This audiobook was well done and I loved the bit of Australian accent!

I never knew there was so much debate and drama surrounding the classification of the platypus! Set in Australia in both 1808 and 1908 this historical fiction delves into a possible scenario inspired by a real life discrepancy on the record. It follows two different women living during that time—one a daughter of a naturalist doing groundbreaking work surrounding the platypus, and the other a research librarian who comes across an old sketchbook that may have great significance.

It was neat to have both time period timelines happening in the past but still 100 years apart and seeing what aspects had stayed the same or changed during that time frame. The way the two timelines worked together was really intriguing as well and provided a bit of a mystery feel. I love reading stories with an Australian setting and there was some really interesting background and elements.

Both timelines featured a strong woman ahead of her time and I loved watching their spirit and determination

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* i LOVED this book!! and learned a lot about platypus lmao would buy or read again for sure, 5 out of 5 stars!

It was an interesting book that had two stories intertwined. Two women from two different times looking for the truth of a scientific truth.

3.5* rounded up... The premise of The Naturalist's Daughter was intriguing in its Australian setting. Although events unfolded fairly slowly, there was a lot of information to learn and the dual timeline added to the overall strength of the plot. This is definitely for those interested in historical fiction with a bit of romance...nothing spicy and overall a clean read.
I listened to the audio version and I felt the narrator did a good job and added to the overall story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

This story is told in dual timelines in 1808 Agnes Banks and 1908 Sydney, Australia. The former timeline follows Rose, the daughter of naturalist Charles Winton, as she assists her father with his local studies of the platypus. After a platypus incident, Charles sends Rose in his stead to present his scientific research in London. The latter storyline follows Tamsin who is sent on a mission to retrieve a donation to the library where she works. Unfortunately, the heir to the estate disputes that the book was donated and wants to sell it. Tamsin must team up with her lawyer to divine the provenance and worth of the book. I switched between the eBook and the audio for this one. The audio is narrated by Corinne Davies, and she does a fantastic job with both timelines.

I found the study of the platypus in this story to be fascinating. I’m a science and nature geek. There was quite the historical controversy over the classification of the platypus, not to mention those that believed the creature was a myth and that the so-called scientists living in a “land of criminals and uneducated natives” had amalgamated various animals into one to pull off an unbelievable hoax. I’ll admit that the mobs of angry men coming after Rose in London after Winton’s presentation seemed a little melodramatic for a science convention to me.

Nevertheless, I was affronted on the part of Rose as a woman being unable to present her father’s research. There is also a whole host of issues going on with this family, since Rose finds out that her origins aren’t what she believed growing up and I really enjoyed her family storyline. She meets Julian, the brother she didn’t know she had in England, as well as falls in love with the Finneas, who was raised alongside him. Julian annoyed me from the beginning. I found Finneas a little too timid or maybe too gentlemanly. I felt like he needed to stand up to Julian more, but he eventually does the right thing, maybe. I was a little disappointed in the abrupt end to this storyline.

Alternating with the former timeline, Tamsin is researching the alleged book donated to the Public Library alongside Shaw. Shaw is working on the case at his father’s behest though he would rather pursue his own dreams of becoming an antiquarian bookseller. His father is adamant that the book be sold, not donated, and that Shaw do everything in his power to make that happen, regardless of the legality. Tamsin and Shaw uncover the truth about the book and what happened to Rose Winton after the events in London a century earlier as well as a personal connection to the story.

I really enjoyed both timelines in this book and recommend it to historical fiction lovers with an affinity for Australia. Or the platypus. LOL

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for a copy provided for an honest review.

Set in Australia, written by an Australian author, and read by a woman with an Australian accent. It contains words like “damper”, “billabong”, “scuttlebutt”, and “tucker”. It was lovely.

The Naturalist’s Daughter begins with early research of the “mallangong” (aka platypus).

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there are dual timelines, several mysteries, and a light sprinkling of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

I was lucky enough to read the book first - which was fantastic! Well the audio book is even better! The voice actor did a marvelous job bringing each character to life.

One of my most anticipated novels this summer was The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper. Though it was first published in Australia in 2017, this is its first release in the United States.

What initially drew me to this book is its focus on the platypus. In New South Wales, Australia in the early 1800s, Rose helps her father Charles in observing and understanding the platypus, with plans to formally present this information in London. But after Charles is spurred by a platypus, Rose must travel to England alone to present their groundbreaking work. A century later, in 1908, Tamsin is researching aa newly unearthed sketchbook detailing the platypus some decades before knowledge of the animal was accepted. Who made these discoveries, and why were they never acknowledged?

With two mysteries and a lot about the platypus, this is a work of historical fiction unlike any I’ve read before.

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Dual timeline (1819-1820; 1908)
- Third-person narration

What I Liked:
- Platypus! I’ve always loved animals and really enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about the platypus and its fascinating history. It’s such an incredible animal that defies our general understanding of mammals; it’s no wonder people were skeptical about it… though they certainly should have listened to Rose in this novel!
- Women in science. Speaking of Rose’s scientific contributions, I loved seeing a young woman taking charge in the study of animals. She was helping her father, already a naturalist himself, but her contributions were invaluable. I loved seeing how knowledgeable and committed she was in her observations of the platypus. This is especially groundbreaking considering she was doing this in the early 1800s when women weren’t thought to belong in science.
- Women’s achievements and earning greater respect. Both Rose and Tamsin face sexism for their work, being barred from participating in areas for which they’re well qualified. It’s infuriating to see them need to fight for any scrap of respect, and worse still when men still don’t give them the respect they deserve. Nonetheless, I love seeing women defy the patriarchy and forge ahead.
- Dual mysteries. Both Rose in 1820 and Tamsin in 1908 are unraveling mysteries. Rose is uncovering shocking secrets about her family, while Tamsin is trying to determine who made these incredible discoveries about the platypus, years before traits were thought to be discovered, and by an unknown woman no less. Readers, of course, know a bit more than Tamsin going in, but there’s more to be revealed.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Nothing, I enjoyed all of it!

Final Thoughts
The Naturalist’s Daughter is a captivating work of historical fiction that takes readers on a unique journey. If you’re interested in animals (especially the platypus), women in science, and family mysteries, this is a must-read. This is my first time reading Tea Cooper, and I’m eager to dive into more of her novels soon.

This is a dual timeline historical fiction mystery that takes place in 1808 and 1908. Early discovery of the platypus and recognition for the person who discovered the platypus were discussed.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In 1808, Rose embarks on a journey to share her father’s groundbreaking research into the platypus. A century later, Tamsin uncovers hidden truths within the sketchbook’s pages. Together, their stories reveal a captivating tale of scientific discovery, family secrets, and the enduring power of knowledge.

This book is highly entertaining, yet also provides insights into the unique history of the platypus. I loved the characters—they’re likable. relatable, and deeply committed to sharing knowledge with the world. The author did a great job of bringing to life the dual time periods and the varied settings, while interweaving the romance and mystery plots. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this story and the ways the two timelines intertwined. While I did figure out some things early on, it was beautiful to watch them unfold and this book had me in tears at one point. (It's a scene in the graveyard, and if you've read it you'll understand.)

These characters came to life in every scene, the situations were so vivid I frequently felt I was there, and I loved every single person I got to follow on this journey. Well, all but one. ;)

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys heartfelt storytelling, historical stories, and books where timelines intertwine to take you on a journey/to solve a mystery. I also think anyone who really like platypuses will get a kick out of this too.

This was an amazing book! And, the way the author took the individual pieces of these peoples lives and intertwined them together? Just phenomenal!
This is a dual timeline book.

The first timeline is 1808. Rose is a young girl who’s growing up watching her Dad (Pa) while he studies the lives and habits of the platypus. He is a Naturalist. She loves to accompany him in his studies, and by doing so, actually GROWS UP with him and the platypus studies! So…she is very involved, and very enlightened. This of course was unheard of in those times. The women were not to DO any of this! She loved her Pa, and he loved his girl, ‘The daughter of his heart’! ❤️. He has a book where he captures his thoughts, as well as some drawings of his finds…

After YEARS of studies, he is finally called to present his works among the elite gentlemen who do the same. They are both soooo excited! But, ultimately, he is unable to attend…

The second timeline (in the early 1900’s) involves Tamsin, who has been assigned the task of going to get the very old sketchbook that Rose’s Dad had drawn all those years ago. The woman who had it in her possession is getting older, and wants to DONATE it to the library…so she gets in touch with Tamsin so that she can come and pick it up! Tamsin is very good at evaluating prices and giving authenticity and values to them. However, when she gets there, she finds that the house is in disarray. Things have changed. And now, Shawn, who is a solicitor/lawyer, and all around carer for the house…is there.

Ok…I’m going to leave it here. This is just an outline. There is so much more going on in this book! Well worth the read!!
And…so many intricate parts that Ms. Cooper has so nicely laid out for us, like a jigsaw puzzle, that we need to piece back together while reading!!

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HarperMuse and #HarperCollinsFocus for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
***The release date is 8/20/24! ***

#TheNaturalistsDaughter by #TeaCooper and narrated beautifully by #CorinneDavies.

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Historical fiction fans will enjoy this. It takes place in 1808 and 1908 and is a fictional account of both the early discovery of the Platypus and an attempt 100 years later to give the credit to the rightful person for its discovery. There is some romance and mystery to the story as well. I'll be checking out other books by this author and purchasing this one for my library patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early review copy.

This is a lovely, slow-burn, dual-timeline character study about two Australian women, one who assisted her father in documenting and studying the platypus, and another woman who was made aware of said father's sketchbook from 100 years ago.

Both Rose and Tamsin are intelligent, somewhat irreverent women trying to preserve the work of Charles Winton within the confines of women's social limitations, and the men they each fell in love with along the way. It's a tame romance, and if it weren't so infuriating, it would be funny how completely unbelievable the platypus was to stodgy British science experts.

Though the characters aren't real, the author put a lot of effort into historical accuracy concerning society from each timeline, making the plot and characters believable in a way you could imagine things having happened just like this.

Tea Cooper’s latest historical novel deals with the discovery and classification of the platypus, and the two women, one hundred years apart who helped the scientific world understand one of the most unusual mammals in existence. She focuses, again, on the unsung role of women throughout history and their contributions to science

Having read one of Cooper's works before, I knew going into this novel that she had a talent for describing and providing a verbal portrait of Australia's lands. She also had displayed a passion for the broader views of Australian history. ANd she was capable of weaving complex twists through time and paced reveals well. These things all remain true in "The Naturalist's Daughter".

After taking some breathing time to consider this book after finishing, I still can't quite place my finger on why this only partially captured me. To be honest, my interest waned here and there. This work was much more romance oriented in some parts than I had anticipated. it doesn't completely overwhelm the narrative but there is one portion of the book that the mentions of the attraction seemed a bit heavy. I don't mind it as a genre or a sub plot, but I prefer it to be a minor note in most genres where it's also thrown in. In a book like this it it can also lead to issues of miscommunication, jealousy, or fall into a game of assumptions. Generally that's not enough to leave me lukewarm on a subject. Though one section in which a character who's praised by others for how independent and unique she is debating to change her appearance because of what a man might think was a sting. If it wasn't established by another pov they liked her as it was, I admit that may have been enough to make me have a rage moment.

Perhaps it was that there were a couple of characters that seemed nearly cartoonishly maniacal in comparison to other well rounded and rooted persons. Then there were parts of some of the final twists that felt a little more distracting than was necessary. In particular there is a ceremonial aspect that didn't truly feel like they belonged. there was enough well established elements where the outcomes needed for the mystery would have still occurred.

I will say that I love how much there is an adoration for research,art, and books. It made the mystery feel more like a journalistic investigation. that is something that a good historical book seems to bring in a way no other subgenre does. This factual elements weaved in about the place and the state of science and recording were also appreciated.

There are some characters that were endearing and my guess being a step off from the largest of the reveals I did like this book. I just wasn't enamored with it. However, this second moderate to enjoyable dance with Cooper reassures me that other works by her are worth looking into.

Although the first half of this book was a little on the slow side for me, I definitely found myself enjoying the latter have, and because of that, I would recommend it with all sincerity. We follow a dual timeline which makes things slightly confusing at times, but it soon becomes easier to distinguish between the voices of our two main heroines. I did find the story of Rose from the early 19th century the more interesting of the two, but the author's way of telling it partially through the eyes of Tamsin made for a unique change of pace. I also really enjoyed the ending in which the two time lines come together in a wonderful and satisfying way. With it's descriptions of the Australian landscape as well as the bustle of London, the bit of mystery and romance, and the likability of the characters themselves; I think this book would appeal to a wide audience and is definitely worth a look.

I greatly enjoyed this original and well-paced story, and the voice artist Corinne Davies did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

I have not read too much historical fiction (Louis de Bernieres, Robert Harris & Margaret Cezair-Thompson) but I always like a good story. Tea Cooper created strong female characters who hold their own on the page, though the addition of the male supporting cast brought some welcome humour and romance.

{Spoilers ahead]
The romance was well done in terms of pacing, moreso for Tamsin and Shaw than Rose and Finneas (I do not think he would have been so tactile with her, we all know how a brush of the hand undid Darcy!), and I smiled as their relationships slowly blossomed. I appreciated the decision to use the language and views of the time in a bid to retain authenticity, though at points I was confused by descriptions of characters and unsure if a character was intended to be of First Nations or European descent. The book misses out on five stars as the dialogue felt a little unnatural at times, a bit too much exposition for the reader without letting is fill in the blanks. I also rolled my eyes slightly at the twist - it felt like something out of a Steig Larsson novel and seemed a bit too far-fetched for the quaint Cornish setting. I also felt that the puzzle pieces that led Tamsin to Jennifer/Rose/her inheritance fell into place a bit too easily. I would have settled for Jane being her mother or perhaps a relation to the Winton side. The link to the missionaries and the charity event she ducked out of at the start of the novel was a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

All in all, I learned a lot about platypus (plural TBD) and Australia in the early twentieth century but it never felt boring thanks to engaging characters. Would recommend!

The Naturalist's Daughter was a fascinating book. I truly enjoy learning about women in science. Don't miss this great book!