


I was prepared to hate Sarah for kidnapping Emma, but as I read further in the book I realized it wasn't a case of kidnapping but a case of rescuing Emma from a harmful environment. She only wants to give Emma a good life and have a change at being loved.

I can't wait for this to be published so that I can recommend it to my book club. This was a nice break from all the thrillers that I have been reading lately.

I'm still trying the words to describe this book. How far does someone go to make sure that they feel history does not repear its self. It's made me look at people differently and realizing that not everything is what it seems.

"Not Her Daughter" is a book I could not put down. I wanted to know the outcome of Emma, Sarah and Amy's lives. It was a wonderful portrayal of family - the dysfunctional family and also what a loving family can look like. I was a bit disappointed in the final chapter, as I feel the ending was rushed. Otherwise, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a quick engaging read. Thank you, Netgalley!

WOW!! This book was something else!! When one’s child is abducted, it’s got to be the scariest thing ever!! If there is such a thing as a perfect kidnapping, I think this was it. And the scary thing is … this stuff goes on EVERY SINGLE DAY throughout the world I am sure. This book kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. And then the ending – I did not see that one coming!! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sarah, a single 30 something who owns and runs her own educational resource business is struck by Emma, a beautiful, sad, often scared 5 year-old when they cross paths in an airport. Months later, Sarah runs into Emma again and knows this is a chance to make a difference in her life. Haunted by her own memories of an angry and distant mother, Sarah strives to give Emma the type of childhood she never had herself. The only catch is she must get Emma away from her current family, breaking the law and sending off a country-wide manhunt for the kidnapper.

Sarah and Amy, the mother, are both credible women; however I never really felt emotionally attached to either. I saw WHY they made the choices they did, but I wasn't invested in them like I thought I would be. Emma, on the other hand, stole my heart and towards the end, I found myself really rooting for her to find a happy ending for herself.

Sarah and Emma go off on a cross-country adventure to stay hidden from the authorities. One major problem presented itself when Sarah's ex, Ethan, showed up at the cabin she was hiding in and threatened to tell the authorities. The problem compounded when he didn't wait the 48 hours he said he would but instead called it in much sooner. Sarah has a few close calls with law enforcement and tipsters phoning in to the hotline.

I liked the book, but I didn't love it. I expected there to be more of a scene when Sarah faced her own mother or more in the way of follow-up since that relationship seemed paramount to her decision to take Emma. I would recommend this book but with the caveat that they might not love it. I wonder if I would feel differently if I either had given birth to a child or had some mother relationship issues like the two main characters.

Also, as a side note, if I were a public librarian, I would very likely purchase this book; however as an elementary school librarian it is not relevant to my collection.

Now that was quite the ending! I seriously need someone to read this just so we can talk about it. The book opens with Emma being abducted and continues on with the perspectives from the mother and the kidnapper. The author manages to create enough backstory to understand what the kidnapper was thinking and oddly enough because of that I couldn't dislike the woman if I tried. I don't really know what else to say, but really that ending...

What would you do if you saw what you thought to be abuse to a child by a parent in a very public place? Sarah was faced with just this decision. In an airport, at multiple locations inside, Sarah witnessed a mother - distraught, tired and angry - taking out her aggression on this beautiful innocent five year-old girl.

This incident never leaves Sarah's memory and when she unexpectedly comes upon this little girl, she knows she needs to help. Careful examination of the situation to ensure that this little girl's parent was not just having a bad day, leads Sarah to the realization that this indeed is how this family lives. She needs to act. NOW.

Convincing little five year-old Emma to come along with Sarah is easy. The two of them begin their escape.

Amy, the mother of Emma, is a very unhappy lady. Nothing in life has gone the way she would like. Her job is not what she wanted, her husband doesn't live up to her expectations, her body is not at all as she pictured and finally her daughter is impossible to connect with. Finding out that Emma is gone at first is shocking, but as she begins to live with it, becomes almost a relief.

The police are working every angle to find and bring Emma back to the family. Is this what is best? Sarah doesn't think so. Emma doesn't think so. Amy doesn't think so.

A good solid story with a few twists that are unexpected and almost heart wrenching. A good read!

I can't imagine having been abandoned as a child so it's hard to really judge the main character here... I'm not sure that this is really any way to excuse kidnapping a child, regardless of good intentions.

Despite personal and moral beliefs with how this was portrayed, the story itself was extremely well-written and emotionally indulgent. Whether or not I can understand or agree with Sarah, I was still drawn to her relationship with Emma and found myself half-rooting for them along the way.

4 1/2 stars

I wouldn't have thought I'd be rooting for a kidnapper, but this book convincingly makes the case that a young girl, Emma, is better off with Sarah, the stranger who took her to protect her, than with her abusive mother, Amy. The format of telling the story in "During" and "Before" chapters and from the alternating points of view of Sarah and Amy works well, and it kept my interest throughout. By far my favorite chapters were the ones featuring Sarah; they were warm, lovingly told and really very satisfying. Less satisfying were the Amy chapters, but they were important in furthering the narrative although I could have done without the little throwaway references to past lives. I was very interested and invested in what would happen in the end, but found it quite unrealistic to believe that a short conversation should be enough to make all the other ramifications of what was happening disappear. Despite a few reservations, I would recommend this book and look forward to reading other books by this author. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy; I was very happy to have the chance to read it.

I have not read any novels by Rea Frey before, but I was intrigued by the description of this novel, though the topics of kidnapping and child abuse are disturbing. I was hooked right from page one and I breezed through the novel easily and willingly.

It was emotional, gripping, and thought-provoking. What would you do if you witnessed a little girl being verbally and physically abused on more than one occasion? Would you turn away, would you report it to the police, would you confront the mother, or would you kidnap the girl to protect her and provide her with the life she deserves? These are all questions that came to my mind and while reading about Sarah's thoughts and decisions.

Though I never sided with the mother or agreed with her actions, it was interesting to read from her point of view as well. It was almost satisfying to read, because it collaborated with my theories and I did not feel any remorse towards her at all. Though parenting can be tiring, there is no excuse for neglect or abuse.

My heart bled for Emma, the little girl. She struggled with a myriad of emotions, even towards her mom, who she clearly loved despite the abuse that she dealt. She begged for her attention, sometimes in a negative way, and would sometimes stand up to her and defy her. She dealt with her life as a strong and brave girl. I was so proud of her and rooted her on.

This book "haunted me" even after I finished - I could not stop thinking about it. I loved it and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy!

One day Sarah sees Emma. Emma whose mother drags her by the wrist, snacks at her,who clearly is annoyed by her child.
Sarah can't stop thinking about poor Emma.
What does it mean when Emma comes across Sarahs path again?
Could it be Sarah is MEANT to just check and see if Emmas mom is being nicer..
What could it hurt, right?

This is a fast paced thrill ride through of a novel.

Sarah, an entrepreneur and recently single gal witnessed some disturbing behavior involving a child . Reminiscent of Jody Picoult, this book smacks you right between the eyes. If given a hypothetical situation most adults can tell you how they would react based on life experience, culture and personal morals. However, that ideology can be turned upside down in a second. What would you do if you were aware that someone was mistreating a child? What happens after an impulsive reaction? What lengths would you go to protect your own child? This book takes you on an emotional journey that challenges all you hold dear and forces you to see another side of the equation. This author gives enough insight into each character that allows you to sympathize and yet no matter how flawed they might be, there is still that nagging frustration that there are other solutions. It’s a great book club selection because I now see that my reactions after immediately finishing the book and 24 hours later are at odds. On a side note, it’s always fun when there is realistic descriptions of a city. I live in Chicago across the street from both the hotel she stayed in and the restaurant that is famous for their 24 hour breakfast. Spot on descriptions of the parks, neighborhoods and expensive parking! I’m going to be thinking about this story for a long time.
#netgalley #stmartinspress #reafrey #notherdaughter

FANTASTIC READ! I am giving this one the full five stars, I loved Not Her Daughter. This is not your run of the mill kidnapping story-line- you are going to be cheering Sarah Walker the “kidnapper” on! Take Emma Grace Townsend and keep her FOREVER, leave the state, leave the country and GOOOOOOO girl!

I think I may have enjoyed this book even more since I have worked hand in hand with social services for over 10 years and have found myself in a similar position as Sarah wanting to rescue a child. I have seen the system fail many times as well as succeed and do just what it is intended to do. “The system is broken. There are good people who work for these children and do the best they can, but the system is just too big for them to make a difference. It’s a horrible process for the child, and it’s almost impossible to prove neglect from parents by a total stranger. At best, she’d get placed in social services.” The only part I don’t agree with is that I know that these people, myself, my coworkers DO make a difference, we may not be able to fix everything or everyone BUT for the ones we can help, we DO make a difference.

Sarah Walker is catching a flight when she sees a beautiful little girl in a red dress, red bow, and red shoes. “She looked like Christmas.” Sarah watched this little girl be tugged and pulled on and yelled at by her mother and hoped that this was not how this gorgeous child was always treated and this was a bad day, a stressful day. I mean, flying is a stressful experience for most of us. “I couldn’t forget Emma. I couldn’t forget.” Just when Sarah is starting to put the little girl out of her mind, Sarah has a chance meeting with this same stunning little five year old girl with gray eyes. This cannot be a coincidence for these two to cross paths again.

“I must get Emma to come with me somewhere else, to a place that is not her home, with a person who is not her mother.”

“I am rewriting her story, altering her memories, shifting her shitty childhood into clean chunks: before during, after. Then now, someday."

The story is told from the perspectives of Sarah Walker (kidnapper) and Amy Townsend, Emma’s mother alternating between before, during, and after Emma is taken.

I was on the edge of my patio chair, heart racing wondering what was going to happen next. Rea Frey’s writing style is very engaging and captured my attention immediately. The characters were multidimensional and seemed real; I had feelings for each one. I could easily picture scenes playing out in my head…Not Her Daughter would make an excellent movie in my opinion.

I cannot wait to see what Rea Frey comes out with next as this book was superb!

***Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

***Will post review to Goodreads on July 21, 2018 and be posted to booksellers on release date of August 21, 2018.

Not Her Daughter is one of those books that you need to read with tissues. It is also a thought-provoking book. It makes you think how far would you go to help an abused child. And how far is too far? What this book also showed is how people turn a blind eye to problems that aren't their own. At any point, the school/neighbors/babysitter could have stepped up for Emma. But they didn't. No one wanted to rock the boat. No one wanted to take that extra step to help Emma until Sarah arrived. 

I know this is going sound weird, but I kind of felt for Amy right after Sarah took Emma. My sympathy was taken away as the story went on. She became unlikable. She only thought about herself. Not about Emma. Not about her husband or son. Just about herself. I came to the conclusion at the end of the book that she was some sort of sociopath. She deserved everything that happened to her after Emma was taken.

On the same note, I couldn't believe how clueless Emma's father was. How could you not notice your wife mistreating your child? How could you not see the bruises or even the fact that your child was malnourished? I know most people would feel bad for him, but I didn't. He lived with his head in the sand. He did end up doing the right thing in the end by leaving Amy but still. Too little, too late.  

Sarah was such a great character to read. She was conflicted and man, did she have her demons. I thought seeing Sarah so torn on taking Emma was great. She wasn't a bad person but she did something that was horrible. Even if it was to protect a child. Her demons did show up during the book. Between the ex that she shouldn't have let get away to her very childhood, she was forced to face them. I like how it was done during the book. I also liked how Sarah learned and grew from facing them.

Emma was the only one that I felt completely bad for. Her mother hated her. Why? Because she was prettier than Amy. Yes, you read that right. So, she ended up getting the short end of the stick. She was neglected, beaten and not fed right. Then Sarah comes along and takes her. Don't get me wrong, it was for the better. Emma thrived with Sarah. But still. Even at the end of the book, Emma was treated like some sort of hot commodity. Emma did get a chance to make her choice and I was pretty happy with what she chose.

The child abuse angle was very well written. The author did a great job of giving enough detail so you knew what was going on. But she didn't give too much. I have read books that give too much detail. Which is fine. But in this case, it wasn't needed. 

The kidnapping angle held enough oomph to keep my attention. Sarah's run from the law while trying to heal a wounded child and deal with her own issues. The author did a great job at not dropping the ball with that. The urgency was there and it did not let up. I did think that Sarah going to her ex's cabin was a bit of a fail but I could see why she did it.

I do not like more than 2 POV's. I get thrown off the storyline. But in this book, it works. I got to see what was going on in all 3 people's minds as this drama unfolded. It fascinated me and kept me reading.

The end of the book was anticlimactic for me. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that. I felt let down. After everything that happened in the book, I expected more out of the ending. I loved the epilogue. Thought it was one of the best ones I have read to date.

What I liked about Not Her Daughter:

A) Thought provoking

B) Sarah. 

C) The epilogue

What I disliked about Not Her Daughter:

A) Amy. She was an unlikable character

B) The abuse Emma endured

C) The people in the book that turned a blind eye to what was going on with Emma.

I would give Not Her Daughter an Adult rating. There is language. There is violence. There are sexual situations (but no real sex). I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are trigger warnings in Not Her Daughter. They would be child abuse and kidnapping. If any of those trigger you, I suggest not to read this book.

I would recommend Not Her Daughter to family and friends. I would also reread this book.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Griffin, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Not Her Daughter.

All opinions stated in this review of Not Her Daughter are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you ever seen kids getting screamed at in public and wondered if it's an isolated moment or whether they have a bad home life? I have, and so the description of this book really called out to me.
Sarah is a woman who was neglected, abused and abandoned by her mother as a child. When she sees Emma Townsend being screamed at by her mother it affects her so strongly that she can not forget. When she is sure that this was not an isolated incident she steals Emma, wanting only to protect her and give her the love that she never had as a child and that Emma so obviously needs. Once they are on the run together she is not sure whether she's made a mistake. The story starts off really strong and I was sure I was going to fall in love with it but the ending was just too simplistic and unrealistic for me.

In Not Her Daughter (a debut fiction book by Rea Frey) it takes a little while to get use to the rhythm of "During and Before" by the two main voices and points of view. Once into the story the pages fly by fast as the reader wants to know what happens next. I'm looking forward to Ms Frey's next story. I was given an early copy to review.