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.

[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

[Claire Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but not much better than that. I do love a story about fighting for the right to vote. But these four women were not drawn in enough detail. Each seemed to represent a kind of type. It did capture very well the total disdain and disregard and fury that men had about suffragettes. And if you thought forced feeding was anything other than horrific these descriptions will set you straight.

[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.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Fiction has always been my favorite genre. I love learning about the past and events and people through a beautifully written story.

I often wonder which characters of the historical books I read, I would have been. I know who I resonate with now-because my life experiences have made me who I am today. But I also believe strongly that at my core I am me and no matter when or where I was born I would still have the same passion for people and their inalienable rights.

So with Charlotte, Beatrice, Emily, Jessie, and Sadie I stand. Fighting for the rights of women to vote. To count. To matter. How deeply grateful I am as woman, to live in a time and place where my rights are established upon the backs, and lives of the women who went before me. The women who went through awful, disgusting, hard things, so that I could enjoy the rights not afforded to them.

There are things in this story that some people are not going to appreciate, or agree with, and that’s ok. But I do feel like Brigitte brought to life in a real way, many of the real trials suffragettes faced. Her characters all feel all the feels-rejection, doubt, the need to just submit, the desire to stand up, the hardship of real and scary sacrifice. While it’s not always a pretty picture that she paints, she has done so very tactfully, and I am impressed at what she was able to accomplish with this story.

It’s not for everyone, but it was most definitely for me.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the suffragette movement in London in the early twentieth century. Well developed characters and great writing. Loved it from beginning to end.

[Michael Doane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Daughters is a vivid, emotionally grounded work of historical fiction that places friendship at the heart of political struggle. Set in London in 1912, the novel follows three young women drawn into the suffrage movement not as symbols, but as individuals whose desires, limitations, and loyalties are constantly tested by a system designed to constrain them.

Brigitte Dale’s greatest achievement is her handling of contrast. Charlotte, Beatrice, and Emily come from sharply different social positions educated yet constrained, privileged yet powerless, working-class and deeply vulnerable but the novel resists easy hierarchy. Each woman encounters freedom as something partial and conditional, and the suffrage movement becomes both a source of purpose and a crucible that exposes the cost of resistance.

The historical detail is precise without overwhelming the narrative. Dale depicts protests, hunger strikes, and the brutality of forced feedings with restraint and clarity, allowing the stakes to emerge through lived experience rather than spectacle. Holloway Prison, in particular, functions as both setting and symbol a place where the law’s violence becomes undeniable, especially for women caught between obedience and survival.

What gives The Good Daughters its emotional weight is its attention to choice. Activism here is not romanticized as inevitable or purely heroic; it is shown as a series of risks taken with incomplete information and real consequences. Romantic attachment, family obligation, and economic precarity all complicate the women’s commitment to the cause, forcing them to reckon with how much they are willing to sacrifice not only for political freedom, but for one another.

At its core, this is a novel about solidarity under pressure. Dale portrays the suffrage movement not as a monolith, but as a fragile network sustained by trust, courage, and shared vulnerability. The Good Daughters honors the historical fight for equality while remaining deeply attentive to the private costs borne by those who dared to participate.

[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.

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖 Throughout time, if you listen closely you can hear the cries from the underrepresented populations pleading for equal access (basically anyone who is not a cisgender white man in the western world). And while over a century has passed since the woman’s suffrage movement in England, the themes resonate loudly in our current milieu. Brigitte Daly delves into a raw and riveting account of three young women’s experience on the streets and behind bars in the fight to have their voices heard and votes counted.

History has repeatedly shown that many individuals cannot be bothered about a cause until it directly impacts them and The Good Daughters brilliantly demonstrates this through multilayered storytelling. But change is made through deeds not words and this inspiring novel stokes this flame of activism that resound through the decades.

[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!

[Lisa Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful novel, which I picked up randomly at the library, is the first one in years that I've read without checking any reviews beforehand. Debut novelist Brigitte Dale has crafted a compelling tale of three young women from different socioeconomic circles during the suffrage movement in pre-WW1 England. The book is written in a multi-narrative format and is meticulously researched. As Charlotte, Beatrice, and Emily each embark on their suffrage journey, they confront what it means to be a good daughter. I loved this novel, loved the ending, and can't wait to see what else Dale writes in the future!

[AnnaDea Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been deeply moved by stories of the women who fought for the right to vote. Reading this now feels especially powerful, as we once again see “votes for women” stickers and conversations resurface.

Through the lives of Charlotte, Sadie, Beatrice, and Emily, the book captures love, loss, and the quiet bravery it took to demand change. Their stories are both devastating and gripping, showing just how much was at stake for progress to be made.

What struck me most is how familiar that struggle feels. The sacrifices these women made echo uncomfortably in the present, reminding us that progress has always come at a cost—and still does.

[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.

[John Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Daughters is a poignant and powerful story of three women united by their fight for suffrage in 1912 London. Charlotte, Beatrice, and Emily come from different backgrounds, but their shared commitment to the cause of equality bonds them in unexpected and sometimes dangerous ways. The novel is filled with heart-wrenching moments and vivid depictions of the suffragette movement’s sacrifices. Though the pacing can slow down in some areas, the emotional depth and the bravery of the characters make this an inspiring and thought-provoking read.

[Eric Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the best book of 2025, maybe ever!! Phenomenal research and compelling writing and story telling resulted in an incredible read that stays with you long after you read the last page. Run, don’t walk, to your local bookstore and get this asap - and then shut the door, turn off the phone, and read it!!

[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.

[Brenna Bonner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about the suffrage movement in London and the women who put their lives on the line to gain the vote. The only drawback is that the subplot between Beatrice and Sadie overshadows the main plot of the WSPU in the last third of the book.

[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.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly powerful, raw and moving. I learned so much about this time of history. I have unending gratitude now for these women who gave their lives to give women a voice.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75