The Good Daughters: A Novel

by Brigitte Dale

A moving and vivid story of three suffragettes in London and the battle for equality that tests the strength of their will and the bonds of their friendship.

In 1912, three young women from wildly different backgrounds are bound together by their desire to have a say in their future.

Charlotte, disappointed to discover that college isn’t the key to the freedom she longed for, shocks her family when she moves to London and joins a group of suffragettes willing to upend social norms for the vote. Aristocratic Beatrice, with a law degree she legally can’t put into practice and a fiancé she’s not particularly excited to marry, escapes to London to spend her last months of unmarried life with the suffragettes, and falls deeply—and dangerously—into forbidden love. Emily, the daughter of the warden of the infamous Holloway Jail, grieves her mother and saves her wages for a better life outside the prison’s walls. Her best chance at escaping the drudgery of her life is to stay out of trouble, but when the suffragettes land in her father’s cells, she must consider risking not only her family’s livelihood, but her own future.

With the dangerous stakes of the suffrage campaign becoming a fight for the women’s bodies and lives, they enter a treacherous world where the laws and justice system are stacked against them. They face violent protests, hunger strikes, and brutal forced feedings, and the women must decide how much they are willing to risk for their freedom and for each other.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Brigitte Dale is an author, editor, and historian. She graduated from Brown University and earned her master's degree in women's history at Yale University. A book editor by day and an author by night (or early morning), Brigitte lives in Connecticut. The Good Daughters is her first novel.

Reviews

[Brigitte Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book. Its characters live and breathe in my heart and I can’t wait for you all to enter their world. In 1912 London, four young women fight for the right to vote, forging a fierce friendship amid the turmoil of a political campaign that will test them in unimaginable ways. This novel is a fictionalization of years of research and everything is based on real people and events. I hope you fall in love with these courageous, flawed, passionate women.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the stories of the women who fought for the right to vote- it resonates even today as you see another round of "votes for women" stickers pop up.
The book focuses on the experiences of Charlotte, Sadie, Beatrice and Emily.
All four of these women love and lose on the way to earning the right to vote and their stories are heartbreaking and captivating. I loved the showcase of conflict, you really felt what these women had to lose in order to make progress and it's very similar to what some people are fighting for, and losing, today.
The pacing was great, tone was consistent, and the audiobook was really well narrated.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Daughters (thank you #gifted @pegasusbooks ) is the most gripping historical fiction I've read in a long time.

I knew it would be something special from the author's note at the beginning, when Dale talks about truths buried until now.

The first part of the novel sets the stage, introducing us to our suffragettes in England in 1912: Charlotte, an outspoken college student who doesn't fit in; Beatrice, a wealthy student with secrets in her past; and Emily, the warden of Holloway Jail's daughter.

I don't want to give away what happens, but once the women began making real sacrifices to draw attention to their cause, I couldn't stop turning the pages.

And it not only looks at the struggle to get women the right to vote, but also class differences, friendship, and women's lack of agency.

Historical fiction is always at its best when you see parallels reflected in today's culture. The choice to get involved, to speak up despite the risks, is very real both then and now. "That's the thing about invisibility. It isn't a passive choice. It's an everyday commitment. And she realizes, for the first time, that she is no longer willing to commit." 4.5 stars

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful novel that resurrects forgotten suffragist voices, reminding us why every ballot still whispers “Votes for Women.”

Thank you to Pegasus Books for #gifting me a print copy of this heartfelt and powerful novel—a luminous moment in Global Women’s History. At a time when the deeds of early suffragists are being forgotten and their courage overlooked, The Good Daughters feels more necessary than ever. Without stories like this, I would not be a full citizen in my own country—simply because I was born female.

So many everyday freedoms—voting, participating in local government, contributing to my work community, even having my own bank account—stem from the bravery of women like Charlotte, Emily, and Beatrice. Set in England in 1912, these three challenge the limits of their agency and social space, daring to claim their own futures in a society that deemed them little more than children.

Each woman represents a different facet of British society: Charlotte, an outspoken college student; Emily, from a distinguished family whose life is shadowed by personal secrets; and Beatrice, the daughter of Holloway Jail’s warden. Together, they illuminate how far we’ve come in 110+ years—and how much remains unchanged.

Though Charlotte, Emily, and Beatrice are fictional, their lives echo the countless unnamed women whose stories were never recorded in the HIS-story books. Through Brigitte Dale’s gifted pen, their voices rise—and when your ballot arrives in the mail, you’ll smile, nod, and whisper: “Votes for Women. Amen, Sister.”

[Janereads10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever thought what it would be like to be a suffragette? The Good Daughter follows three women from different social backgrounds who became unlikely friends and allies in the fight for women's rights in early 20th-century England.

What Worked for Me
What really caught my attention was the inner turmoil each woman had to overcome to join the cause. Emilia dreamed of a better life—stability, safety, not worrying about food. Her conflict? Was she willing to sacrifice that dream, her safety, and her father's reputation to fight for her voice? Beatrice, a brilliant lawyer in a forbidden romance, faced pressure to marry for societal expectations. Could she risk losing her family's support? And Charlotte had fierce determination until she endured torture that nearly killed her. Would she be willing to go through that again?

These personal conflicts kept me deeply invested in each character. Dale didn't just show us the historical fight for the vote, she showed us what it cost these women on an intimate, human level.

What Didn't Work
Honestly? Not much. This one really delivered for me.

Who Should Read This
If you love historical fiction with strong character development and are drawn to stories about women fighting for their voices to be heard, this is for you. Perfect for fans of feminist historical novels that feel relevant today.

Final Thoughts
This novel explores the fight for women's equality, not just the right to vote, but the right to be seen as equals in society. Inspiring, empowering, and completely relevant today. An easy 5-star read.

Thank you Pegasus Books for my gifted review copy. All opinions, are of course my own.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel focuses on the experiences of Charlotte, Sadie, Beatrice and Emily. Charlotte can’t wait to go to school and leave the home of her stepfather and mother. At the boardinghouse, she meets Bea, who introduces her to a group of women involved with the local suffrage movement. There Charlotte meets Sadie who she moves in with once she is expelled from the boardinghouse. Friendship and loyalty bind these courageous women through arrest, prison sentences, hunger strikes, forced feedings, abuse. And then there is the prison warden’s daughter, Emily, whose heart is drawn to the fight as she watches the women come and go from the prison, exposed to the brutal way they are treated. The stories of these 4 women and the others who worked tirelessly, who were ridiculed, estranged from their families, are the reason why women can vote today.

I really enjoyed this novel as it showed the parallels of what was going on in London and in the U.S. as women on both sides of the Atlantic fought for the right to vote. I was amazed by their perseverance and dedication to this cause despite all the setbacks is and personal suffering they endured.

Thank you to @pegasus_books @simonbooks @simonandschuster for a #gifted finished copy of this novel.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely immersed in this story about the women's suffragette movement in England -- their strength, struggles, and determination despite the personal costs. Brigitte Dale transports the reader to early 20th century England to tell the story of Charlotte, Emily, Bea, and Sadie— four young women from vastly different backgrounds who unite in purpose to fight for a common cause. A feminist tale of strength and sacrifice, The Good Daughters is at times heart-breaking, but Dale balances those moments with ones of tenderness, hope, and victory. I found myself in tears as the characters cried out: ‘I will be a woman! I will place myself in line with the great forces of womanhood which are stirring in the world today.’ A timely novel and a rousing debut that will motivate others for many years to come.

[Elizabeth Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 bumped to 4 stars. this is definitely a book with a point of view. This is a feminist, historical novel telling the story of 3 young suffragettes in 1912 London. Even though it is a fictional retelling, the things the women in the story went through are real, which is frightening. Through their fight, these young women become friends, and much of the story is how they supported and worked together. It's amazing and harrowing what these women went through and were willing to do for a cause they believed in-whether it was being imprisoned, hunger strikes and physical force pushed against them. Justice was not on their side. It is a story of bravery and what women did to pave the way for the rights women now have. reading this reminded me of how grateful I am for women who were determined no matter the cost and didn't give up.

[PAMELA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written novel that brings to light a previously footnoted chapter of history about the struggle and sacrifice women made in the quest for the right to vote and the pursuit for equality in London in the early 1900s. The author's scholarly research and passion are evident throughout and she makes this important history accessible for all with compelling characters based on the real heroines who embraced this fight - with their whole hearts and bodies on the line. I was rooting for these young suffragettes and marching with them every step of the way! A must read for all who care about history, women's rights and great story telling. Bravo on this wonderful debut novel!

[Katie (katieladyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at the fight for women’s voting rights in London and while I enjoyed the history and it’s significance I would caution readers of content warning due to some of the depictions of the treatment in the prison and during the protests were very unsettling to me and could have been described less graphically but I understand the author wanted to represent how horrific these actions were. Overall, an emotional yet inspirational historical fiction about women’s rights. Reminded me how ruthlessly women had to fight for a right many of us take for granted nowadays.

[Erin O · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! A timely fictional reminder of the long battle to secure Votes for Women — a right we must never take for granted and continue to protect. And an ode to the trailblazers of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s go Brigitte!

[LisaK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the women in this book . Powerful story with lessons of history. Highly recommend!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Great characters, tough to put down.