I thought I had this one figured out but I was wrong on several hunches.
Sarah is suspicious of a girl who suddenly appears and declares she’s Abigail, her long lost daughter.
I did think several characters were acting weird and I did hone in one the main culprit fairly quickly.
I didn’t see a couple of the angles merging, which was a big chunk of the story.
I thought the Janie story wasn’t explained enough. Where did her daughter come from??
Ultimately, a family is torn asunder because of dark secrets and we do learn what happened to Abigail.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘She Says She’s My Daughter’ written by Lauren North in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A sixteen-year-old girl goes into a police station in London to report that she’s Abigail Wick who’s been missing for nearly fourteen years since being abducted from a garden She’s welcomed home with open arms by her father Michael and siblings Daniel and Rebecca but her mother TV presenter Sarah who although she can’t prove it doesn’t believe she’s Abigail. With the help of Ryan, their Family Liaison Officer, they arrange a DNA test which comes back a match so Sarah should be happy but as Abigail’s stay with them lengthens there are little things that don’t add up, but if she isn’t the real Abigail then who is she?

‘She Says She’s My Daughter’ is the first novel I’ve read by Lauren North but it definitely won’t be the last as I’ve been so blown away by the intriguing plot and clever twists and turns that abound in this compelling psychological thriller. The narrative is told by Sarah and Abigail with italicised sections by an unknown person who’s somehow involved in the whole event. The story has been cleverly written with tension and suspense and has had me spellbound from the first page to the last with its complex plot and characters so convincing that I didn’t know who to trust. This is a thoroughly enjoyable unique thriller that’s had me hooked and unable to stop reading. I recommend it.

WOW.

I hadn’t heard of Lauren North, but now I won’t forget her. After this thrilling, page turner, I am running to grab her other book.

She Says Shes My Daughter is a thrilling story about a mothers love for her daughter that comes back after being abducted 14 years ago.

A page turner and a book I couldn’t put down once I started. BRAVO!!

After 14 years of the Wick's missing their 4 year old girl, Abi, who was abducted, a girl named Abi turns up to the police station claiming to be the Wick's daughter.

Her mother, Sarah, doesn't believe her. Her father wants to.

I'm not going to dive into what I did and didn't like for this book too much because some of them will be spoilers. But I will say, this was a great thriller. Both psychological and crime. It has some absolutely unbelievable aspects but necessary for the story to work. It has some 'jaw-dropping' twists and some wholesome moments. There was about 10% of the book midway through where I was thinking 'just get on with it' aka I was getting bored, it was repetitive.

I will say my biggest gripe with this was the last few pages. It ruined the ending for me and hence a reduced star. However, maybe it's setting up for another book, which I'd definitely read.

Also, Janie sucks. If anyone ever thinks what she did was OK please rethink your friendships and I hope you find better ones 😊

Would recommend this to thriller readers but not if suspend disbelief doesn't work for you.

Anticipated publication date: 24 July 2023.

⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Bookouture for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

14 years ago Abi was snatched from her family holiday at the age of just 4 tearing her family apart. Today a young woman has turned up on Sarah’s doorstep claiming to be her long lost daughter Abigail.

Sarah cannot believe it however when she looks at the girl on her doorstep Sarah knows that this girl claiming to be Abigail isn’t her daughter, there’s just something in her gut telling her that something isn’t right. Soon Sarah’s suspicions are confirmed as Abigail’s accent starts to slip and parts of her story just don’t seem to add up.

When a DNA test is done it comes back as a 99.9% match so maybe Sarah’s gut feeling was just wrong and maybe this girl standing in front of her is Abigail, as DNA doesn’t lie, but still something doesn’t sit right with Sarah.

Soon cracks begin to appear in Abigail’s story, the police are saying things aren’t quite adding up for them either and they dove deeper into this woman claiming to be Abigail and the answers they find are more shocking than I could have imagined.

I had absolutely no idea where this book was going, it was very cleverly written and I had no idea at all who was lying, who was telling the truth nor who was blackmailing and threatening Abigail. All the theories I came up with were wrong and I was guessing right until the very end.

This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren North and I will certainly be looking out for more of hers. She says she’s my daughter was a unique, twisty and cleverly written book which will have you up until the early hours wanting to know the conclusion of this book and guessing where it is going.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

It has been 14 years since Abigail disappeared from the beach. Each family member reacts differently when Abi reappears. This creates a lot of animosity and distrust between family members. Where has Abigail been all this time? What happened to her that night she disappeared?

The story is told from Sarah’s and Abi’s points of view, with occasional chapters of an unknown voice. This unknown voice hints that there are things far more disturbing going on behind the scenes. I enjoyed both Sarah’s and Abi’s POVs. It is obvious when reading that neither one is telling the whole truth. You will find yourself questioning both narrators and trying to deduce what is really going on. They will keep you guessing throughout the story. The twist at the end was perfectly executed and shocking. This was my first book by Lauren North, and it definitely won’t be my last. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves psychological thrillers! I give it 4/5 stars.

I read this as an ARC, and it was fantastic! It was hard to put down, always needing to know more. It had great twists and turns. This was my first book by this author, and I will continue to read more of her books!

4.5 stars!!
This was my first Lauren North book, and I’ll definitely be finding more. Such a great read.
This is the story of a girl, Abigail, who goes missing at the age of 4. Fourteen years later, a girl shows up at the police station claiming to be Abigail.
You get dual POV and timeline from Sarah, Abigail’s mother, and also the girl’s childhood and present day POV.
I would absolutely recommend this author and this book to others! I stayed up late to finish because I had to know what truly happened! And I love epilogues that make you second guess everything!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Boukouture for the advanced copy!!

Every parent who has lost a child wishes someday they will show up on the doorstep to take their rightful place in a family. When this happens for the Wick family, there are varied reactions and much confusion. The story plays out evenly with great writing and enough surprises to keep you gripped to every single page! Stunning read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

As per usual Lauren North has written yet another gripping thriller. I couldnt put it down, just wanting to read a little bit more to find out what was happening.
Very addictive story of a family torn apart by the disappearance of 4 year old Abigail during a family holiday. And when, 14 years later,she suddenly appears, mum Sarah is very suspicious and wonders who Abi is.
I feel sometimes it's a cliche to say a book has many twists but on this occasion it really has. I had no idea which way the story was going to go right up until the last line.
I feel this would make a fantastic tv series

6/5 ⭐️. This book was full of turns and I thought that I had figured out what happend but no, new twist happened I didn’t see it coming. She says she is my daughter is about a Sarah and Michael Wicks whose daughter was abducted when she was four years old in a vacation. About 14 years later a girl showed up to a police station claiming to be Abigail Wick. But is she really Abi or is this just all a lie? Thank you for netgalley and the author giving me this ARC and I’ leaving this review voluntarily.

Lauren North never fails to deliver and "She Says She's My Daughter" is another great page turner.
Fourteen years ago a four year old girl goes missing on a family holiday no-one believed they would ever see her again. But when a seventeen girl walks into a police station stating she is Abigail Wick her family are overjoyed, all apart from her mother Sarah who does not believe she is Abigail. But if not, then who is she, and what is her motive?
A clever psychological ride which keeps the reader gripped until the very end.
.

I very much enjoyed this book and will start to read more of this authors books. A clever plot with a careful unravelling. Thanks Netgalley.

She Says She's My Daughter by Lauren North is an engrossing and addictive psychological thriller.
I found the book to be riveting from the first page until the last word.
North has written a very suspenseful story.
It was a great storyline, plenty of intense moments, twisty dialogue and characters who are very interesting.
There were twists and turns, the ending was completely unexpected. I also like the authors style of writing - it was compelling and did a good job of drawing the reader to the story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I immediately didn't like Sarah (the mom) and I can't really explain why. She is prickly but she has a good reason to be. I think she doesn't think before she speaks or she's just not relatable. I do not know. I mean she is just flat out mean. That's not a good life strategy.

I do however love the dog Barley. That is a well written dog.
The book gets really good as the story unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley for the introduction and chance to read a Lauren North novel. This book swept me off my feet, while at the same time kept me in my toes. So many twists and turns, until the end for the shocking finale. Wow! Definitely recommend - don’t miss this one!

3.75⭐️

Having loved My Word Against His (audiobook) I was keen to read the latest psychological thriller.

Abi was taken when she was four, 14 yrs later a young woman turns up claiming to be the stolen child Abigail Wick, the mother Sarah refuses to believe it’s her.

The story unfolds using several POV, including the antagonist who is anonymous utilising then and now time frames. It has a menacing vibe, lies and mistrust running throughout. There’s a lot of angst particularly from Sarah and Abi which is unsettling for the reader. I was constantly questioning what is the truth, as there’s a high level of unreliability introduced.

The characters aren’t likeable, Rebecca the daughter was the best of the bunch.

It started strongly, then I felt that the pace and interest nose dived for a large section of the book. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The final section of the book was very full on, a bit too much so for me.

I found it a quick easy read, the author certainly keeps the reader guessing over the mystery element,but it’s not a favourite for me. I much preferred My Word Against His. I think an audiobook version might have engaged me more. It’s got some great reviews, so I think it’s more that I didn’t totally gel with this one.

I knew this would be a good book when I read the synopsis. A grieving mother wondering what happened to her daughter years ago. A strange girl who she knows right away isn’t her daughter. The suspense in this book was great. I needed to know why Sarah was so certain this girl wasn’t Abigail. I liked that I was kept guessing and that I was surprised by the ending. I personally didn’t like the major twist but overall a great book.

I wish this book had a better title. "She says she's not my daughter" just isn't catchy or memorable. But, title complaints aside - I very much enjoyed this book. I tore through 90% of it in an afternoon, and it was one of those quick-moving, can't put it down, page turners. It's also one of the first twisty mysteries that has actually surprised me in a long, long time - usually I guess the ending around the half-way mark, and then it's just reading to confirm your suspicions. This one got me, though, and left me feeling off-kilter and unsettled. I won't spoil anything, but all is not as it seems, and the characters who you might think are the villains' are often not, and vice-versa. Highly recommend, especially for readers who like Ruth Ware or Andrea Bartz.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lauren North and #Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance copy of SHE SAYS SHE’S MY DAUGHTER, to be published 24 July 2023. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat! It had all of the twists and turns necessary. It was about the loss of a child and the family that experienced that horrible incident. It goes on to tell about the additional traumas that affected that family. When Abi shows up, the mother is skeptical and critical of the possibility. Once she is willing to accept that this might be her daughter, the rest of her world breaks apart. 5/5 Stars. #NetGalley. #Bookouture. #LaurenNorth #SheSaysShe’sMyDaughter