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My Daughter's Revenge

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My first mistake was raising my daughter to be just like me…

His death is reported on the morning news. The man my daughter’s been dating. Dead. Gone…

I blink slowly – once, twice, three times. The hair on the back of my neck rises as I grip my coffee harder. My breath comes in short bursts.

I didn’t even know he existed until recently. Leah doesn’t tell me anything anymore. But I found the letters she hid. I know she fell head over heels for him. That he broke her heart.

And that he’s dead now.

I wish more than anything that the news is only shocking because of who it is, and what’s happened to him.

But I know my daughter too well for that.

My first mistake was raising my daughter to be just like me.

My second mistake might be what I do to protect her…

An absolutely gripping suspense thriller that will have your heart pounding. Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and
The Family Upstairs .

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2024

558 people are currently reading
634 people want to read

About the author

Natali Simmonds

7 books49 followers

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5 stars
407 (48%)
4 stars
297 (35%)
3 stars
106 (12%)
2 stars
27 (3%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
Profile Image for Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr.
3,266 reviews36.5k followers
August 11, 2024
Secrets and lies are the name of the game in My Daughter's Revenge. This book centers around a mother and daughter, the secrets they have, their feelings, their need to feel love, and their feelings about being betrayed.

Jules is the mother and has been married to her husband for quite some time. She feels that they are going through the emotions, and he has been distant a lot lately even staying out all night after drinks with work colleagues. Leah is Julies' teenage daughter. She is growing up and keeping secrets from her parents. One of those secrets involves a much older man.

This book looks at marriages, relationships, obsession, jealousy, lying, revenge, hurt, friendship, and betrayal. This psychological thriller does a good job at showing the vulnerabilities in people, the dysfunction in others, and the nastiness in others. The author also did a fine job showing both Jules and Leah's thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

I found the plot to be intriguing but wished the book had moved at a slightly faster pace. Some parts felt slow, and I wondered when things were ever going to pick up. But I was patient, and my patience paid off. Things ramp out toward the end of the book, and everything does come together.

*I listened to audiobook and thought that the narrators did a fantastic job.

This is my first book by Natalie Simmonds, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

Profile Image for Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird.
1,398 reviews103 followers
November 22, 2024
Audiobook review.
Not had an audiobook this gripping in such a long time!
Only started it yesterday and I've just finished.
Couldn't stop listening as I was desperate to see how the events played out.
There is so much drama, made even more fascinating by the different POVs of Jules and her daughter Leah.
There were some parts I did see coming, but I loved it, and Simmonds takes it so much further than the twists I had predicted.
The narrators were absolutely superb. The actors both fit the characters incredibly well, and it was a fabulous performance from them both.
Highly recommend the audiobook. Can't wait for more from Simmonds and these talented narrators.
Profile Image for Jayne.
1,033 reviews673 followers
August 8, 2024


I was the wrong reader for this book.

Although I am a huge fan of revenge thrillers, I do not enjoy revenge thrillers with TMI about protagonists' sex lives.

I lost track of the number of times the protagonist complained about her husband's lack of sexual libido.

Details about how the protagonist's daughter lost her virginity to a much older man?

Sorry, NOT FOR ME!

But it was when the protagonist said "My husband walked into the room wearing boxers and all I wanted to do was put my hands down his pants", I told myself "Enough is enough!" and I pushed the STOP button.

I listened to the audiobook read by Izzy Meikle-Small and Claire Storey.

Both narrators did a fine job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you like a high level of "spice" with your revenge thrillers, this would be the perfect book for you.
Profile Image for Melany.
1,290 reviews153 followers
July 19, 2024
I am mindblown. I did not expect ANY OF THIS to happen. Truly makes you stay on the edge of your seat. 60-70% of it is the lead up to what's going on. Then boom the author hits you left and right with twist after twist. I truly loved how this played out. I was SHOCKED by the ending. A truly remarkable book with amazing writing by Natali Simmonds. You will NOT expect the twists and love every minute of it like i did. 5 stars!


I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
Profile Image for Megan The Book WHOaRdEr.
43 reviews29 followers
September 1, 2024
Very slow and drawn out. Should've focused on the revenge thriller it was supposed to be and not the pedophilia, masterbation and sex. Could've skipped the entire book and read the last few chapters and put together the storyline.
Profile Image for Ali.
203 reviews34 followers
August 9, 2024
It was a bit of a slow burn but the pay off was soooooo worth it! I could not stop listening to the narrator was fantastic. The story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
Profile Image for Julie (JuJu).
1,166 reviews221 followers
August 20, 2024
Who would have thought "My Daughter's Revenge" would captivate me so thoroughly? As someone who judges books by their covers, I fell in love with this stunning one, and boy, was it worth it! With its gripping mother-daughter thriller premise and rave reviews, I didn't hesitate to dive in.

The story alternates between the perspectives of Jules, the mother, and her almost 17-year-old daughter, Leah. Their tumultuous relationship, Leah's enigmatic nature, and the mounting tension in the plot kept me hooked from the get-go.

Opting for the audiobook was a clever choice, as it heightened the suspenseful moments, keeping me glued to my seat and bracing for the worst. Trust me, it only gets more intense! After experiencing all the drama, I couldn't help but be grateful for having a son instead of a daughter.

The author's writing style is so gripping that I found it impossible to put the book down. Plus, it's on Kindle Unlimited! This is a book you don't want to miss. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading her previous book, "Good Girls Die Last."

Thanks to Bookouture/Hachette Audio for providing this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#MyDaughtersRevenge #NataliSimmonds #BookoutureAudio #HachetteAudio #Audiobook #NetGalley
Profile Image for Els .
2,265 reviews53 followers
June 27, 2024
This author is new to me and it's always existing to find out what she will have in store for me.

She most certainly does not disappoint and she treats us to a splendid book. Lies, deceit, manipulation and revenge are a few of the ingredients the author uses to concoct this delicious story. 

Does anyone ever deserve to die? No, I don't think so, because death is to easy. Spending the rest of their lives behind bars is a much better punishment, but on the other hand there are people I would not shed one single tear for if they should stop breathing. I would be utterly shocked by the early demise of others though...

The author left me nodding form time to time when somehting I hoped for happened indeed  and sometimes she left me flabbergasted.

I loved this book very, very much. Looking forward to more books by this writer. 5 stars

Thank you
481 reviews8 followers
August 10, 2024
This pov actioned packed domestic thriller was a real binge listen. The story felt relatively short. The narration was good it kept me invested in the characters. The story felt very real. The inner monologue of mum kept you hooked as you realised she could be the voice of any mother feeling underapreciated and unloved but determined to protect her daughter.
The burb was cleverly written as it set my expectations to be something different but I eas blown away by the plot. I did gueese bits. Loved the red herrings and the ending was awesome. It blew me away as the dark horse emerged.
Thank you some much to netgallery and publisher and author and narrators for this 5 star listen.
Profile Image for Jo Lee.
1,166 reviews23 followers
August 14, 2024
Happy publication day 🎉🥳

This was outstanding! I’m a bit mind blown.

A disturbing domestic thriller, I was absolutely gripped. The dual telling of the story from both mother and daughter was super smart. The majority of the story is really the build up to the blurb, but the unfolding events have you completely riveted in a way that almost makes you forget that fact.

A blow by blow shocking storyline with killer twists that I did not see coming, and a phenomenal jaw drop ending!

The dual narration by Izzy Meikle-Small and Claire Storey was amazing, both added drama suspense and believability.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ELC.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,612 reviews140 followers
August 13, 2024
My daughter‘s revenge by Natali Simmonds and narrated by icy Meikle Small and Claire story. After reading the summary I was led to believe this was going to be a thriller and although lately I have noticed some thriller writers like to add detail sex in their books… Which I find to be pointless but in this book I think Miss Simmons took it to the nth degree. Not to mention the pedophilia because pedophilia is pedophilia is pedophilia. I don’t care what kind of artistic been you think you’re creating with underage sex especially one with an older man but to have to go through it over and over in the book I not only found daunting but once again pointless not to mention the mother who in my opinion was so vain not to mention the stupid app in the book that is supposed to be anonymous but you can sync the confessions down to those in your neighborhood… That makes no sense. I’m starting to sound like an angry middle-age woman in my apologies I just like to spend my weekends listening to audiobooks and this one and another one I’ve read this past week and made for a horrible couple of days. It seems like I always pick good books a few in a row in the same with bad ones and sadly I did not like this book I didn’t like the detailed sex the characters in by the time the murder happened I didn’t even care what happened to her daughter whose name I already forgot. When I noticed Claire story was narating the book and saw it was a thriller mystery I thought I was in for a great treat and with the exception of her narration I totally was not. I cannot think of any redeeming qualities about this book it seem like every chapter from the mom bemoaning her son going to Ibiza or Ibiza… Sorry or her daughter going to the savage music festival, to the gum and use condoms her daughter like collecting, to her husband preferring to eat pizza in a rented lot and not inviting her to everything else I just did not enjoy this book and did I mention the unnecessary masturbation and pedophilia?
Profile Image for Lee.
1,040 reviews124 followers
July 16, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable book by another new author to me, again the beauty of Netgalley.

An array of characters that come together to provide a fabulous thriller, ferocious in its intensity that take us on a thrilling ride. Jules is at that stage of life in her early forties where she is struggling, she feels she is no longer appreciated at work and life has become predictable regarding her relationships with her family and her husband, a family that all have major problems and personalities that leave a lot to be desired. Her daughter Leah is madly in love with a man she has met named Dylan, but then there is a new twist as he becomes one of her teachers and this then sets up the plot which is quite dark but very compelling.

Secrets and lies are rife and these egotistical and self-centered characters really bring this story to life. Disloyalties and revenge are off the scale, all providing the reader with a very entertaining book. I do not want to say anymore about the plot as this is one of those books the least you know the better. An explosive ending that was extremely well thought out by the author and a credit to her.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Eva.
957 reviews530 followers
August 14, 2024
Unlikeable characters? Check!
Dysfunctional family? Check!
Train-wreck you can’t tear your eyes away from? Check!

The story starts with a sudden death that leaves the community reeling. The deceased’s name isn’t disclosed in the prologue but it’s obvious Jules and her daughter, Leah, might just know a thing or two. Rewind to four weeks before this unfortunate event.

Jules feels entirely invisible. Her apparently clueless husband doesn’t seem to notice her, and her children are busy living their own lives. Jules feels lonely, unattractive, unappreciated. At home, and at work. Despite the fact that many of her feelings are completely relatable, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed with her for not speaking up and letting people know she was struggling.

Jules’ daughter, Leah, is somewhat troubled. At school, a slightly dark cloud hangs above her head for her obsessive and stalkerish behaviour concerning a boy. Now, Leah would just really like to not be a virgin anymore, thank you very much. But boys her own age won’t do. She knows exactly the kind of guy she’d like to be her first. You know what they say: be careful what you wish for. I couldn’t quite warm to Leah either. Sure, my teenage years are centuries behind me, so I found it tough to care about her issues. Especially when you know that in hindsight, when you’re allegedly an adult, it all ends up being so trivial.

These two characters are on a road to disaster. As a mother, Jules will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe. But is she a killer? Or did Leah commit the ultimate sin? I couldn’t figure it out and kept going back and forth between the two. All the lies and the secrets had me absolutely glued to the pages. I couldn’t swipe them fast enough to discover the truth and then … oooooh, what a delicious sting in the tail! You could have knocked me over with a feather.

‘My Daughter’s Revenge’ is a brilliant psychological thriller. Full of suspense, it is a story about family, about obsession, and about how far you’d go to protect the ones you love. This addictive page-turner kept me guessing until the end and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I’m definitely keeping an eye on Natali Simmonds.
Profile Image for Scott Garrison.
Author 1 book135 followers
August 16, 2024
I'm not sure what to say about this book. I liked parts of it and disliked the other parts. The premise is great! Maybe I shouldn't have read the summary because it made it sound like it was going to go in a completely different direction than it actually did. I found the two many characters to be so unlikeable. I don't feel like they had any redeeming qualities. I've read books with unlikable characters before, but some of the choices made by these two characters, made me cringe.

The book already has great reviews, which is great! I know this book will be well received as more people discover it. It was just not necessarily the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Jessica Bicakcic.
3 reviews
August 6, 2024
This was a quick easy read I finished in one day. I wasn’t attached or Interested in the characters there wasn’t enough development for me. The twist in the end was great and the lead up kept me intrigued the entire time. I just wanted more from the two main characters.
Profile Image for Cyndi.
1,345 reviews41 followers
May 21, 2025
This is an exceptionally twisted and suspenseful audiobook with amazing dual narrators about some very flawed characters, the horrible decisions they make, and the consequences they must face from this. This was gripping throughout and well-paced with a shocking ending. For fans of B. A. Paris and Alice Feeney.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Bookouture Audio and Natali Simmonds for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,126 reviews102 followers
September 21, 2024
I enjoyed this twisty read that was full of horrible characters. The story primarily focuses on mother Jules and teenage daughter Leah, both who are struggling. Jules is feeling impotent at work and is worried her husband is cheating on her. Leah is just a spoiled brat who is used to getting her own way and tends to be obsessive over boys.

It is hard to root for either one of these characters but somehow the author has managed to make me do just that by introducing even more horrible characters that we can all hate together! I found Jules to be super annoying, constantly whining about her age and her weight and any number of things that were all in her own head, not to mention the horrible invasion of Leah’s privacy when she starts trying to figure out what Leah is actually involved in. I am hopeful that Leah just needs to grow up, and perhaps the sobering experience from what happens in the book will help her do so. Despite my disconnection with the characters, I did really enjoy the story itself, as it was fast paced and included a surprise twist. I really liked the way it all wrapped up after everything was said and done.

Overall, this was a fast paced and twisty read that you’ll like unless you are put off by unlikable main characters. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nicinha || Nicinha_book’s.
666 reviews14 followers
Read
May 16, 2025
Um livro que não lhe chamaria um verdadeiro thriller, que me desculpem mas é a minha opinião.

Começamos a saber que alguém morreu.
Quem morreu? Não sabemos
Quem matou? Bom achamos que pertence àquela família.

E a família… ai que família.
Bom temos Leah, a adolescente petulante e mal educada, que se mete com um homem, mais velho, o Dylan. Ela vê-se confrontada este homem num certo ambiente, e leva com os pés.
E se querem saber quem este homem, pois não vou contar.
Será que ela tem os requintes de malvadez para se vingar??

Reece, irmão de Leah, capaz de tudo para defender a sua irmã.
Ele conhece este homem, e sabe particularidades sobre ele.

Adam, o pai, marido, e no final de contas em todo o enredo é um perfeito banana.

Sobra a Jules, esta mulher enervou-me do principio até ao fim. Uma intrometida, só me apetecia dar-lhe dois estaladões e gritar-lhe arranja um vidaaaa!!
Ela mete-se na vida do filho. Ela sufoca a filha. E com o marido, nem comento.
Todos fazem o que querem, ela e uma criada, uma coisa que para ali anda. Mas ela acha que tem grande importância porque vive a vida dos filhos e do marido. Arranja uma vida mulher!!!
Ate parece que me ouviu, no último terço do livro ela vai arranjar uma vida, e resolver a vida dos restantes membros.
Ao que estará Jules disposta para recuperar o seu casamento?
E o que estará Jules disposta a arriscar para defender a filha?

Vão ler! E apanhar um camadão de nervos como eu.
Profile Image for Mackenzie Paul-Majors.
112 reviews83 followers
August 14, 2024
What is it about? Two women. A mother and a daughter who both necessitate men’s attentions. The daughter is 16-turns 17 and the mother is in her late 40’s but they both make terrible choices due to needing a mans’ validation to make them feel worthy.

The daughter wants to lose her virginity to an experienced, older man and so she searches out that perfect guy (in her young and insecure eyes). She lies about her age and as the story turns the lie becomes a very complicated problem.

The characters: daughter: Full of teenage angst, lonely, no self-esteem. Self-involved. Mother: lonely, no self-esteem. Protective of her family. Sad. Son: a drug dealer, a happy-go-lucky guy. The father: full of hobbies of his own and puts his family somewhere after himself, his interests, and his work. Dylan: read to find out ☺️

How I felt about it? This was what I would describe as an “domestic/psychological thriller and murder mystery.” This was exciting, fun, entertaining, surprising, and really fun to read with plenty of red herrings for the reader so the twist is very good and unexpected. All loose ends are tied up beautifully. 5 ⭐️ read for me.

Thank you NetGalley for an audible version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Leandra.
501 reviews16 followers
August 31, 2025
Um homem aparece morto e nas notícias afirmam ter-se tratado de um suicídio. No entanto, há quem saiba que não é disso que se trata.
A história recua quatro semanas e aí ficamos a conhecer Jules e a sua filha Leah.
Enquanto a Jules é uma mulher à beira dos 50 anos que sente o peso da idade, tanto no seio familiar como em contexto profissional, Leah é uma adolescente/jovem adulta que quer experienciar vivências tal como as suas amigas.
Numa ida a um festival é tomada uma decisão que vai influenciar a vida de toda a família e vai prender o leitor até à última página.
Há vários segredos na família, o que leva a mal entendidos e a tomadas de decisões que podem ser mortais.
Há várias reviravoltas e novas situações que vão surgindo com o avançar da história e me levaram a questionar a forma como a autora ia encaixar tudo.
O final foi surpreendente e deixou-me boquiaberta nas últimas linhas.

SPOILER:
É mencionado um acontecimento do passado que prende o leitor e a autora nunca esclarece acerca do que realmente se passou. Esta situação aborreceu-me.
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,232 reviews131 followers
August 11, 2024
Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Daughter’s Revenge is a smart revenge thriller with two imperfect female leads with retribution on their minds.
Jules feels unappreciated in her own family and work life.
Her husband Adam makes her feel invisible, her son Reece disappears constantly and her daughter Leah is at the difficult teen stage.
Leah meets Dylan at a music festival and loses her virginity.
This sets off a chain of events that brings secrets and lies to the surface and brings danger into their lives.
A fast paced melodrama with hints of abstruseness and a strong ending.
The plot is engaging and interesting creating uncertainty for the reader allowing them to have many different scenarios of guesses.
A series of complex layers of doubt about who to trust lifts the narrative.
I quite enjoyed this book, the twist was favourable and I was cheering on the leads even though they did make silly decisions.
And who doesn’t like a good revenge thriller, right!
Once I started reading, I needed answers and I couldn’t stop.
Profile Image for L.
160 reviews
August 28, 2024
I love a good revenge story. So much that I've watched Revenge on Hulu probably 7x. So I requested this audiobook on @netgalley and was super excited when I was approved for the audio arc!

Leah is your typical boy-obsessed teenager.... Except for the fact that she literally got obsessed with a boy. She ends up in therapy, where her therapist recommends she write down all of her big feelings and then burn the letter. And it sort of works for a little bit. Until she goes to a music festival with her friends. She discovers a new obsession, and so begins the end of life as her entire family knows it.

There were quite a few curve balls in this book. Everyone has secrets and a few of them threw me for a loop. The narration was good, but not my favorite. I would still recommend this book if you like revenge plots and plot twists.

#netgalley #audiobook #thriller
Profile Image for Sherry Steveson.
501 reviews18 followers
August 7, 2024
This audiobook frustrated the heck out of me. Pacing was really slow and inner dialogue of the main characters were exhausting and repetitive. The voice of Jules comes across older than 48 and the tone from this character swings wildly from insecure to outraged and then wildly accusatory. Her husband’s pathetic excuses for not having conversations with his wife don’t seem plausible. The daughter’s actions show her immaturity and really became a source of frustration for me.
Our “villain” was portrayed like a cardboard cutout. All he needed was a mustache to twirl to add a laughable quality to this pathetic portrayal. The ending pulled it up from a 2 star to 3 stars because it was pretty satisfying even if we never know “how” this character puts the pieces together of what’s been happening.

This could have used a giant edit of 75 pages to really make it a compelling story and give our female characters more backbone.
Profile Image for Jill.
240 reviews32 followers
August 17, 2024
3.5* for a good, twisty ending… This story, primarily about a complicated mother/daughter relationship was captivating at the start, but definitely was a bit of a slow burn if you’re looking for nonstop action in your revenge drama genre. The characters aren’t especially likable, but that’s to be expected from the start. I found it enjoyable to listen to the two narrators…they kept it flowing and enticing.
There was a bit too much detail in the sexual realm for my taste…we got the message. It almost had a YA vibe, but I give it props for an unexpected ending!
I’m intrigued enough to look into more by Simmonds.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
Profile Image for S.
533 reviews12 followers
August 21, 2024
This was definitely my type of book. I love ❤️ when I am hit from every turn with a plot or twist that I didn’t see coming. I loved this book.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Christi.
203 reviews6 followers
August 9, 2024
This was slow going for a lot of the book. I didn’t care for the characters but I think that was the point. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me intested.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Profile Image for  Jody Reads Smut.
1,101 reviews258 followers
June 29, 2024
I am new to this author, and I hope to read more by her in the near future. The novel is a very dark and complex story with characters who are also rather villains who do vile things. Such issues as lying, betrayal, mind games, and revenge are among the components that the author uses to create this tasty plot. Just saying this is a wild rollercoaster journey does not even come close to what it actually was. With characters you will love to hate and superb writing, I highly recommend this heart-stopping read.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Author 2 books49 followers
August 14, 2024
I received an audiobook review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

DNF at 10%

I was interested in this book because of the thriller aspect implicit in the premise, however, I found that it felt more like a look at middle age, a bit like THE ANNIVERSARY. We absolutely need books about life in your 40s, the impact it has on relationships, but I wanted a thriller about a woman trying to contain her daughter taking revenge on an ex, and that wasn't present in this from the start, instead it was about a woman lamenting her changing relationships with her husband and kids.
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