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The Someday Daughter: A Heartrending YA Romance About Breaking Free and Discovering Who You Really Are
From the critically acclaimed author of Seven Percent of Ro Devereux comes another nuanced, heartrending, and ultimately healing novel, about a rising college freshman forced to spend a summer with the self-help superstar mother she’s never felt truly connected to.
Years before Audrey St. Vrain was born, her mother, Camilla, shot to fame with Letters to My Someday Daughter, a self-help book encouraging women to treat themselves with the same love and care they’d treat their own daughters. While the world considers Audrey lucky to have Camilla for a mother, the truth is that Audrey knows a different side of being the someday daughter. Shipped off to boarding school when she was eleven, she feels more like a promotional tool than a member of Camilla’s family.
Audrey is determined to create her own identity aside from being Camilla’s daughter, and she’s looking forward to a prestigious summer premed program with her boyfriend before heading to college and finally breaking free from her mother’s world. But when Camilla asks Audrey to go on tour with her to promote the book’s anniversary, Audrey can’t help but think that this is the last, best chance to figure out how they fit into each other’s lives—not as the someday daughter and someday mother, but as themselves, just as they are.
What Audrey doesn’t know is that spending the summer with Camilla and her tour staff—including the disarmingly honest, distressingly cute video intern, Silas—will upset everything she’s so carefully planned for her life.
Years before Audrey St. Vrain was born, her mother, Camilla, shot to fame with Letters to My Someday Daughter, a self-help book encouraging women to treat themselves with the same love and care they’d treat their own daughters. While the world considers Audrey lucky to have Camilla for a mother, the truth is that Audrey knows a different side of being the someday daughter. Shipped off to boarding school when she was eleven, she feels more like a promotional tool than a member of Camilla’s family.
Audrey is determined to create her own identity aside from being Camilla’s daughter, and she’s looking forward to a prestigious summer premed program with her boyfriend before heading to college and finally breaking free from her mother’s world. But when Camilla asks Audrey to go on tour with her to promote the book’s anniversary, Audrey can’t help but think that this is the last, best chance to figure out how they fit into each other’s lives—not as the someday daughter and someday mother, but as themselves, just as they are.
What Audrey doesn’t know is that spending the summer with Camilla and her tour staff—including the disarmingly honest, distressingly cute video intern, Silas—will upset everything she’s so carefully planned for her life.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 2024
67 people are currently reading
7224 people want to read
About the author
Ellen O'Clover
7 books526 followersEllen O’Clover writes stories about love, identity, and belonging for both teens and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 18, 2024
reading this book, a love letter to motherhood, girlhood and the vast, ever-changing relationship girls have with their mothers, on international women’s day while also being personally victimised by the characterisation of Audrey St. Vrain was not on my bingo card today but here we are.
February 20, 2024
This book is a YA contemporary romance. It’s a coming of age story that focuses on a mother-daughter relationship.
The narrator is 18 year old Audrey. She is forced to spend the Summer on a book tour with her controlling mother. In the Fall she will be starting pre-med.
The beginning of the book was fine. But it wasn’t until the second half that I really started to love this book.
There is mental health rep. And the book focuses a lot on the mother-daughter relationship between Audrey and her mother.
I was really surprised by the last few chapters. The last part of this book was my favorite. I really enjoyed the end. What a fun YA read.
Thanks to netgalley and HarperCollins Canada for allowing me to read this book.
The narrator is 18 year old Audrey. She is forced to spend the Summer on a book tour with her controlling mother. In the Fall she will be starting pre-med.
The beginning of the book was fine. But it wasn’t until the second half that I really started to love this book.
There is mental health rep. And the book focuses a lot on the mother-daughter relationship between Audrey and her mother.
I was really surprised by the last few chapters. The last part of this book was my favorite. I really enjoyed the end. What a fun YA read.
Thanks to netgalley and HarperCollins Canada for allowing me to read this book.
February 27, 2025
im sorry but i found our main character quite unlikable 😔 i did find certain parts of this book really insightful and the little romance was quite cute! silas is such an absolute sweetie pie 😋 my main problem with the romance in this book is the fact that she had a boyfriend when she met silas and she breaks up with him for silas 😭
June 8, 2024
Ellen’s books never fail to tear me up in the best way and stitch me back together again. I loved every bit of this read and especially the relationship that bloomed between Audrey and Silas. The concept is so fresh and relevant and really sheds a new light on the whole “momfluencer” age we’re in. I’m already eagerly anticipating whatever Ellen writes next!
April 28, 2024
i need this to be turned into a coming-of-age movie actually
February 14, 2024
I want Ellen O’Clover to punch me in the face ❤️
August 10, 2024
my GOD my HEART ellen o’clover’s ART I just cannot
March 9, 2024
thank you to the author and harperteen, and harpercollins children’s books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
going into this book, i knew there was a high chance i was going to like this book. i’d read o’clover’s debut last year and fell in love with her storytelling. what i wasn’t prepared for was just how much more this book would impact me.
audrey feels so personal and real to me, her fears, her hopes and dreams are so like my own. i kin her so much that it probably says a bit too much about me… but uh… let’s ignore that for now!
no, but in all seriousness. after finishing this book, it’s taken me about a week to actually be able to write this review. i’ve had to sit and process through my emotions about audrey’s story. how much i’ve learned from her growth that i *definitely* should apply into my own life. but also, you could easily add her to my list of characters i just want to give the biggest hug. tell her that it will be alright.
a lot of this story focuses on her relationship between her and her mom, processing their estranged relationship through the book her mom wrote all those years ago. but we also see audrey struggle with massive fear of failure. a fear to step outside of her plan. this book gets tough. audrey really struggles the entire way with her internal identity the whole way through. slowly questioning many of her choices. and while i’m not easily one to cry while reading, this one got me close a few times. but hey, i’m a sucker for a sad story about a teen prepping for college, apparently??
and while i know audrey as a MC won’t appeal to so many readers, i do hope it finds its readership. audrey isn’t chatty, or bubbly, or really even nice most of the time. she’s quiet, introspective and doesn’t always make the right choice. but i love her so so dearly. and if i were her, it’d take a lot more for me to forgive her mom, to be honest. so she’s already got that on me.
i’m urging you, if you like a story about complicated, messy familial relationships. a teen girl whose plan gets upturned the summer before her first year at college. please go pick this up. it will be worth your time!!
original review: i keep forgetting to mark this as finished. rtc :)
going into this book, i knew there was a high chance i was going to like this book. i’d read o’clover’s debut last year and fell in love with her storytelling. what i wasn’t prepared for was just how much more this book would impact me.
audrey feels so personal and real to me, her fears, her hopes and dreams are so like my own. i kin her so much that it probably says a bit too much about me… but uh… let’s ignore that for now!
no, but in all seriousness. after finishing this book, it’s taken me about a week to actually be able to write this review. i’ve had to sit and process through my emotions about audrey’s story. how much i’ve learned from her growth that i *definitely* should apply into my own life. but also, you could easily add her to my list of characters i just want to give the biggest hug. tell her that it will be alright.
a lot of this story focuses on her relationship between her and her mom, processing their estranged relationship through the book her mom wrote all those years ago. but we also see audrey struggle with massive fear of failure. a fear to step outside of her plan. this book gets tough. audrey really struggles the entire way with her internal identity the whole way through. slowly questioning many of her choices. and while i’m not easily one to cry while reading, this one got me close a few times. but hey, i’m a sucker for a sad story about a teen prepping for college, apparently??
and while i know audrey as a MC won’t appeal to so many readers, i do hope it finds its readership. audrey isn’t chatty, or bubbly, or really even nice most of the time. she’s quiet, introspective and doesn’t always make the right choice. but i love her so so dearly. and if i were her, it’d take a lot more for me to forgive her mom, to be honest. so she’s already got that on me.
i’m urging you, if you like a story about complicated, messy familial relationships. a teen girl whose plan gets upturned the summer before her first year at college. please go pick this up. it will be worth your time!!
original review: i keep forgetting to mark this as finished. rtc :)
March 14, 2024
The Someday Daughter by Ellen O'Clover is a beautifully written story centred around mother-daughter relationships. Following the daughter of a self-help author, this one contains a main character who transforms throughout the book and a complicated relationship between a mother and a daughter. Fans of more emotional contemporaries with complex characters will enjoy this one.
As the daughter of the author of a bestselling self-help book called Letters to My Someday Daughter that encourages women to treat themselves with kindness--to treat themselves the way they would treat their daughters--Audrey has a lot to live up to. While the book's readers would say she has the perfect mother, in reality, Audrey doesn't feel connected to her mother at all since she has been sent off to boarding school since age 11. However, to celebrate the book's 25th anniversary, Audrey's mom is heading on tour and asks Audrey to abandon her plans and join her for the summer. As the tour progresses, both women must get to know each other again outside of their Letters to My Someday Daughter identities and learn more about themselves along the way.
I really enjoyed Audrey's character and the ways she changes throughout the book. I really felt for her since she feels feels more like a promotional tool than a daughter for her mother who is barely in her life and deals with pressure to live up to the version of herself that her mother has built a career on. At the beginning of the book, Audrey has carefully made plans to become a doctor and land the perfect summer premed program and is determined to separate herself from everything related to her mother's book. However, when she realizes that life doesn't always go according to plan, she must learn to become more flexible, and I enjoyed watching her as she grows.
My favourite part about this book is Audrey's relationship with her mother. It is difficult for Audrey to pretend that her mother is the perfect parent when they're not close at all, and I loved the opportunity the book tour presents for them to finally talk and try and mend their relationship. Both characters deal with their own struggles, and their complicated relationship is well-written.
The Someday Daughter by Ellen O'Clover is a complex story focused on fame and mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed the main character's growth throughout the book and the way her relationship with her mother develops. This is a thought-provoking read that fans of more character-driven books will enjoy.
As the daughter of the author of a bestselling self-help book called Letters to My Someday Daughter that encourages women to treat themselves with kindness--to treat themselves the way they would treat their daughters--Audrey has a lot to live up to. While the book's readers would say she has the perfect mother, in reality, Audrey doesn't feel connected to her mother at all since she has been sent off to boarding school since age 11. However, to celebrate the book's 25th anniversary, Audrey's mom is heading on tour and asks Audrey to abandon her plans and join her for the summer. As the tour progresses, both women must get to know each other again outside of their Letters to My Someday Daughter identities and learn more about themselves along the way.
I really enjoyed Audrey's character and the ways she changes throughout the book. I really felt for her since she feels feels more like a promotional tool than a daughter for her mother who is barely in her life and deals with pressure to live up to the version of herself that her mother has built a career on. At the beginning of the book, Audrey has carefully made plans to become a doctor and land the perfect summer premed program and is determined to separate herself from everything related to her mother's book. However, when she realizes that life doesn't always go according to plan, she must learn to become more flexible, and I enjoyed watching her as she grows.
My favourite part about this book is Audrey's relationship with her mother. It is difficult for Audrey to pretend that her mother is the perfect parent when they're not close at all, and I loved the opportunity the book tour presents for them to finally talk and try and mend their relationship. Both characters deal with their own struggles, and their complicated relationship is well-written.
The Someday Daughter by Ellen O'Clover is a complex story focused on fame and mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed the main character's growth throughout the book and the way her relationship with her mother develops. This is a thought-provoking read that fans of more character-driven books will enjoy.
September 11, 2023
The Someday Daughter is a breathtakingly beautiful story for anyone who loved Ellen O'Clover's first book Seven Percent of Ro Devereux or Rachel Lynn Solomon's books. This book explores anxiety and complex mother/daughter relationships in a way that feels painfully and joyfully real. If you read Ro Devereux, you know Ellen writes the best book boyfriends. Also Puddles is the cutest literary dog of all time, and I want to snuggle him. But the best part of Ellen's books is the way they make you feel.
This book feels like grieving the life and relationships you could have had, that you almost had, while simultaneously realizing that the life you created instead is far better and freer.
This book feels like grieving the life and relationships you could have had, that you almost had, while simultaneously realizing that the life you created instead is far better and freer.
March 28, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There’s love, anxiety, PLOT TWISTS
this is my kinda book
There’s love, anxiety, PLOT TWISTS
this is my kinda book
March 7, 2024
Wow! This book made me experience so many emotions! It is an incredibly heartfelt read; I don’t have any other way to describe it. Audrey and her plans reminded me of my younger self; I would have loved to have read a book about discovering oneself and the uncertainty that goes along with it when on the cusp of adulthood. There’s such a sweet, slow-burn romantic element to this book as well. Last but definitely not least, the exploration of the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships! This is so well-developed and truly is the heart of the book. O’Clover’s writing is just sublime, and her characters are so emotionally complex. While I rarely read YA, I cannot recommend this book enough!
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March 25, 2024
Thank you so much to HarperTeen for sending me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Excuse me while I attempt to put back the pieces of my heart.
The Someday Daughter is everything I've always felt but could never articulate. I annotated my copy as if my life depended on it. I'm typically an emotional mess when I read, but everything about this book was a punch to the gut.
Do you ever read a book you love so much that you can't rationally talk about it? After reading this book, all I wanted to do was push copies into other people's hands. Even though I read The Someday Daughter last year, I still can't put my love for this book into words, so here's some quotes that touched my heart.
And cue the waterworks.
Bottom line: The Someday Daughter is YA, but I can see this being universally loved.
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
Excuse me while I attempt to put back the pieces of my heart.
The Someday Daughter is everything I've always felt but could never articulate. I annotated my copy as if my life depended on it. I'm typically an emotional mess when I read, but everything about this book was a punch to the gut.
Do you ever read a book you love so much that you can't rationally talk about it? After reading this book, all I wanted to do was push copies into other people's hands. Even though I read The Someday Daughter last year, I still can't put my love for this book into words, so here's some quotes that touched my heart.
When Camilla says "as we are"...she means: let's preach about self-love when we can't even be honest about the broken way we love each other.
"Is that love? When there's a transaction involved?"
And cue the waterworks.
Bottom line: The Someday Daughter is YA, but I can see this being universally loved.
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
February 27, 2024
Is it really an Ellen O’Clover book if I don’t cry my eyes out? The Someday Daughter is full of heart and brimming with emotion. It was my most anticipated read for 2024 and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to read it early!
Yes, there is a romance and, yes, I did ADORE him. However, I would say this book is primarily about Audrey’s complicated relationship with her mother and her own anxiety. I felt so seen when Audrey discussed her anxiety, how she feels tightly wound by the internalized pressure to perform and succeed. I cried with her. As well, it was beautiful to see the family Audrey built for herself on the tour come together. Found family always does it for me.
Still, I would personally have changed a few aspects of this novel, so I’ll be rating it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Thank you to HarperTeen and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Yes, there is a romance and, yes, I did ADORE him. However, I would say this book is primarily about Audrey’s complicated relationship with her mother and her own anxiety. I felt so seen when Audrey discussed her anxiety, how she feels tightly wound by the internalized pressure to perform and succeed. I cried with her. As well, it was beautiful to see the family Audrey built for herself on the tour come together. Found family always does it for me.
Still, I would personally have changed a few aspects of this novel, so I’ll be rating it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Thank you to HarperTeen and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 9, 2024
So well-written. A beautiful depiction of a mother-daughter relationship, anxiety and depression, the downfalls of perfectionism.
May 2, 2024
This book was pretty good. I related to α few of the lines and it was comforting to see her relationship with her mother mend.
July 9, 2024
ellen o'clover please keep writing about intricate and endless mommy issues
February 14, 2025
3✰
GREAT plot twist at the end. I did guess it, but only right before the big reveal and it really brought this whole book together.
Puddles was the real VIP though, lets be honest.
Will I ever think about this book again? Probably not, but it was fun while it lasted.
GREAT plot twist at the end. I did guess it, but only right before the big reveal and it really brought this whole book together.
Puddles was the real VIP though, lets be honest.
Will I ever think about this book again? Probably not, but it was fun while it lasted.
July 1, 2024
Left it midway. Initially thought that I was getting a hard time understanding the narrative, but as you go on, things get even more confusing. I don’t think so this book was a right pick. Had so much hopes, but it turned out to be a big-fat disappointment. Apparently it has every single element; parental dynamics, past traumas and a romance (which sucks tbh).
The narrator who’s the protagonist seems so confused about exploring her relationship personally and professionally. I hated the recurrence of “The Someday Daughter” throughout the novel because with absolutely nothing happening, this phrase seems bland. Furthermore, the narrative pattern is confusing. One moment you are here and then you are travelling in some other corner of the protagonist’s brain. So overall it’s confusing and disappointing due to the protagonist. Also, it’s not necessary to fill every book with romance. I wanted Audrey as a protagonist who explores her individuality on her own, rather than relying on the helping hands.
The narrator who’s the protagonist seems so confused about exploring her relationship personally and professionally. I hated the recurrence of “The Someday Daughter” throughout the novel because with absolutely nothing happening, this phrase seems bland. Furthermore, the narrative pattern is confusing. One moment you are here and then you are travelling in some other corner of the protagonist’s brain. So overall it’s confusing and disappointing due to the protagonist. Also, it’s not necessary to fill every book with romance. I wanted Audrey as a protagonist who explores her individuality on her own, rather than relying on the helping hands.
September 13, 2023
Thank you to Ellen O'Clover and Netgalley for the eARC!
When you read the second book by one of your favorite authors, you feel both elation and terror. What is this next book going to look like? Will I love it? Or...will I not like it as much as the first?
And I am here to tell you... I loved The Someday Daughter. As much as Ro Devereux and for entirely different reasons.
I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to read this book early and to give you a little glimpse of what to expect.
For fans of The Seven Percent of Ro Devereux, I want to give you a little comparison. The Someday Daughter is so much heavier than Ro. Reading about Audrey's anxiety and her strained relationship with her mother hit me in a way I can't explain with words. In all aspects, this book will grab onto your soul and twist your gut. I had so much swimming inside my head during this book that I felt overwhelmed constantly. During some parts, I'd turn all Mama Bear and be super protective of Audrey and in other instances, I would just sit there and sob uncontrollably. Yes, I did bawl for an ENTIRE CHAPTER (thanks for that, Ellen) - so much that my tears soaked my neck. I didn't even know a human could cry that much for a book. ... I'm just weird. And that's okay.
What I love most about Ellen's writing is her thoughtfulness and we see it here in even greater amounts than in Ro. Every word surrounding a person's feelings is intentional. She writes in a way that makes every single person feel valid: Audrey, Camilla, Silas, Mick, Cleo, Sadie, Mags. And I can picture every single character as their own PERSON, not stereotypes or tropes. They're...real. It feels like I stepped out of a found family and as soon as I finished the last word, I wanted to start reading again. And I will - when the book releases in February.
I want to touch base on one more thing and that is the romance. Here, the romance is not as much at the forefront of the book as in Ro. BUT Silas.... Is something else, isn't he? He's not cinnamon roll, Miller. He's a little chiller, a little more outgoing and goofy, less of a planner and I just.... I love him for Audrey. I love Audrey for him. I love Puddles for the both of them. The relationship here is very slow burn and he falls first. It's a gradual opening of feelings for Audrey and I enjoyed seeing it! (And yes, Ellen is also thoughtful with the Ethan thing (Audrey's boyfriend at the beginning) - don't doubt her, because I was scared of that part hahaha)
Also, side note: Ellen proves that you don't need to be solely focused in STEM (I know most of her knowledge comes from others) to write STEM GIRLS WELL. Audrey is magnificent - I LOVE her brain and her ambition and perseverance. GO ELLEN.
If there was one portion of the book that kind of held me up a little, it was the beginning. The book starts with a lot of flashback and some of it is disjointed and jarring. I wasn't sure where I was and when at times. It probably could have been fleshed out a little bit more - BUT that was so minor and once I got to the meat of the book, all of the emotions just POURED out. So if you're hesitant by the first 10%, just please trust me.... keep reading.
All in all... please pick up this book when it releases. Read and review it. Ellen O'Clover is a GEM; she could be the next Sarah Dessen of YA romance if we only just give her a chance and read her books. PLEASE.
When you read the second book by one of your favorite authors, you feel both elation and terror. What is this next book going to look like? Will I love it? Or...will I not like it as much as the first?
And I am here to tell you... I loved The Someday Daughter. As much as Ro Devereux and for entirely different reasons.
I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to read this book early and to give you a little glimpse of what to expect.
For fans of The Seven Percent of Ro Devereux, I want to give you a little comparison. The Someday Daughter is so much heavier than Ro. Reading about Audrey's anxiety and her strained relationship with her mother hit me in a way I can't explain with words. In all aspects, this book will grab onto your soul and twist your gut. I had so much swimming inside my head during this book that I felt overwhelmed constantly. During some parts, I'd turn all Mama Bear and be super protective of Audrey and in other instances, I would just sit there and sob uncontrollably. Yes, I did bawl for an ENTIRE CHAPTER (thanks for that, Ellen) - so much that my tears soaked my neck. I didn't even know a human could cry that much for a book. ... I'm just weird. And that's okay.
What I love most about Ellen's writing is her thoughtfulness and we see it here in even greater amounts than in Ro. Every word surrounding a person's feelings is intentional. She writes in a way that makes every single person feel valid: Audrey, Camilla, Silas, Mick, Cleo, Sadie, Mags. And I can picture every single character as their own PERSON, not stereotypes or tropes. They're...real. It feels like I stepped out of a found family and as soon as I finished the last word, I wanted to start reading again. And I will - when the book releases in February.
I want to touch base on one more thing and that is the romance. Here, the romance is not as much at the forefront of the book as in Ro. BUT Silas.... Is something else, isn't he? He's not cinnamon roll, Miller. He's a little chiller, a little more outgoing and goofy, less of a planner and I just.... I love him for Audrey. I love Audrey for him. I love Puddles for the both of them. The relationship here is very slow burn and he falls first. It's a gradual opening of feelings for Audrey and I enjoyed seeing it! (And yes, Ellen is also thoughtful with the Ethan thing (Audrey's boyfriend at the beginning) - don't doubt her, because I was scared of that part hahaha)
Also, side note: Ellen proves that you don't need to be solely focused in STEM (I know most of her knowledge comes from others) to write STEM GIRLS WELL. Audrey is magnificent - I LOVE her brain and her ambition and perseverance. GO ELLEN.
If there was one portion of the book that kind of held me up a little, it was the beginning. The book starts with a lot of flashback and some of it is disjointed and jarring. I wasn't sure where I was and when at times. It probably could have been fleshed out a little bit more - BUT that was so minor and once I got to the meat of the book, all of the emotions just POURED out. So if you're hesitant by the first 10%, just please trust me.... keep reading.
All in all... please pick up this book when it releases. Read and review it. Ellen O'Clover is a GEM; she could be the next Sarah Dessen of YA romance if we only just give her a chance and read her books. PLEASE.
March 3, 2024
This is a beautifully written book with strong shades of Sarah Dessen—the highest compliment I can give a YA novel! I struggled with the convoluted plot, but the portrayal of anxiety and lovely prose made up for some of my issues.
Characters in O’Clover’s work are never just working in a restaurant or tutoring after school—she’s Sarah Dessen for gen Z high achievers, lol. The protagonist of her debut had developed a viral app, and Someday Daughter’s Audrey is a driven pre-med student who’s spending the summer shadowing doctors while also accompanying her rich, famous mother (another O’Clover motif—bad moms who’ve done something impressive) on a self-help book tour. Audrey was prickly and frustrating at times, but I thought her arc worked well and I enjoyed seeing her grow into someone braver and more flexible. The romance with Silas was sweet—who doesn’t love an uptight logical girl with an artsy, chill guy!—but I did sometimes wonder what attracted him to her, since Audrey was often being an asshole, lol. Again though, I like that Audrey gets the chance to be a full person, who is flawed but still lovable.
Now, the plot…there was a LOT going on here. Audrey’s on tour with her mom, who’s gotten rich and famous off one self-help book and seems to have like, merchandise and stuff. Because she wants to be a doctor, Audrey’s mom hires a doctor to come on the tour and take Audrey to shadowing meetings. It was hard for me to believe any doctor would 1) agree to do this and 2) logistically be able to do it, but that is what happens and we must live with it lol. There are also interns on the tour, and the three people who were hired for what I assume would be a VERY competitive internship are all best friends. Okay sure. There’s a twist involving the interns and the doctor that was so implausible it actually made me mad lol, but maybe it’ll work better for more thriller/mystery inclined readers. For a YA novel about finding oneself and growing up, I thought the plot was doing a bit too much.
But anyway. As I mentioned above, Audrey’s anxiety was depicted really movingly and belongs with Nesta’s self-hatred in A Court of Silver Flames as a portrayal of mental illness that felt very true to me personally. Teens and young readers definitely need books like this and I hope they find a character to love in Audrey.
One thing I might have liked to see explored more was Audrey’s financial privilege—her mom seems to have endless money, and yet Audrey never even has a thought about it aside from resenting how her mom’s success has ruined their relationship. I like a little class tension in a book like this, lol, and I think it’s something that YA readers would enjoy thinking about.
Overall a great book by a very talented author—I hope she’ll try her hand at a book for adults at some point!
Characters in O’Clover’s work are never just working in a restaurant or tutoring after school—she’s Sarah Dessen for gen Z high achievers, lol. The protagonist of her debut had developed a viral app, and Someday Daughter’s Audrey is a driven pre-med student who’s spending the summer shadowing doctors while also accompanying her rich, famous mother (another O’Clover motif—bad moms who’ve done something impressive) on a self-help book tour. Audrey was prickly and frustrating at times, but I thought her arc worked well and I enjoyed seeing her grow into someone braver and more flexible. The romance with Silas was sweet—who doesn’t love an uptight logical girl with an artsy, chill guy!—but I did sometimes wonder what attracted him to her, since Audrey was often being an asshole, lol. Again though, I like that Audrey gets the chance to be a full person, who is flawed but still lovable.
Now, the plot…there was a LOT going on here. Audrey’s on tour with her mom, who’s gotten rich and famous off one self-help book and seems to have like, merchandise and stuff. Because she wants to be a doctor, Audrey’s mom hires a doctor to come on the tour and take Audrey to shadowing meetings. It was hard for me to believe any doctor would 1) agree to do this and 2) logistically be able to do it, but that is what happens and we must live with it lol. There are also interns on the tour, and the three people who were hired for what I assume would be a VERY competitive internship are all best friends. Okay sure. There’s a twist involving the interns and the doctor that was so implausible it actually made me mad lol, but maybe it’ll work better for more thriller/mystery inclined readers. For a YA novel about finding oneself and growing up, I thought the plot was doing a bit too much.
But anyway. As I mentioned above, Audrey’s anxiety was depicted really movingly and belongs with Nesta’s self-hatred in A Court of Silver Flames as a portrayal of mental illness that felt very true to me personally. Teens and young readers definitely need books like this and I hope they find a character to love in Audrey.
One thing I might have liked to see explored more was Audrey’s financial privilege—her mom seems to have endless money, and yet Audrey never even has a thought about it aside from resenting how her mom’s success has ruined their relationship. I like a little class tension in a book like this, lol, and I think it’s something that YA readers would enjoy thinking about.
Overall a great book by a very talented author—I hope she’ll try her hand at a book for adults at some point!
December 20, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley and Ellen O'Clover for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Audrey is an 18-year-old girl who lives under the shadow of her mother's most famous book: "Letters to my Someday Daughter", written when she was not yet born and which established Camilla as a great public figure.
Now, with the 25th anniversary of the book's release, Audrey finds herself forced to accompany Camilla on a literary tour around the United States for 2 months. As the relationship between the two has never been the best, it is to be expected that Audrey has other things in mind, such as spending the summer interning with her then boyfriend Ethan.
I'll start by saying that, in general, I liked the story. I recently finished a book that also addresses the troubled relationship between mother and daughter, so I bet that this reading would also be enjoyable.
The beginning is a little slow, as Audrey seemed like a somewhat apathetic and emotionless girl, it was difficult to like her right out the gate. Her image improves when we have the perspective of other characters who love her, but very little.
I hoped we could see more glimpses of Camilla throughout the narrative and understand Audrey's reluctance, but unfortunately that didn't happen, at least not until the end of the book, which only contributed to maintaining my dislike towards Audrey.
The story gradually improves with the presence of some secondary characters, including Silas, an intern on Camilla's tour and Audrey's potential love interest. Despite this, the plot is really slow, and perhaps that is what causes some positive surprise with that plot twist in the final chapters.
I was shocked and angered by Audrey, but given the low expectations I placed on the book, the resolution of the conflict was actually well done. The ending was cute, although there were some loose ends about the relationship between her and her mother.
In the end, it's not the best book about maternal issues, I believe the characters lacked depth at various times and issues such as abortion and motherhood were not well addressed. But is it fun, is it cute? Yes, but not that much. What really did it for me was the romance.
Audrey is an 18-year-old girl who lives under the shadow of her mother's most famous book: "Letters to my Someday Daughter", written when she was not yet born and which established Camilla as a great public figure.
Now, with the 25th anniversary of the book's release, Audrey finds herself forced to accompany Camilla on a literary tour around the United States for 2 months. As the relationship between the two has never been the best, it is to be expected that Audrey has other things in mind, such as spending the summer interning with her then boyfriend Ethan.
I'll start by saying that, in general, I liked the story. I recently finished a book that also addresses the troubled relationship between mother and daughter, so I bet that this reading would also be enjoyable.
The beginning is a little slow, as Audrey seemed like a somewhat apathetic and emotionless girl, it was difficult to like her right out the gate. Her image improves when we have the perspective of other characters who love her, but very little.
I hoped we could see more glimpses of Camilla throughout the narrative and understand Audrey's reluctance, but unfortunately that didn't happen, at least not until the end of the book, which only contributed to maintaining my dislike towards Audrey.
The story gradually improves with the presence of some secondary characters, including Silas, an intern on Camilla's tour and Audrey's potential love interest. Despite this, the plot is really slow, and perhaps that is what causes some positive surprise with that plot twist in the final chapters.
I was shocked and angered by Audrey, but given the low expectations I placed on the book, the resolution of the conflict was actually well done. The ending was cute, although there were some loose ends about the relationship between her and her mother.
In the end, it's not the best book about maternal issues, I believe the characters lacked depth at various times and issues such as abortion and motherhood were not well addressed. But is it fun, is it cute? Yes, but not that much. What really did it for me was the romance.
February 20, 2024
4.5*
After loving the author's debut, I was so excited to see what she had in store for us next. Good news, this sophomore offering certainly did not disappoint! The Someday Daughter didn't quite hook me from the start the same way Ro did, but it definitely delivered on the complex relationships and characters, as well as an overall feel-good story that I was very satisfied with by the time I was done.
I loved that quote because it totally summed up Audrey's feelings about her mom when we meet her. Audrey's mother has been pretty much a non-presence in her life, dropping her at boarding school to tour the world as a famous author and self-help guru. Problem is, she now wants Audrey to spend the summer with her, as a spokesperson of sorts for her book, the titular Someday Daughter. But as you can imagine, Audrey feels kind of cheated- her mom is profiting from the concept of Audrey, without actually putting in the work to be a mother.
Audrey, when we meet her, is quite cold, and not all that likable. She has kind of become a perfectionist, and has this idea of what her life has to be. No wiggle room, no room for change. But as the summer forces some changes upon her, Audrey starts to see that maybe she doesn't have to have her life completely mapped out in order to be happy. I love the character growth during this book, and the focus on all kinds of relationships- obviously the parental relationships, but also friendships and romance, even some mentor stuff too. There is also some great commentary on mental health, too.
Bottom Line: Another hit from Ellen O'Clover, cannot wait for whatever's next!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
After loving the author's debut, I was so excited to see what she had in store for us next. Good news, this sophomore offering certainly did not disappoint! The Someday Daughter didn't quite hook me from the start the same way Ro did, but it definitely delivered on the complex relationships and characters, as well as an overall feel-good story that I was very satisfied with by the time I was done.
"I went searching for my mother in the one place I can always find her: the airport bookstore."
I loved that quote because it totally summed up Audrey's feelings about her mom when we meet her. Audrey's mother has been pretty much a non-presence in her life, dropping her at boarding school to tour the world as a famous author and self-help guru. Problem is, she now wants Audrey to spend the summer with her, as a spokesperson of sorts for her book, the titular Someday Daughter. But as you can imagine, Audrey feels kind of cheated- her mom is profiting from the concept of Audrey, without actually putting in the work to be a mother.
Audrey, when we meet her, is quite cold, and not all that likable. She has kind of become a perfectionist, and has this idea of what her life has to be. No wiggle room, no room for change. But as the summer forces some changes upon her, Audrey starts to see that maybe she doesn't have to have her life completely mapped out in order to be happy. I love the character growth during this book, and the focus on all kinds of relationships- obviously the parental relationships, but also friendships and romance, even some mentor stuff too. There is also some great commentary on mental health, too.
Bottom Line: Another hit from Ellen O'Clover, cannot wait for whatever's next!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
February 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellen O'Clover, and HarperTeen for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
WOW, what a lovely surprise this book was!! I thought the premise sounded super unique and was drawn to that before starting, but this truly was such an enjoyable and well-written read. It is definitely a bit more mature than the typical YA book because Audrey is headed into college, so it is kind of in between a YA and adult novel. Because of this though, the book reads mature in a very positive way; the book tackles some complicated issues and feelings, such as anxiety and mother daughter relationships, and it really resonated with me even though I am several years older than Audrey. I appreciated the candid way O'Clover portrayed anxiety and Audrey's emotions surrounding her experience with it. The characters do not shy away from being flawed, but the book shows that it is okay to be human and flawed in the end. I do think the ending wrapped up too quickly, and there was a big reveal that happened about 85% of the way in that definitely would have benefitted from being mentioned earlier on to have more time to resolve. Things were also a bit too "picture perfect" in the end, and the romance was a little cheesy. However, I did really enjoy seeing Silas and Audrey's relationship develop, and none of these "issues" detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. Ellen O'Clover will definitely be an author I look out for now if I'm wanting a more mature YA read.
WOW, what a lovely surprise this book was!! I thought the premise sounded super unique and was drawn to that before starting, but this truly was such an enjoyable and well-written read. It is definitely a bit more mature than the typical YA book because Audrey is headed into college, so it is kind of in between a YA and adult novel. Because of this though, the book reads mature in a very positive way; the book tackles some complicated issues and feelings, such as anxiety and mother daughter relationships, and it really resonated with me even though I am several years older than Audrey. I appreciated the candid way O'Clover portrayed anxiety and Audrey's emotions surrounding her experience with it. The characters do not shy away from being flawed, but the book shows that it is okay to be human and flawed in the end. I do think the ending wrapped up too quickly, and there was a big reveal that happened about 85% of the way in that definitely would have benefitted from being mentioned earlier on to have more time to resolve. Things were also a bit too "picture perfect" in the end, and the romance was a little cheesy. However, I did really enjoy seeing Silas and Audrey's relationship develop, and none of these "issues" detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. Ellen O'Clover will definitely be an author I look out for now if I'm wanting a more mature YA read.
March 24, 2024
This coming of age book is achingly tender - tender both as in sweet and also as in hurts to touch. Ellen O’Clover beautifully explores the nuances of girlhood and motherhood and growing up.
Years before Audrey was born, her therapist mother became famous for writing the book Letters to My Someday Daughter. But Audrey, the Someday Daughter, feels estranged from her picture-perfect mother who mothers from afar. With the 25th anniversary of the book approaching, Audrey spends the summer on tour with her mom - falling in love, taking chances, and trying to mend her relationship with Camilla.
I love a good coming of age story, and this was so well done. The main characters have such nuance and depth. Audrey is anxious and perfectionistic and aching for approval from her mother but hating herself for wanting it. At first, I was rooting for her to go non-contact. But as the book went on, and as I got to know Camilla, I began to see that it wasn’t quite so simple.
It would have been so easy to make Camilla a flat character to hate - out of touch rich mom who pawned her kid off to boarding school, doesn’t know how to connect despite being a therapist. But I’m so glad that wasn’t the path O’Clover took. I think a key part of coming of age is the realization that our parents are just people, real people who are imperfect and make mistakes. It turns out becoming an adult doesn’t make you perfect and it doesn’t give you all the answers and sometimes we just muddle through the best we can and we apologize when we make mistakes.
Sure, there’s a romance here, and it’s nice. But to me, what really shines here is the exploration and celebration of mothers and daughters.
4.5 stars.
Years before Audrey was born, her therapist mother became famous for writing the book Letters to My Someday Daughter. But Audrey, the Someday Daughter, feels estranged from her picture-perfect mother who mothers from afar. With the 25th anniversary of the book approaching, Audrey spends the summer on tour with her mom - falling in love, taking chances, and trying to mend her relationship with Camilla.
I love a good coming of age story, and this was so well done. The main characters have such nuance and depth. Audrey is anxious and perfectionistic and aching for approval from her mother but hating herself for wanting it. At first, I was rooting for her to go non-contact. But as the book went on, and as I got to know Camilla, I began to see that it wasn’t quite so simple.
It would have been so easy to make Camilla a flat character to hate - out of touch rich mom who pawned her kid off to boarding school, doesn’t know how to connect despite being a therapist. But I’m so glad that wasn’t the path O’Clover took. I think a key part of coming of age is the realization that our parents are just people, real people who are imperfect and make mistakes. It turns out becoming an adult doesn’t make you perfect and it doesn’t give you all the answers and sometimes we just muddle through the best we can and we apologize when we make mistakes.
Sure, there’s a romance here, and it’s nice. But to me, what really shines here is the exploration and celebration of mothers and daughters.
4.5 stars.
March 8, 2024
I saw a quote once that said "Be kind to your parents, it is their first time living too", which 1. hit really hard and 2. I was reminded of by this book.
In "The Someday Daughter" we follow Audrey, who grew up in the shadow of her mother. Her mom, Camilla, is a best selling author of the book "Letters to My Someday Daughter", where she wrote several letters addressed to a hypothetical daughter, before Audrey was even born. So Audrey not only grew in the shadow of her mom but with a specific set of expectations laid out in her mother's book.
Now all grown up Audrey realizes that she might not want to be the person, her mom wrote about in those letters. When Audrey is dragged on a book tour to commemorate the anniversary of "Letters to my Someday Daughter" instead of living out her dream of going into a pre-med program with her boyfriend, her world slowly starts to implode and she has to challenge every single expectation of herself around her, including her own.
I personally really loved Ellen O'Clovers debut "Seven Percent of Ro Devereux", so I had really high expectations going into this book. I initially thought the romance would play a bigger role, but I was actually quite happy that it didn't. I feel like this book really encapsulates girlhood and the grief but also joy that seems so omnipresent in every mother-daughter-relationship.
The discussion of anxiety and letting go of past versions of yourself and those around you made me feel all the feels and the romance aspects of the story only added to my experience. If you are wanting to read this book I would advise to really stick with Audrey. I say this because Audrey's character development did feel a little bit slow and I didn't like her in the first 40% of the book AT ALL. I say you have to stick with her because the resolution of the plot and her character development is really beautiful and with it in the end.
In "The Someday Daughter" we follow Audrey, who grew up in the shadow of her mother. Her mom, Camilla, is a best selling author of the book "Letters to My Someday Daughter", where she wrote several letters addressed to a hypothetical daughter, before Audrey was even born. So Audrey not only grew in the shadow of her mom but with a specific set of expectations laid out in her mother's book.
Now all grown up Audrey realizes that she might not want to be the person, her mom wrote about in those letters. When Audrey is dragged on a book tour to commemorate the anniversary of "Letters to my Someday Daughter" instead of living out her dream of going into a pre-med program with her boyfriend, her world slowly starts to implode and she has to challenge every single expectation of herself around her, including her own.
I personally really loved Ellen O'Clovers debut "Seven Percent of Ro Devereux", so I had really high expectations going into this book. I initially thought the romance would play a bigger role, but I was actually quite happy that it didn't. I feel like this book really encapsulates girlhood and the grief but also joy that seems so omnipresent in every mother-daughter-relationship.
The discussion of anxiety and letting go of past versions of yourself and those around you made me feel all the feels and the romance aspects of the story only added to my experience. If you are wanting to read this book I would advise to really stick with Audrey. I say this because Audrey's character development did feel a little bit slow and I didn't like her in the first 40% of the book AT ALL. I say you have to stick with her because the resolution of the plot and her character development is really beautiful and with it in the end.
February 29, 2024
Audrey is on tour with her author mother this summer celebrating the 25th anniversary of her book, Letters to My Someday Daughter. Audrey had a plan this summer and it wasn't upending her life to go all over the country with a mom who only wants to spend time with her for show. She was accepted into a program that would help her in college as premed. When her mom cancels the deposit, and the school fills her slot, she has no choice but to come along.
Audrey doesn't understand why her mother wants her with her on this tour, but she is bound and determined to not let it affect her studies. When she meets the interns, specifically Silas, she has a feelings all of her carefully laid plans would go out the window.
This was a beautiful story about communication, or lack there of, a mother's love and a girl who has to find her place in life. Audrey is rigid and when things don't go as planned she has a hard time dealing with what to do next. This summer is about to get her completely out of her comfort zone and it's in the best way.
There was even a big twist that, while I did see coming, was still super emotional and had me tearing up at the end. I loved every character in this book.
Thanks to Ellen O'Clover, Netgalley and Harper Collins for an early copy.
Audrey doesn't understand why her mother wants her with her on this tour, but she is bound and determined to not let it affect her studies. When she meets the interns, specifically Silas, she has a feelings all of her carefully laid plans would go out the window.
This was a beautiful story about communication, or lack there of, a mother's love and a girl who has to find her place in life. Audrey is rigid and when things don't go as planned she has a hard time dealing with what to do next. This summer is about to get her completely out of her comfort zone and it's in the best way.
There was even a big twist that, while I did see coming, was still super emotional and had me tearing up at the end. I loved every character in this book.
Thanks to Ellen O'Clover, Netgalley and Harper Collins for an early copy.
March 30, 2024
If you enjoy the words of Jandy Nelson, Robyn Schneider, Nina LaCour, and Allison Larkin, you’re probably going to enjoy The Someday Daughter by Ellen O’Clover,
It’s a novel about about an 18-year-old soon-to-be college freshman, who is coerced into spending her summer with her self-help superstar mother - the parent she’s never felt truly connected to.
It’s a story about resentment, familial secrets, feeling “less than,” and feeling trapped. Ultimately, The Someday Daughter is about an 18-year-old girl who discovers a shocking secret about her mother and, in doing so, comes to understand their complicated relationship much more clearly.
The narration by Taylor Meskimin is fantastic. She performs the myriad emotions Audrey experiences with such grace and sensitivity. This is the first audiobook I have listened to from this narrator, but it won’t be the last. I was completely hijacked by both the performance and the story. Five very big stars.
It’s a novel about about an 18-year-old soon-to-be college freshman, who is coerced into spending her summer with her self-help superstar mother - the parent she’s never felt truly connected to.
It’s a story about resentment, familial secrets, feeling “less than,” and feeling trapped. Ultimately, The Someday Daughter is about an 18-year-old girl who discovers a shocking secret about her mother and, in doing so, comes to understand their complicated relationship much more clearly.
The narration by Taylor Meskimin is fantastic. She performs the myriad emotions Audrey experiences with such grace and sensitivity. This is the first audiobook I have listened to from this narrator, but it won’t be the last. I was completely hijacked by both the performance and the story. Five very big stars.
November 21, 2023
ellen o’clover comes through with another fantastic contemporary YA novel that’s just as good as her debut. the someday daughter is a love letter to the burnt-out gifted kids. it’s for the mirrorball and the archer and nothing new and this is me trying girls.
my favorite thing about her books is that the romance is definitely there, but takes a secondary role (in the someday daughter even more than seven percent of ro devereux), leaving space for the main theme/arc to be mc audrey’s relationship with her mother and her own internal struggles with anxiety, self-acceptance and more. it’s such a rare thing to find in YA fiction, and one of my favorite characteristics of ellen’s writing because it makes the story so much deeper and more relatable. if you read this, prepare to feel so seen (in the best way possible).
one of the other super unique things about this book: the characters don’t feel like archetypal book characters, they feel like real people. the story is from audrey’s pov, and in the beginning it all seems black and white: camila’s the villain, ethan’s the toxic bf, etc — but the further you get into the story, the more the lines blur like how it really happens in real life. from each person’s pov, their actions seem genuinely valid and understandable. it makes the story so much more engaging and is an excellent example of art imitating life.
going back to the romance, just because it’s less at the forefront doesn’t mean it didn’t completely melt my heart. silas is so in love with audrey it isn’t even funny. he sure falls first, but they both fall harder. plus, this book has one of my favorite tropes ever: emotional hurt/comfort.
my favorite thing about her books is that the romance is definitely there, but takes a secondary role (in the someday daughter even more than seven percent of ro devereux), leaving space for the main theme/arc to be mc audrey’s relationship with her mother and her own internal struggles with anxiety, self-acceptance and more. it’s such a rare thing to find in YA fiction, and one of my favorite characteristics of ellen’s writing because it makes the story so much deeper and more relatable. if you read this, prepare to feel so seen (in the best way possible).
one of the other super unique things about this book: the characters don’t feel like archetypal book characters, they feel like real people. the story is from audrey’s pov, and in the beginning it all seems black and white: camila’s the villain, ethan’s the toxic bf, etc — but the further you get into the story, the more the lines blur like how it really happens in real life. from each person’s pov, their actions seem genuinely valid and understandable. it makes the story so much more engaging and is an excellent example of art imitating life.
going back to the romance, just because it’s less at the forefront doesn’t mean it didn’t completely melt my heart. silas is so in love with audrey it isn’t even funny. he sure falls first, but they both fall harder. plus, this book has one of my favorite tropes ever: emotional hurt/comfort.
June 17, 2024
Its’s clear that Audrey feels her mother is always using her for social media attention and yet she wants to be closer to her so that they can finally have a real relationship - the author embraced the messiness of their dynamic but I felt there was lack of resolution as the Audrey continued to be disappointed and I felt she never stood up for herself and had the redemption I was waiting for.
While I was interested to read this story of a unique mother-daughter relationship, it overall fell flat for me. It was definitely a character driven story rather than plot driven, but I felt all of the characters lacked depth - including Audrey herself, her boyfriend, as well as the intern, Silas, that she takes interest in - which led to lack of chemistry between them.
** thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and chance to read and review **
While I was interested to read this story of a unique mother-daughter relationship, it overall fell flat for me. It was definitely a character driven story rather than plot driven, but I felt all of the characters lacked depth - including Audrey herself, her boyfriend, as well as the intern, Silas, that she takes interest in - which led to lack of chemistry between them.
** thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and chance to read and review **
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