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A Curious Daughter
Joy Meredith has just turned eighteen and is stretching her wings, defying her mother by moving to her own place in the city and starting a veterinary science degree. With a job in the local pub alongside her boyfriend and good friends by her side, her future path seems set.
Then Joy meets Mick Harris. Charismatic and talented, Mick heads up a band that is going places - fast. Within a couple of years, Joy has deferred her degree and jetted off with Mick and the band for the bright lights of London.
And the lights in London are truly bright, but they also start to expose the cracks - in Mick, in Joy's relationship, and in her own life. When everything begins to crumble, Joy must follow her heart around the world to find her way home.
Then Joy meets Mick Harris. Charismatic and talented, Mick heads up a band that is going places - fast. Within a couple of years, Joy has deferred her degree and jetted off with Mick and the band for the bright lights of London.
And the lights in London are truly bright, but they also start to expose the cracks - in Mick, in Joy's relationship, and in her own life. When everything begins to crumble, Joy must follow her heart around the world to find her way home.
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 10, 2023
Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
Now as I read a lot I was not aware I was reading a sequel to one of my favourite books of last year.
I was immediately drawn in and felt a connection to a character and the inviting writing style.
This followed on from A Remarkable Woman and focused on the life of Joy, the daughter of Avril.
An idyllic childhood surrounded by extended family at the Monaghan Station cemented a stability and determination in a young Joy.
Defying her parents she moved into a share house in Brisbane to complete her Veterinary studies.
Adult life with all it’s complications and tribulations was about to begin.
Relationships defined what she needed and what she didn’t.
Meeting a rockstar and falling in love represented an emotional rollercoaster and saw her living on the international circuit.
A journey into adulthood with it’s tumultuous and joyful components is reflected in this fantastic family saga.
The reiteration of values and the stark contrast between upbringings was show cased brilliantly.
Avril was not central but her presence and influence was felt especially in a succinct prologue that set the scene.
An awesome series to indulge in.
Now as I read a lot I was not aware I was reading a sequel to one of my favourite books of last year.
I was immediately drawn in and felt a connection to a character and the inviting writing style.
This followed on from A Remarkable Woman and focused on the life of Joy, the daughter of Avril.
An idyllic childhood surrounded by extended family at the Monaghan Station cemented a stability and determination in a young Joy.
Defying her parents she moved into a share house in Brisbane to complete her Veterinary studies.
Adult life with all it’s complications and tribulations was about to begin.
Relationships defined what she needed and what she didn’t.
Meeting a rockstar and falling in love represented an emotional rollercoaster and saw her living on the international circuit.
A journey into adulthood with it’s tumultuous and joyful components is reflected in this fantastic family saga.
The reiteration of values and the stark contrast between upbringings was show cased brilliantly.
Avril was not central but her presence and influence was felt especially in a succinct prologue that set the scene.
An awesome series to indulge in.
November 14, 2023
I needed an easy read for a longish trip and this was on the library e-book shelf. Joy has just turned 18 and is heading off to university in Brisbane, although this book jumps forward across a number of romantic interludes and life dramas. I was unaware it was book two, well that there was a previous novel about Joy's mother, but I think it does stand alone, or at least that I didn't really miss much.
It was an easy read, but a bit predictable and chick-lit for me. Certainly outside of my usual reading.
It was an easy read, but a bit predictable and chick-lit for me. Certainly outside of my usual reading.
March 7, 2024
I haven’t read this author before. This was an interesting book that kept me turning the pages. It was a great story line and I thought the characters worked well.
July 1, 2024
Couldn't get into it
July 31, 2023
There aren't adequate words to express how I feel about this book. Together with A Remarkable Woman, this series is absolutely wonderful. The writing is crisp and smart. The characters are multi-dimensional and the various settings are appealing. I was completely absorbed from the first page of this book. Definitely start with A Remarkable Woman, though. There's tons of backstory in there and it's one of the best books I read last year. A Curious Daughter is my favourite book this month!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.
July 25, 2023
I love family sagas and A Curious Daughter is the second book in the Montdidier/Meredith saga, although it can be read, and enjoyed, as a standalone.
Joy Meredith is the daughter of Avril (née Montdidier) and Tim Meredith. A Curious Daughter follows Joy’s life from her eighteenth birthday. Joy has grown up on Monaghan station, a beautiful property which has been owned by the Meredith family, true members of the Australian squattocracy, for generations, in the Darling Downs in southern Queensland.
Joy has inherited her French mother’s strong, independent nature and her father’s love of the land. This fabulous book takes her from Australia to England and to the beautiful French vineyard in the Tours region of her mother’s childhood. She approaches each new stage in her life, including her romantic involvements, with honesty and, always, self-awareness.
The story is set mainly in the 1970s, and the fashions, music and attitudes of that time are vividly represented, as are the vastly differing backdrops of Australia, England and France. Jules Van Mil is a brilliant story teller and this book kept me in its thrall for the whole two days it took me to read it.
I do hope instalment number three of this saga is already being worked on or, at least, contemplated by Jules Van Mil. It was a terrific read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to follow a good, strong story line.
Joy Meredith is the daughter of Avril (née Montdidier) and Tim Meredith. A Curious Daughter follows Joy’s life from her eighteenth birthday. Joy has grown up on Monaghan station, a beautiful property which has been owned by the Meredith family, true members of the Australian squattocracy, for generations, in the Darling Downs in southern Queensland.
Joy has inherited her French mother’s strong, independent nature and her father’s love of the land. This fabulous book takes her from Australia to England and to the beautiful French vineyard in the Tours region of her mother’s childhood. She approaches each new stage in her life, including her romantic involvements, with honesty and, always, self-awareness.
The story is set mainly in the 1970s, and the fashions, music and attitudes of that time are vividly represented, as are the vastly differing backdrops of Australia, England and France. Jules Van Mil is a brilliant story teller and this book kept me in its thrall for the whole two days it took me to read it.
I do hope instalment number three of this saga is already being worked on or, at least, contemplated by Jules Van Mil. It was a terrific read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to follow a good, strong story line.
October 24, 2025
Listened as an audio book read by Annabelle Tudor
Was looking for something not too heavy to listen to on a long work roadtrip and came across this in my audiobook suggestions. Didn't realise this was a second book until the author's commentary at the end but this is very much a standalone story about Joy. Interesting and enjoyable enough but nothing to rave about either as fairly generic and no real surprises or depth.
Was looking for something not too heavy to listen to on a long work roadtrip and came across this in my audiobook suggestions. Didn't realise this was a second book until the author's commentary at the end but this is very much a standalone story about Joy. Interesting and enjoyable enough but nothing to rave about either as fairly generic and no real surprises or depth.
November 1, 2023
A must read! I absolutely loved the first novel and this one does not disappoint! Thank you Jules Van Mil for inviting us into Joy’s exciting journey. I highly recommend this book to all! A fantastic and insightful read.
August 1, 2023
Lots of characters. I didn't read Avril's story so I didn't understand why so many characters backstory.
Otherwise it's a standalone with over a decade of story.
Otherwise it's a standalone with over a decade of story.
October 24, 2023
A quick and easy read but a bit predictable.
December 30, 2023
Easy light read. Got into the characters well.
January 31, 2024
Great book, I really enjoyed it
March 6, 2024
I enjoyed this sequel, this book follows Joy in her journey through life, is there a happy ending? You will have to read the book and find out...
March 29, 2025
Nice enough story about a privileged white woman who always lands on her feet.....bit predictable
February 16, 2024
3.5 stars.
Joy Meredith had the world at her feet. Turning eighteen, she started a new relationship, a vet science degree and defied her mother by moving to her own place in the city. Then she met Mick Harris. Charismatic, talented and wild, Mick was the lead singer in a band that was growing popularity. What followed was Joy’s head-first dive into the dizzying lights of London in the 80s.
After falling in love with Avril in A Remarkable Woman, I was keen to see how her daughter’s life would unfold. Unfortunately, I didn’t relate to Joy as much as I did with Avril. Joy fell into the ‘second generation’ trap where she took her family’s business, money and life for granted and didn’t initially appreciate her mother’s hard work that made things possible for her.
While Avril’s fashion business kept me hooked in the previous book, the music industry setting in this one didn’t really work for me, especially as it wasn’t even Joy’s own passion. Her whirlwind romance with a musician was something I had read a few times before.
Having said all that, I was happy with the ending of the story. It took me some time to warm up to Joy but I finally did.
The highlight of the story for me was still Avril’s occasional appearances. She was still strong-minded and assertive in her mature years. I appreciated that she was still in control of her business decisions after all these years. Her relationship with her husband was also still going strong, and it was such a delight to see them again in this book. I wish we could’ve got more scenes with them!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Joy Meredith had the world at her feet. Turning eighteen, she started a new relationship, a vet science degree and defied her mother by moving to her own place in the city. Then she met Mick Harris. Charismatic, talented and wild, Mick was the lead singer in a band that was growing popularity. What followed was Joy’s head-first dive into the dizzying lights of London in the 80s.
After falling in love with Avril in A Remarkable Woman, I was keen to see how her daughter’s life would unfold. Unfortunately, I didn’t relate to Joy as much as I did with Avril. Joy fell into the ‘second generation’ trap where she took her family’s business, money and life for granted and didn’t initially appreciate her mother’s hard work that made things possible for her.
While Avril’s fashion business kept me hooked in the previous book, the music industry setting in this one didn’t really work for me, especially as it wasn’t even Joy’s own passion. Her whirlwind romance with a musician was something I had read a few times before.
Having said all that, I was happy with the ending of the story. It took me some time to warm up to Joy but I finally did.
The highlight of the story for me was still Avril’s occasional appearances. She was still strong-minded and assertive in her mature years. I appreciated that she was still in control of her business decisions after all these years. Her relationship with her husband was also still going strong, and it was such a delight to see them again in this book. I wish we could’ve got more scenes with them!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews