This was a ride that had me hooked from the first chapter. Sara Flannery Murphy is having the opposite of a Sophomore Slump in this propulsive, Feminist, witchy thriller. For those of you who are put off by the scientific overtones, know that this is first and foremost a plot-drive puzzle of a story: A mystery that blends science, magic, and politics to illustrate the ways that women are written out of their own stories. The book lives up to its hype: Atwood’s cryptic genius and Orphan Black’s binge-factor are both on display here. It felt refreshing to see a genuinely unique concept come to life in such a propulsive and chilling manner. The story feels expertly plotted without ever dragging, and the novel additionally packs strong action, sexual tension and gripping a-ha moments that will leave the best sleuths guessing that mysteries lie ahead. To say I loved it is an understatement. One of my favorite supernatural mysteries – ever.

There is what you know about your life, then there is the "truth" about your life.

Josephine Morrow (Girl One) may have been the first, but there were more "miracle babies" born on a commune called the homestead. Dr. Joseph Bellanger created nine miracle babies (all female) conceived without male DNA. Their existence troubled people. There was outrage, anger, and fear. When a mysterious fire burned down the homestead, killing two people, the women took their daughters and fled. Hoping to start new lives, safe lives, out of the public eye.

Years later Josephine Morrow (Girl One) has learned that her mother, Margaret Morrow (Mother One) is missing. Naturally, she is worried and returns to their home, where another mysterious fire has occurred. Is there a connection? All her mother's belongings are still there including a phone number for a journalist. Could he hold the answers? Does he know something? Soon the duo is on a guest to find the truth...

Science fiction blends with mystery and fantasy in this book. I was excited by the synopsis and thought this would be a thrilling, dark and suspenseful book. For me, although enjoyable and intriguing, it left me wanting more. I admit, I am not a big Science Fiction reader and fantasy is hit or miss for me, but I thought it would work for me in this book as it is also marketed as being a thriller and dystopian. Two genres I love. This book took me longer than usual to read as I kept putting it down to focus on other things as I was not fully invested in this book. Having said that, I enjoyed the quest-for-truth aspect in this book. There are secrets, truths, and shocks for the characters.

Original, thought provoking and Intriguing.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story was amazing and thought-provoking. A very intriguing, action-packed, sci-fi, mystery thriller that will surely get your attention from the beginning until the end. An imaginative, dystopian theme exploring the ideas of virgin births and children with extraordinary abilities is something I find innovative and exceptional.

The story follows Josephine Morrow, the first-born girl of the nine Miracle Babies, conceived without the presence of a male reproductive cell and was raised in a community called the Homestead. When a suspicious fire broke out at the Homestead claiming the lives of its two members, the remaining mothers, and their daughters fled to live quietly and inconspicuously in different states. Several years later, Josie pursued a degree in experimental embryology at the University of Chicago to follow the footsteps of his "father". A year after leaving for college, Margaret Morrow, Mother One, was reported missing. Left with a few clues from their burned house, Josie, with the help of a news reporter named Tom, tracks down her fellow homesteaders to find her mom.

Narrated in the first-person perspective, the story is well-written with fully developed world-building and interesting characters. I loved that each chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger that encourages you to keep on reading. I love the surprising revelations and unwavering bond between the main characters. I wished there was more backstory regarding Dr. Bellanger's wife and his other son, Bobby.

Overall, this book is a must-read for lovers of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller, I hope the author decides to write a sequel to this amazing book.

I'm grateful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

GIRL ONE tells the story of Josie Morrow, one of 9 girls created through a process called parthogenesis. Raised with the other 8 girls and their mothers, they live in a scientific compound called the Homestead. Already mired in sensation, the commune draws even more attention when a mysterious fire breaks out and kills one of the girls and the man behind the Homestead, Dr. Bellanger. Fast forward to the near-present, the past comes rushing back as Josie finds her mother’s house burned with no sign of her mother. Mysterious and fast-paced, the journey to find her missing mother thrusts Josie into a dangerous world filled with conspiracies and secrets, where she learns things about herself and her sisters that she would’ve never imagined.

⁣
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:⁣
* the feminist bent. Children are created solely from their mother’s DNA, no male required
* all of the different scientific bits. The author presented them in such an easy, straightforward way that even I, a notorious duddits, could understand them
* the mystery surrounding the original fire and deaths
* the super-intriguing atmosphere. So many secrets needed to be uncovered before Josie could even begin her search for her mom, and the mysteries continued to deepen until the big reveal
* the fast pace and the unrelenting feeling of impending doom
* the strong feeling of sisterhood and how all of these girls were inextricably linked, even apart from their unorthodox creation
* the questions, and the moral implications that go hand-in-hand with creating life outside of the accepted methods
⁣

Bottom line — GIRL ONE is a fantastic feminist thriller that will keep you turning the pages. There’s also plenty of food for thought, and it’s a book that will leave me thinking about it long after finishing.

*e-ARC received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

This is so well-written and interesting that I almost believed that it could work. That the ending would make sense and pull everything together in a satisfying way. That doesn't happen. At the end, I realized that there was just no way to explain what was obviously not possible. Fun read, but not quite enough and I really felt bad that Jr wasn't in on the end.

The comparisons to Orphan Black and Margaret Atwood hooked me immediately (I mean I don't have a Handmaid's Tale tattoo for nothing) and had me diving right into this book. And certainly those elements are there: a commune in the 1970s where nine girls are born by asexual reproduction. A mysterious fire that kills the brilliant doctor responsible. And one of those daughters on a quest to find answers about her past and present twenty years later.

There's a lot to like about the book's concept and writing style. Sara Flannery Murphy has written some gorgeous sentences here that I kept marking up to revisit later. I also love the insertion of documents like old letters and articles. It's one of my favorite moves as a writer and reader to fill in backstory.

Still, the plot's needs, the unraveling of the truth, becomes a bit tedious as the main character travels from place to place, learning a bit more information with each stop. It often feels like the story is barely progressing with more talking and reflection than action, so if you're looking for something fast-paced or an edge of your seat, this book isn't the stop for you. There's also a rushed confession at the end from the villain which reveals no new information but kind of neatly ties up the end.

I'd like to see more from this writer and could easily see this as a limited run television series where that plot progression would work well with segmenting the story.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishing And NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The main character of this novel, Josie, is the Girl One of the title, the first of nine babies who were born on a commune of sorts called The Homestead by way parthenogenesis - that is, their mothers became pregnant without any male DNA being added, giving birth to babies who were genetically identical to them. But Homestead burned down and their mothers scattered with their daughters. 20ish years later, when Josie’s mom goes missing, she goes searching for her by seeking out all the other mother/daughter pairs, and finds out some surprising things along the way. Interestingly, this is not a dystopian book - it’s set basically in our world and in the past - the girls were born in the 1970s and the book takes place in the 1990s. The publisher’s blurb compares this book to Orphan Black and Margaret Atwood and that definitely gives you a sense of the tone of this one (perhaps shades of Naomi Alderman’s The Power as well). However, the book is also described as a thriller which I wouldn’t necessarily say it is, as despite the search for answers, the book moves VERY slowly. It was interesting though, and I bet it would make a good movie or limited tv series. 3.5 stars.

Girl One: A Novel by Sara Flannery Murphy
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publication Date: June 1, 2021

Girl One is a standalone novel by Sara Flannery Murphy. It is a work of science fiction brilliance with a great mystery! As a fan of Orphan Black and other like works, I loved Girl One! I really hope there will be a follow up!

I found this to be so fascinating! The story was fast paced with lots of twists and turns and unexpected happenings! I enjoyed that it was set in the 1990s. The story felt more plausible in a time before cell phones in every pocket and instead, with home phones with answering machines and pay phones still in existence!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves genetics based fiction or someone who loves a great mystery! This is a great read and is one you won't soon forget!

I'm so grateful to Sara Flannery Murphy, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of the X-Men and The Umbrella Academy will love this tale of superwomen “conceived” on a rural Vermont commune and slowly realizing their full capabilities while trying to fully understand their origins. The ultimate story of girl power, finding inner strength, learning the truth and achieving full potential. With numerous twists and a delicious slow burn, this story will keep you riveted from beginning to end.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

This was definitely a book out of my norm and it kept my attention! I saw someone compare it to Thelma and Louise meets The X-Men with it set in the ninety's, which was a pretty accurate feel for me. This is a story about a young woman who finds her true self and her true family while also finally learning the truth of her childhood and living with it. Thank you #Farrar,StrausandGiroux #NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review and provide feedback on #GirlOne #SaraFlanneryMurphy #PubDate06-01-2021.

Girl One is perfect for those of you that want to see a little bit of science fiction in their thrillers. Or is it a little bit of thriller in their science fiction? Either way, that's the simple truth.

Josephine Morrow is a woman who has made it into hundreds of biological textbooks. In those books, she is most commonly known as Girl One. She was the first of her sisters (of a sort) to be born without a father.

Literally, her DNA is entirely of her mother's, with no father to help in her creation. There was a time when she and her family were happy about that fact. Now, years later, Josephine has begun to delve into the mystery surrounding her and the other eight girls – and what it will mean for them all.

"For a while I had lost myself in these calculations and the illusion of stability they offered."

In many ways, Girl One was very much not the novel that I was expecting. To be clear, that isn't a bad thing. I loved the blending of science fiction and thriller and sincerely wish there was more like it.

I think the reason for my surprise stems from my lack of knowledge surrounding two comparisons for this read. Girl One is marketed as ideal for fans of Margaret Atwood and Orphan Black. While I know that the show is wildly popular, I haven't actually watched it yet. So I was surprised by how far down the rabbit hole this book ended up going.

I was pleasantly surprised, as it turned out. I really enjoyed Josephine's story and all of the investigating she had to do in order to reveal the truth. That being said, readers who do not enjoy a slow burn might find some parts of this novel to be a bit dry or repetitive. As per usual, it all depends on your perspective and preferences.

It was easy for me to picture how Girl One could easily transform into a show (or audio serial, for that matter). Part of me is really wishing that will happen, while the rest of me doesn't want my hopes to get too high – again.

This science fiction story of parthenogenisis (did I spell that right?) involves a 1970s cult of sorts with just nine women, and their daughters. The one man on site is a mad-scientist who has assisted the original nine women in reproducing without male DNA. There are nine healthy mothers, and their nine daughters, until in-fighting chases several pairs away shortly before a tragic fire leaves all the research destroyed, and two integral figures dead.

Josephine (Girl One) and her mother, Margaret, move to a quiet town where Margaret just wants to forget all the press of the Homestead commune and the 'Miracle' babies. She wants to be a good, normal mother, and raise a happy, normal daughter out of the spotlight that had brought so much hatred and devastation to their lives.

But then Margaret goes missing, and Josephine's childhood home burns. Josephine makes it her mission to find her mom and untangle the mystery that was life on the Homestead with the other eight mothers and daughters. She picks up some interesting partners along her journey, attempting to visit the other mothers and daughters spread around the country, and recreate her mother's journey to find where she ended up and ensure that she's okay.

While the storyline was unique, I also appreciated the subtle social commentary on the necessity of men. Somehow, even when they were creating offspring without a genetic contribution of men, a man was still in charge. And let's just say, it didn't end well.

I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I can totally see the comparisons to authors like Margaret Atwood for the concept, but the writing felt more of a popular style than the speculative fiction and suspense that could have worked with the topic.

Special. thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishing And NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really like books about communes. This book is about a commune called Homestead. The book reads like a Marvel comics movie, with its supernatural touches. I liked it. It's not my favorite book on communes but it still was a good book. 3.3 stars

Different... distinct... and interesting. The blurb doesn’t really let on how shocking this book is and it leads you on a thrill ride. These girls leave a trail of destruction a mile wide. Once Pandora’s box is open you really can’t put the knowledge back. The book deals with a ton of stuff that I didn’t see coming nor felt comfortable reading. Which made it a fence book for me. Three stars.

This book is so good! I loved the blurb. I mean who can resist Orphan Black meets Margaret Atwood, right? The premise had me intrigued instantly and I can say that with authority (having read the book) that this book does not disappoint.

In the early 1970s, nine baby girls were born at a commune called Homestead and it generated a buzz in the world. There was a media frenzy with people for and against it. There was outrage from some men around the country against the scientist, Dr. Bellanger for it and one night there was a raging fire that burnt down the homestead, killing two people. A small child and Dr. Bellanger, the man who made it all possible.

The women and their children go their different ways, and the story picks up years later when Mother One, Margaret Morrow, the first woman to have given birth, is missing after another suspicious fire.
Her daughter, Girl One aka Josephine' goes out to find her estranged mother. I was instantly invested in Girl One's character and journey. She was the first of nine girls to be conceived from only her mother's DNA. I felt her emotional arc, her unresolved feelings towards her mother and the man who she considered her father, scientist Dr. Bellanger who helped in this phenomenal breakthrough.

Her journey leads her to all the other girls and is fraught with twists and turns which lead you to turn the pages as fast as you can.

Brilliant plotting and pacing. The characters feel real and I was fully connected with them. The end was a satisfying one too.

Definitely recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really awesome story. It follows a young lady Josephine aka Girl One as she searches for her mother. This reshapes what she has always thought about the beginnings of her life and about her mother. The story is an excellent page turner that is gripping. The characters are interesting and carries a wide range of emotions. The story unveils the cross between science and paranoia. It also explores the different forms of love. There are lots of surprises to be discovered as you uncover all the plot twists rushing to the wonderful conclusion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for gifting me a digital ARC of this intriguing book by Sara Flannery Murphy - 4 stars!

In 1971, Dr Bellanger "created" the first baby born without male DNA when Girl One, Josephine, was born at a remote commune called "The Homestead." Nine girls in total were created that were perfect clones of their mothers. But when a fire hit The Homestead and Dr Bellanger and one of the Girls died, his research died with him and all members spread out to live their own lives. In 1994, Josephine is now in medical school in Chicago, trying to follow in her father's footsteps and recreate his research. Then, there is another suspicious fire that destroys Josephine's mother's home and her mother, Margaret, is now missing. With the held of a journalist, Josephine sets out on a cross-country mission to find her long-lost "sisters" and mother.

This is a well-crafted science fiction thriller with lots of interesting topics - cloning, control, sexism. I loved that it was set in interesting time periods - in the 1970s when test-tube babies were first conceived and then in the 1990s, before cellphones, which always makes these types of thrillers more interesting. I really enjoyed the "sisterhood" that developed and the relationships between the mothers and daughters. I felt it was a little slow in the first half but I was fully invested in the second half and couldn't put it down!

Girl One: A Novel by Sara Flannery Murphy while a good book, really wasn't my cup of tea. It didn't hold my attention like I had hoped that it would, but I did manage to finish it. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I read it, but I wish that I connected to the story more as I feel I would have gotten more out of it that way other than just being able to say it was good.

Essentially, this book is about women gaining agency and finding solidarity. It is a beautifully feminist story, really epitomizing how life can feel like it’s women against the rest of the world, even other women, at times. During Josie’s quest to find her mother, she finds her admiration of her “father” challenged, in which I see parallels to battling internalized misogyny. Besides, the Girls come across atrocities perpetrated by men who objectify and sexualize them, who view them as monstrous witches, crimes against nature and God. These events mirror the real-life experiences that women go through every day. Except these Girls are blessed with powers, which help them gain the upper hand. Even so, they barely manage to get out of the scrapes they stumble into.

Beyond all this, the book is very suspenseful and thrilling. It was so hard for me to try and guess what would happen next, where the twists will come in, and how everything will end. The writing style is solid. It’s not immersive or particularly beautiful, but it serves its purpose. I would like to think that because the book is written from the perspective of Josie, a scientist herself who’s trying to discover the secret of parthenogenesis herself. So the writing is to the point but still descriptive.

This really makes it into an amazing read for me and the book is one I would recommend to everyone.

The reason why this isn’t a 5-star read for me is because it gets kind of confusing with the number of mother-daughter pairs there are. I think some characterization suffers because of it as well. The author does use this opportunity to add a bit about how women of colour experience different kinds of prejudice compared to white women, which was great.

I think the book explores the consequences of “virgin births” quite well, including reactions of the public and how the Girls go through life being products of these births. However, the science isn’t completely explained. I like seeing some stronger scientific basis in my sci-fi, so I found it somewhat difficult to get into how the parthenogenesis works in humans or how the powers came about.
Still, I loved the book! After some consideration, I like the ending as well. The Girls all learn that they’re stronger together, and something else happens that’s really good but also a spoiler haha.

Girl One (Sara Flannery Murphy) is the type of science fiction that makes you pause, and wonder how close the story could be in reality. Josie (our heroine) was born by parthenogenesis, which to my mind, is a fancy way of saying she is a clone. The story is a quest of Josie looking for her mother, who has disappeared, and gathering other girls along with her. I want to thank NetGalley  and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an early copy to review.