Not Her Daughter is a great read. I couldn't put it down. Wasn't expecting the ending. The story brings forth ethical issues and questions what one considers right is not necessarily right or is it....
I can't wait for the movie!

Not Her Daughter is an interesting mystery/thriller that explores the interesting moral question of When is kidnapping okay? Is it okay if the daughter doesn't get enough fun and mental stimulation? Is it okay if the younger brother gets more love and attention? Is it okay if the mother is abusive?

Sarah is the CEO of a new educational tool called TACK, and spends much of her time in schools, presenting the product and researching new innovations. When a massive coincidence puts Sarah near little Emma twice, both times when she seems to have a horrible family, she decides she must take action. She must take Emma away from her sad, painful life, and give her a happy, fulfilled, and fun life.

Amy, Emma's mother, is just so tired. Tired of the fights, of her lack of self-confidence, of her lack of caring anymore. One evening, Emma just won't listen. She just wants Emma to behave and not make messes or do anything to disturb the family. When Amy snaps and slaps Emma's face, Emma runs into the woods in the backyard that she frequents as a hiding spot. Mentally exhausted and angry, Amy locks the back door to punish Emma, then accidentally falls asleep in the bedroom from pure tiredness.

Sarah, who was in the woods during Amy and Emma's fight, decides that her chance is now or never. She takes Emma, gets her new clothes and toys, and begins the most dangerous adventure of her life: Keeping Emma safe, and keeping herself out of jail when the family finally realizes their daughter is missing.

Told from the Amy and Sarah's perspectives, plus mixed between "Before," "Now," and "After," this book has many threads and twists that will keep you glued to the page. It'll have you asking the same questions Sarah has -- When is kidnapping okay? Would I do the same thing in her situation? Would I turn her in? -- and you'll keep wondering long after turning the last page.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Links in post are affiliate links whose proceeds go toward the maintenance of this blog.

Not Her Daughter is a psychological novel that turns the nature of motherhood upside down. Told in the alternating viewpoints of Amy Townsend, the unhappy and unfit mother of five year-old Emma against lonely childless Sarah Townsend who makes the reckless decision to “liberate” Emma by kidnapping her, the book invites us to figure out whose daughter Emma really should be. Sarah knows what it feels like to be an unwanted daughter whose existence tied down the aspirations of her mother and gives Emma the one-on-one attention that she craves. Amy is exhausted and overwhelmed and does some things are hard to understand without seeing from her eyes. I appreciated the moral dilemma of the novel but then felt like I didn’t have the right to judge because I am not a mother. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Rea Frey for the advanced reader’s copy.

Happy #pubday to Not Her Daughter! 🎉 Reading this left me feeling conflicted, emotional, and morally confused. Sarah has a chance meeting with 5 year old Emma at an airport and cannot get the abused child off of her mind. So when she has a second chance encounter with her, she makes the rash decision to take Emma and save her from her abusive mother. Told in the perspectives of both Sarah and Emma's mother, Amy, this left me feeling conflicted and quickly turning pages. The suspense of them being on the run, the gamut of emotions this book brought me through, and the tension throughout had me riveted. For me, Not Her Daughter was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @stmartinspress for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Not Her Daughter is one of those stories that is both remarkable and unforgettable while at the same time being completely heartbreaking and questionable.

The events that transpire are both horrifying and yet weirdly understandable as we get to peek inside the head of one woman who does something truly horrific but for a good cause. Coming from a woman that has children of her own, it is so very hard to put into word how I feel about it all.

Was it kindness or selfishness?

Was it one woman's struggle with her past heartbreak and loneliness or was it one woman's need to help and rescue a little girl that needed it most?

Not Her Daughter is an emotionally charged story that will not only have you siding with Sarah and what she did but also, weirdly enough, have you feeling for Emma's mother Amy as well.

Told in dual POVs of both Sarah and Amy and both from the past and present, Not Her Daughter is one story you can't help but be captivated by as you journey through both their pasts, heartaches and disappointments, all while rooting for what is best for Emma along the way.

Truly a stunning novel that will take your breath away and take you by surprise.

After seeing a girl, Emma, being mistreated in public multiple times by her mother, Amy, a stranger, Sarah, decides to rescue her.

Have you ever seen a child being mistreated in public and wished you could sweep him or her away to a better life? Well, that's exactly what happens in Not Her Daughter! Sarah notices how mean Amy is to her 5 year old daughter, Emma, and decides to save her. But, what are the consequences of her rash decision? And, how will it all end?

"I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

I was deeply intrigued by this idea and couldn't wait to see how it ended. I enjoyed this book very much, but unfortunately, the ending felt a little too neat for me. With that being said, I would recommend this book and do look forward to reading more from this author.

Location: Oregon (Portland), Montana (Bozeman), and Illinois (Chicago).

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Sarah sees this little girl, Emma, at the airport and falls in love with her. She sees how her mother treats her and this makes a huge impression on Sarah. When Sarah runs across Emma again at a school, she does the unthinkable. She kidnaps her.

This is every mother’s nightmare. To have a kid abducted would be one of the worst tragedies ever. However, Sarah is so good with Emma and Emma’s mother, Amy, is a complete disaster. As a matter of fact, Amy Townsend is down right abusive and neglectful of her daughter. This pulls the reader in a thousand different directions. You knew Emma was better off with Sarah. BUT! To take her away from her family!

Sarah is a smart lady….until. You think, “How can a smart lady like Sarah do something this stupid?” Then, you think, “How can she ever give Emma back?” What a roller coaster of a ride!

OMG! This book if OFF THE CHARTS! I love a book that gives you all the feels and this one does. The quote on the outside of the book by Chevy Stevens is exactly right. It makes you question what you believe!

Wow! What a read, and found myself rooting for the person committing a crime, and yet you will feel some compassion for the parents, what a mess.
All the while we are with Emma and Sarah, child and kidnapper, you feel the joy and happiness, but what is going to happen her, you keep waiting for an arrest and the taking of the child back to her homelife.
The story felt so real, and what an ending, I never saw it coming, a really emotional read, and you will be asking yourself, just how far as a stranger would you go to protect a child?

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin’s Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

4.5 Compellingly Complicated Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

WOW! You’ve got to love a book that makes you question everything! A book that blurs the line between right and wrong... good and bad... lies and truth... what makes a “good“ mother? Blood? Love? It is the hardest job you’ll ever do and yet no one teaches you how to be a mother... there is no class, no certification, unless you consider those eggs you had to carry around in high school and pretend were a baby... anybody else do this? Being a mother is the most important job you’ll ever do and yet it is all trial and error... and just because you are a woman doesn’t mean you are cut out for motherhood and there really should be no shame in that.... not everybody is cut out to be a dentist either and no one ever seems to shame you about that... but I digress....

This is not your ordinary kidnapping story...Sarah is a strong single business woman who recently had her heartbroken... Amy is an overwhelms unhappy mother of two.... after two chance encounters with Amy and her beautiful five-year-old daughter Emma, Sarah is determined to “save“ Emma from her abusive situation... Sarah herself had a difficult childhood, a neglectful mother who eventually left her, and a father who never got over the mother who left.... so in “saving“ Emma, Sarah was really also saving herself.... but is doing something wrong ever right?

This book was a crazy ride that had me questioning my ethics at every turn.... it made me keep asking myself, “what would I do in this situation?“ told from both Sarah and Amy‘s point of view... you really got a glimpse into both of these women’s lives.... I found this tremendously impactful, not everything about Amy was bad and not everything about Sarah was good.... so who would be the better mother to Emma? And is the better choice the right choice? So many important questions and no easy answers...

This is Rea Frey’s fictional debut, and what a Way too make a splash into the book world! This is the kind of book that sucks you in from the very beginning and won’t let you go even after it is done, I am seriously still contemplating this book and it has been a few days... perfectly paste with extremely well drawn characters, I seriously think I would recognize Sarah and Amy if I saw them walking down the street... Color me impressed! And I cannot wait to see what we have coming next from this extremely talented author!

Absolutely recommend whether you are a thriller lover or not, this was one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read all year!

*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

An emotional, gripping, suspenseful, tug-on-your-heartstrings book that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about morality and doing what is right! This is not a run-of-the-mill kidnapping book. Rea Frey debuts with a slam-dunk novel about crossing lines, rethinking your own ethical boundaries, and leading with your heart instead of your head! This book is riveting and filled with heart—it’s a book I won’t soon forget!

About the Book

Emma Townsend is 5-years old with grey eyes, and is an exceptionally beautiful girl. But Emma lives her life without much love. Her mother takes out her anger on Emma all of the time, and her father is barely present, worrying and spending his time on her baby brother. One night Emma’s mother gets so angry, she leaves Emma out in the yard. And then Emma goes missing…

Outwardly, Sarah Walker has it all—a successful business that she loves, and an amazing team of staff to support it. But Sarah also recently went through a break up with the love of her life, and is still working through some demons from her past. Sarah’s mother was emotionally abusive before abandoning her. Sarah is so filled with love to give, if only someone will be there to accept it.

And then one night Emma Townsend fatefully enters Sarah’s life. And Sarah does exactly what her head tells her not to do—she takes Emma and runs.

With a nationwide-search underway, Emma’s mother Amy questions whether she really wants Emma back. Maybe this is a chance at a new life? Meanwhile, Sarah must keep running if she’s going to save the most sought-after girl in the country. What will win, Sarah’s heart or her mind?

Reflection

This may sound like something you’ve read before, but it is anything but that. I went into this wanting to shame Sarah for what she did, because taking a child is firmly in the “wrong” category of morality. But when you read this, you will find yourself all sorts of confused! I questioned frequently how I decide what is wrong, when there are things wrong on both sides. I questioned how I would act in Sarah’s shoes, knowing what she lived through with her own mother and with a broken system in place to help kids in that situation. I questioned whether I am someone who always does what is “right”, because I was struggling to convince myself what right was.

And let’s talk about Amy for a moment. Amy is such a fascinating character, because all of her internal unhappiness with her situation and life is projected into her appearance and the way she treats both herself and her children. You will want to judge Amy (and trust me, she deserves a lot of judgment), but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a bit for her as well. She’s terrible in many ways, but she also speaks to how hard being a mother can be sometimes. I don’t excuse Amy’s actions or thoughts, but I imagine being a mother to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. Amy is unfortunately someone who doesn’t want to be a mother. It doesn’t excuse the way she acts, or let her off the hook for her responsibilities, but Amy’s is an important story to tell. It is a story that highlights all of the challenges that come when you become a parent.

It’s funny—I just started teaching an MBA course this semester on Decision Making. One of the concepts we talk about in the section on ethical decision making is the idea of moral obligation in decision making. In the classic Trolley Problem, the decision maker is faced with the decision to pull a lever on a trolley line to divert it. If it continues on it’s original track, it will kill 5 people. If the lever is pulled, it will switch tracks and kill one person. So the dilemma is, do you choose inaction and allow five people to die, or choose action and save five people, but kill one?

I bring this up (not to get too psychological) because it is such an interesting parallel to this book. Does Sarah choose inaction and allow a child to be abused, or take action and kidnap a child away from her mother, saving her from abuse? Of course, there are many other options to take. But the point of this exercise is to say that acting in these scenarios is not clearly better or worse than inaction. Pulling the lever saves five lives, but makes you the cause of another death. Not acting when you could intervene is not any better though.

What would you choose if you had the trolley lever? What would you choose if you were Sarah? Do we have a moral obligation to act when harm is coming to another person?

Book Bestie Approved

This was a book I read with five of my book besties! We absolutely loved this book, and actually chose it as a unanimously #BookBestieApproved read! I want to link reviews from the other besties. What I love about reading with other book bloggers and reviewers is that we each had a unique take on the book. Every time I read their reviews, I wish they were my review! That is what makes them so fun!

This has to be the most thought-provoking book I have read in a very long time. I really don’t want to give the plot away, because I think it’s important for people to have their own thoughts as they read it and for everything to unfold within the story (not with vague spoilers). I will say that this book made me re-evaluate my definitions of good and bad, right and wrong, and what really makes a family. The characters, especially Sarah, are extremely vivid and while some of the actions are slightly unbelievable, the author is so skilled that disbelief slowly turns into understanding. The parallels drawn between characters are subtle, but powerful, and are a fascinating study on their own – aside from the main action. This is an outstanding book that will definitely have readers questioning…well…just about everything. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing book that I could not put down. The book revolves around two woman. The kidnapper and the mother. Sarah, the kidnapper only wants what is best for Emma. So Sarah kidnaps Emma, to show her a better life that what she had. Amy, the mother has been abusive to Emma and has never really been able to connect with her daughter. So, who really is the real mother to Emma?

This is a gripping emotional story that I could not put down. I only wanted what was best for Emma but is kidnapping the way to go to get her out of the damaging environment. Both women are damaged in their lives with different coping means. This is page turner that I could not put down. Looking forward to watching the movie. I highly recommend!!

Somewhere I read that this book is to be made into a movie - and it's easy to see that it could be a good one. It's a cleverly written story that's intriguing enough to make me not want to stop reading as well as raise more than a few ethical issues that really did make me stop and think where I stood pre- and post-read. I've never been a big fan of chapters that switch back and forth among characters, and this one does that as well as shift to before, during and after the main event, the kidnapping of five-year-old Emma Townsend by successful business owner Sarah Walker. Happily in this case, though, it's hard to imagine that the story could be told any better without using that technique. How that can be accomplished in a motion picture, however, remains to be seen.

In the airport on a business trip, Sarah sees Emma and watches with near horror as the girl's out-of-control mother is verbally and physically abusiveto the child. Sarah desperately wants to intervene, but in the end everyone goes in separate directions, presumably never to see the others again. But as luck would have it, another chance encounter at Emma's Montesorri school (where Sarah is trying to sell her popular digital educational activity books) puts Emma back on Sarah's radar, where she discovers more child abuse. Not long after that, Sarah gets a chance to snatch the girl from her parents and baby brother - and takes it.

From that point on, readers watch Sarah's efforts to stay hidden from the authorities while she makes sure Emma is lavished with attention and fights to believe that she's acting in the child's best interests and, therefore, has done nothing wrong. Readers also begin to see how Emma's family ended up the way they are - especially Amy, Emma's abusive mother. Sarah doesn't get short shrift either; we see how her own background has played into her insecurities and abhorrence of the treatment Emma was getting at the hands of her mother.

As I mentioned earlier, the story raises important ethical issues. Does Sarah's intent to remove Emma from danger, for instance, justify the kidnapping? Amy's disastrous childhood may explain her treatment of her daughter, but does it justify the behavior enough that her daughter should be returned to her? If anybody cares about my opinion, it's no and no - but you'll just have to read the book and judge for yourself. The story is totally engrossing, although in my mind not totally believable. In this day and age, I can't imagine that the loose ends Sarah leaves everywhere they go wouldn't lead police right to her doorstep in less than a week - the most obvious being no attempt to change either of their names despite a nationwide media blitz. And, Sarah supposedly has plenty of money - but how is she able to access it on the run without leaving any kind of electronic trail?

Oh well, I'll never know. I do know, though, that this is an outstanding book - and I'm super-delighted that the publisher, via NetGalley, saw fit to offer me an advance copy for review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book because it had an unusual premise but I just couldn't get into it and there were just too many implausible things. I feel the author is a good writer but this plot was just ridiculous at times and could have been better.
First, lets just say someone without mental health issues would actually do this how exactly do they just keep not getting caught? Secondly, everyone she knew knew where she was but yet when the police see her car and license plates, no one clues in to what she has done? There are many more instances like this that just don't make any sense and it got ridiculous.

The characters are unlikable especially Amy, the mother. I wish that I could have in some way identified with Sarah but I just could not. I finished it but just barely. 2/5 stars

4 stars!

If there was ever such a thing as a “good” kidnapping this would be it! While morals and ethics were definitely in play here, I truly enjoyed reading Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey.

We all know the kidnapping theme is WAY overdone. We’ve all read tons of books on the subject. Not this time. This kidnapping story is very different. Sarah is a CEO and a well respected woman to those that know her. Amy is a mom - an unfit, physically, verbally and mentally abusive mom who is overwhelmed by being a parent to five year old Emma and her baby brother Robbie. These two women do not know each other, but a chance encounter of Sarah witnessing the abuse Amy inflicts towards her daughter Emma puts a plan into action. A very risky, illegal plan that could cost her everything she’s worked for in life.

The story is told in alternating POV’s by Sarah and Amy in a “before”, “during” and “after” the kidnapping format. I was a really big fan of that idea - it really helped the flow of the book and shed light on situations surrounding the kidnapping. Although some parts - mainly the ending (which I really liked) - were unrealistic, the book grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go!

I highly recommend to anyone looking to dive into a good domestic suspense. I love Frey’s writing style and look forward to seeing what’s coming up next from her.

I read this with a few of my Traveling Sisters! This was such a fun and exciting book to discuss. 💙😊

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Rea Frey for a copy in exchange for my review.

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey Book Review
So many feelings about Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey. First, I need a drink, a deep breath & a little time to process everything.

Lies We Tell Ourselves
Okay, I'm back. Let's set one thing straight. Being a parent is no easy feat. Some folks think babies are tough because they don't sleep through the night, they cannot fully communicate & let's face it, they are needy. It will get easier they say. Once the kids are potty trained, things will be great. When the kids are in school, things will slow down. After they are able to drive, it will be a huge load off.

You Love Your Kids, Right?
I'm here to break it down for you; it doesn't get easier folks. Kids are tough. Being a parent is no joke. Now, there are some who make the parenting game look like a breeze & I tip my hat off to them. Just kidding, I roll my eyes at them! Making parenting look simple - that's not me. Honestly, I make nothing look easy! Often I worry what irreparable harm my foul mouth, my choices & my parenting style may have on my kids. But, my bottom line is that I love them, I do the best I can & I can't imagine them not being in my life.

Mother-Daughter Relationships
But, what if I didn't feel that way? What if I felt like Amy? Amy seems to be living a life she doesn't want. She's not happy in her marriage, she's overworked, over-stressed & seems to be lacking the indelible connection that allows parents to love their kids in spite of everything. Amy is harsh & on edge. While on the edge, she reacts poorly to her daughter, Emma. Amy is not a kind, warm mother who makes things look easy. From the outside looking in, Amy seems as though she could walk away from her kids, her life & her spouse.

In Walks Sarah
What the hell is Sarah thinking? She steals a child. We've been there, right? Hopefully, you haven't stolen a child, but you've been in Sarah's shoes for at least a moment where you've seen an interaction with a parent & a child that leaves you feeling uneasy about what happens at home or behind closed doors. The feeling is unsettling, sickening & you're left wondering what you can do.

Sarah has this feeling not once but twice, & her "solution" is to take Emma away from her home.  Rea Frey gives readers a look into what Sarah is thinking & planning. In an instant, Sarah whisks Emma away & readers see the cascade of events after this decision. Not Her Daughter is emotional, tense & spurs debate over what makes a mother & what is best for a child.

So Many Feelings
If there was ever a book that is made for a book club and/or a more intense discussion, it is Not Her Daughter. As soon as I finished, I immediately messaged my fellow readers to discuss it in more detail. I love that in a book. While there are some similarities to What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross, Not Her Daughter really explores the darker side of motherhood.

I messaged the author while reading & she wants readers to experience a variety of emotions. Well, Ms. Frey, you succeeded! While reading Not Her Daughter, I was in turmoil. There really are two (or more) sides to a story & Rea gives us all sides. She uses alternating narrators in a before/after type of timeline that at times was a tiny bit difficult to follow. My advice is to set aside time & read larger chunks of the story. You will likely be engrossed in the story as quickly as me.

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book. I couldn't put it down & I want to talk to every reader about it! Not Her Daughter stirs up emotions & questions what really makes a mother.

Special thanks to Rea Frey, St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

The synopsis alone really just pops and draws you in. A woman abandoned by her mother kidnaps a girl whose mother doesn't know if she wants her back. WHAT?! Look, I'm not a mother so I don't know how hard it is to balance children, a husband, work and a house. I have no doubt that every mother at some point has probably reached a breaking point and this certainly sheds a light on this issue.

There's so much I want to say - you think you basically have the whole story because you know the girl is kidnapped. You know the mother has some issues (as clearly the kidnapper does too). What you don't know is what transpires during this hunt and the emotional ups and downs Sarah and Amy go through in this process. Is it ok to take a child from a mother that is abusive? You can't save every child, but what if you could save this one? As the mother at her wits end, knowing the best thing she can do for her daughter, if she's safe, is to let her go... could you? UFF - SO MANY QUESTIONS!!

The ending got to me much more than I thought it would. I have so many feelings about it. I'm not surprised but I'm also ANGRY and HAPPY and WHY?! If a book can illicit this much emotion from me then it has certainly done its job. There are definite moments where some reality needs to be suspended but it never takes away from the book. The pacing is solid throughout.. I think I was most surprised that it wasn't until the last few chapters that a lot of emotion came to the surface for me.

A new and unique take on domestic drama / child abduction that is emotional and has you thinking about how one drastic action can change the course of many peoples lives.

3.5 ethically challenging stars

When ethics, morality and the law converge, there is sometimes a clash, a loud trumpeting of values, of doing what's right, of defeating the obvious and embracing the integrity of feelings, wishes and desires. Can one reconcile doing what is right and yet break the laws of man and morals?

We have all been taught that children belong with their parents, especially the mother. Legalities aside, we are told, a child's needs are best fulfilled by the mother. It is the mother who nurtures, who coddles, who loves, who provides that sustenance that is so needed for a child's development and well being. But, what if the mother is not a nurturer, is not a loving kind provider, is not a port for the child to feel loved and comforted, is not a provider of the basic needs of a child. What then should be done? What if this mother only administers hurt, either in words or actions? What if this mother exhibits hate?

Emma, is a sad young child. She is lonely, mistreated at home, ignored by her father, bereft of the love of a parent, immersed in a life of pain and hurt. Sarah Walker is a young woman, a woman who crosses paths with Emma and sees the inner child. She sees the hurt, she sees the neglect, she is a witness to the suffering. She can't let it go on can she? What is Sarah to do? She acts and then is a kidnapper.

There is the mother who lacks the ability to see really see her child. Amy only sees her past, a road of disappointment, a path of failures, that have molded her into what she is, an abusive parent. When Emma goes missing, she is not even sure she wants her back. Should she get her child back and should the fact that Sarah is a lawbreaker, a felon if found and convicted, be the determining factor in Emma's well being? Are all women destined to be mothers?

There were many complex factors presented in the story. It was an ethical and moral quagmire that really had little solution other that that the life of a child is worth everything. I enjoyed this story for all the aforementioned reasons, however, there were some issues that I had and for a moment I am concerned with those. Why was it that the school, the teachers, the administrators did not notice the marks and bruises on Emma? How did they not see the emotional abuse suffered by this child who was so reticent to be a part of her school community? The school community is required by law to report suspected abuse. Teachers, administrators are trained to be excellent witnesses to the signs of abuse and yet in this story the school was absent. The ending of the story leaves more questions than ever as we see an ending that we might have hoped would occur and yet it is its abruptness that is unnerving. Would life really be like this or is it an illusion that safety and happiness can be achieved when one is hiding a very deep dark secret? But...this could never happen right? or could it?

Thank you to Rea Frey, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this thought provoking novel. One can imagine many discussions revolving around this topic.

Rea Frey’s Not Her Daughter is an engaging story that follows two women, Amy Townsend and Sarah Walker, and how their lives become entwined because of one little girl, Amy’s five-year old daughter Emma. One day Sarah witnesses Amy behaving abusively toward Emma in the middle of a crowded airport. She can’t get the incident out of her mind and, when a chance encounter makes their paths cross again and Sarah realizes that Amy’s abusive behavior is a chronic pattern, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She convinces herself that she’s not really kidnapping Emma, but instead is rescuing her. As she sets her plan into motion, it raises the question of how far Sarah is really willing to go to make sure Emma is safe? How much is she willing to risk?

Sounds like an absolutely gripping read, right? I checked Goodreads and it has plenty of 4 and 5 star ratings, so lots of readers are loving this book. Sadly, I’m not one of them though so it looks like I’m going to have the Unpopular Opinion review, which is so disappointing because I really thought I would love this one.. I’m going to start with the good though because the book does have plenty of things going for it.

In spite of my overall low rating, there were a few things that I liked about Not Her Daughter, the first being that the author does tackle a very tough subject – kidnapping – and actually does so in a way that you can almost see where the kidnapping is justified. That, in itself, is quite a feat. She does this, of course, by making Emma’s home environment appear so completely unhealthy that you can’t help but wish that she could be removed from it. Her mother is clearly abusive, and her father seems to just sit back and let the abuse happen unchecked. She also has Sarah run through all of the horrible things about the foster care system as she is considering the best course of action to take to “save” Emma. Sarah comes to the conclusion that it would be so much better for Emma to just go with her because she appreciates how special Emma is and could love her as her own instead of just dumping her in the system. Not that I would ever condone kidnapping, but it surprised me how convincing the argument Sarah made really was. I could see this argument being a great starting point for a book club discussion – If you knew for a fact that a child was being abused, what lengths would you go to make sure that child was removed from harm’s way?

I also found it fascinating to have the story presented from the perspective of both Amy and Sarah. Being able to get inside their heads and see what each of them is thinking is probably the best part of the book. You get inside of Sarah’s head and understand that she comes from a background where she was abandoned by her mother when she was 8 and so it becomes clear why Emma’s experiences resonate with her to such an extreme. Even more fascinating, however, are when we get inside of Amy’s head and actually see some of the dark thoughts she has at any given moment, especially when she thinks about whether she even wants Emma to come home. It’s such a disturbing and non-maternal thing for a mother to think and it’s just a major WOW moment.

If you’re into stories with lots of suspense that will keep you turning the pages, Not Her Daughter really delivers in that area as well. There are plenty of twists and turns as Sarah tries to evade the authorities, and each twist just ratchets up the suspense that much more.

Issues:

I think this is going to be a case of “It’s me, not necessarily the book” but I just had several issues with the book that made it not a good fit for me.

The first is that I just didn’t feel a real connection to any of the characters in this book. I definitely didn’t feel much of anything for Amy, her husband, or Sarah, and even though I felt very sympathetic toward Emma because of what she had gone through in her own house, I still just didn’t feel super connected to her. Honestly, I would have expected a book on this subject matter to move me to tears, but it didn’t at all. I just felt like a passive observer, and I’m not sure why – maybe it was the narrative style, I don’t know.

Another issue I had was that I just found some of the things that happened in the story to be farfetched. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’m going to keep this vague but the ending in particular just seemed like something that would never actually happen and because it felt so unrealistic, I was left unsatisfied with the story as a whole.

Finally, what really took this book down a star for me, was how Amy was described throughout the book. I get it – she’s a horrible mother who probably never should have had children in the first place and everything about her is supposed to disgust me. But why do I need to know that she’s an overweight doughy woman who eats way too much cheese, is always gassy, and only poops about once a week? And why do I need flashbacks of her thinking about giving birth to her children and pushing them out of her “hairy vagina”? I’m all for vivid descriptions when they add something to the story, but those just felt unnecessary and distracting.

Even though Not Her Daughter wasn’t a good fit for me, I still think many readers will find it a powerful and riveting read. Because of the moral dilemma that Sarah faces, it’s definitely a book that will make you think.

NOT HER DAUGHTER by REA FREY is a compelling, heartbreaking, and conflicting domestic suspense novel that is not your typical child kidnapping story but rather focuses on the moral ramifications around motherhood. This story definitely had me conflicted and questioning almost everything that happened throughout this book.

I was immediately drawn into this story and it had me feeling quite uneasy multiple times when the suspense was high. However, some parts didn’t pull me in as much as others though. But I will say though that I was emotionally invested in the well-being of this adorable little girl, Emma and my heart went out to her.

REA FREY delivers an intriguing, suspenseful, entertaining, and enjoyable read here that was told from the perspectives of Amy and Sarah in a before, during, and after the kidnapping timeline. I really enjoyed how this story was delivered and gave me a good sense into each of these women’s personalities and their motivations. I didn’t know who I should be rooting for! Is there such a thing as a “good” kidnapping?

Publishing Date: August 21, 2018

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching and an extremely fitting representation to storyline.
Title: Drew me in instantly & perfectly ties into plot.
Writing/Prose: well-written, readable
Plot: Might require to suspend a little disbelief, but that never bothers me though.
Ending: Maybe a little unrealistic but fit the story well and ended just the way I wanted it to.
Overall: A very good read! Would recommend to thriller fans looking for a unique approach to your usual kidnapping story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Rea Frey for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review!