Dreamer's Daughter: Surviving My Childhood and Raising My Father

by Lori Thicke

A daughter’s life-affirming memoir about surviving her impoverished childhood, and her eccentric and misguided father who failed spectacularly at everything—except being a loving parent, for readers of Cea Sunrise Person’s North of Normal, and Pauline Dakin’s Run, Hide, Repeat.

In a mining town where hope is as tapped out as the gold, a mother abandons her two children, leaving them in the custody of their free-spirited father. Colorful and larger-than-life, Dacker is a dreamer who fails spectacularly at everything except loving his kids. When they lose everything in a house fire, Dacker considers this the ultimate freedom and leads his children on a cross-country road trip that will force them to rely on his wits and dubious judgment. Amid the chaos, Lori must raise herself and her younger brother—and, on occasion, her father. When she strives for independence, she discovers that it’s hard to leave home when home has wheels and keeps following you around.

A coming-of-age memoir in the tradition of Run Hide Repeat and North of Normal, Dreamer’s Daughter is a life-affirming story about forgiving our parents—and ourselves. It’s a celebration of the love we find in even the most unconventional families, and how sometimes we need to leave home to find our way back.

Genres: Memoir, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dreamer's Daughter is the best memoir I've read this year! With each page turned, I laughed and cried and nodded along. This story is not just Lori Thicke's life, it is the story of women in Canada and the world, women who develop the resilience to survive tough childhoods and the courage to follow their dreams. This book brims with hope and heart.

[Laura McDonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of memoirs that explore the messy, unhinged, and deeply complex bonds between parents and children - specifically those in the vein of The Glass Castle or Educated - then Dreamer’s Daughter is an absolute must-read.

Lori Thicke delivers a captivating account of her childhood, centered around a father who is as much a source of inspiration as he is a weight to carry. The narrative beautifully captures the duality of her upbringing: he is the buoy that keeps her spirit afloat with dreams and the anchor that pulls her into the depths of his own instability. Watching Thicke muddle through this unconventional life is both heartbreaking and profoundly inspiring.

One of the standout features of this memoir is its rich sense of place. Moving from the familiar landscapes of Ontario to the breathtaking, rugged beauty of British Columbia, the setting serves as more than just a background; it reflects the shifting emotional terrain of the story. For Canadian readers, there is a special resonance in seeing these locations rendered with such care and authenticity.

While the subject matter deals with the heavy lifting of raising a parent, the tone of the book is surprisingly buoyant. I found myself laughing far more than I expected, even as the unhinged reality of her situation unfolded. Thicke has a gift for finding the humour in the absurd, making the moments that bring you to tears feel all the more earned.

Dreamer’s Daughter is a triumphant, heartwarming, and ultimately hopeful story. It manages to be incredible without being overly sentimental, providing a raw look at resilience. It is a five-star journey through the wild landscapes of Canada and the even wilder landscapes of family.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories of survival, growth, and the complicated love that defines us.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for my advanced copy!

[Randy Klarenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lively and thoughtful book about a fascinating family. Lori Thicke tells a rollicking story of an often forlorn daughter and flamboyant father in conflict but bound by obvious affection and respect. A worthwhile read for anyone who has a parent or thinks they might want to be one.

[szreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic memoir!

I’ve read MANY memoirs and this one will stick with me because this is such a short but interesting story of growing up all over Ontario and BC in the 1970s and 80s

The author does a great job of setting the scene and describing some chaotic experiences in her life. From a house for horses, joining the “Jesus freaks”, many entrepreneurial pursuits, and a clear lack of parental supervision, there’s always something going on.

Her dad is definitely a character! I really respected her portrayal of him since I expected it to be more negative considering the chaos her childhood was. Her love for her dad tho really came through though in the book.

The book seems like a way for her to look back at her life with new perspective. As she says “At the time, none of this felt remarkable trying to seduce my teacher, crashing his car and giving him mine in return. Lacking a frame of reference for how people usually behaved, I found all of it perfectly normal.”

I was never bored reading this book since something new was always happening.

If you like Canadian memoirs, resilient woman, and reading about unique upbringings I recommend this book!

Notes:

I love you more than a herd of Shetland Ponies 🫡😭

Alan Thicke is her Cousin

Brampton, Milton, Kirkland Lake, London,

The year of Dacker

Thank you Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and at times shocking memoir from Canadian writer Lori Thicke recounting her youth growing up with a grifter father and roaming the country trying to make ends meat. Lori's story is sure to blow your mind at all the schemes her father got up to and roped her and her brother into while taking them along cross country journeys in the family van. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Glass Castle or Educated.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could have read this much quicker and while a small part of my not doing so is because I’m currently sick and having to rest a lot, it was more because I wanted to savour it. It’s well written and flows so easily. I found it to be quite relatable being part of a dysfunctional family myself, and an oldest child who often takes responsibility that really isn’t mine. It’s an interesting read that held my attention and took me on a memorable and emotional journey that I was absolutely invested in. It’s a great debut for this Canadian author and I am truly looking forward to future books (more please, Lori!) Do check this one out, it’s an easy favourite for me in the memoir genre and one of my top picks for 2026.

[Cynde Haywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I just don't have the words to say how much I enjoyed this book! I don't know if I cried more or laughed more. At times I had to pause reading because I couldn't see the words through my heartfelt tears. I am full of admiration for the author and absolutely cannot wait for her next book. Definitely will be looking for it because Dreamers Daughter was 100 percent a delight☺️

[Penny Fearnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of hardship and victory, full of laugher and tears. Couldn’t put it down, definitely worth the read.

[Gail Amendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a number of memoirs about dysfunctional upbringings...North of Normal: A Memoir of My Wilderness Childhood, My Counterculture Family, and How I Survived Both, Educated: A Memoir, The Glass Castle. This one is similar, but slightly less horrific and abusive. Lori Thicke was abandoned by her mother and raised by her eccentric, ne'er do well father, who drug his children from here to there from Ontario to Vancouver Island as he chased after half baked "get rich quick" schemes. The family was always poor, but they were always fed and loved. Unlike the other books mentioned, religion and mental health were not large factors in the family's problems. The story is equal parts sad and funny, and I am struck by Lori's resilience and ability to forgive.

[Anca · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, it drew me into the intense relationship between a girl and her father—full of both love and frustration. After a traumatic event sends them drifting across Canada in search of a new stability, one thing never wavers: their devotion to each other. I cried over their losses, laughed at their misadventures, and found myself wondering how many deserving parents never get a tribute like this. Highly recommended!

[Peaarly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️, rounded up.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read! Being an ex-Kirkland Laker myself, I connected with Lori’s experiences in the old town. It was amazing to read about the resilience of this small family and their incredible life experiences in Toronto, KL, BC and beyond!

[Patty Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known Lori all my life. It was my father’s horses that provided Dacker with his liquid gold! Her descriptions of Dacker’s business adventures certainly captured the zaniness of it all. And there were even more than those in the book. For me, the power and beauty of this book was how she was able to give public voice to her (and Brad’s) younger selves. This is not something they had the luxury of doing as children. The only thing greater than the economic precariousness that they experienced was their father’s love. And that was a bloody good thing!

As young adults we used to joke about Lori doing the Canadian thing and going to Paris and writing a book. I always thought it would be a novel of fiction that would vie for position on the shelves alongside the likes of Margaret Atwood or Mordecai Richler.rather than a memoir.But in the end, it was the memoir that was meant to be. And, having recently finished Ms. Atwood’s Book of Lives memoir, I can say with certainty that “A Dreamers Daughter” belongs on the shelf beside the “Book of Lives”!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and even-handed memoir about navigating a childhood of loss and uncertainty with a father always searching for the next business venture. Prone to failure, this dreamer dad still finds a way to be there for his two kids and help them when they go off course.
There are many detours in Lori's life, but she has chutzpah and a dream to be a writer. We're all the richer that that dream finally came to fruition.

[Nicole Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It’s quite the memoir of her childhood with her incredible father and the northern Ontario connection. If you’re looking for another The Glass Castle though this isn’t it. It has some funny moments but not nearly as many and not quite as vivid as Jeannette Walls. She lived quite the life before turning 30 but it sure made me appreciate my stable childhood!

[Rachelle Timson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next to glass castle this is my second favorite read. I loved it! Highly recommend.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and unbelievable story.

[Mallee Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a harrowing tale of a mother's desertion and a father full of wild unprofitable schemes. With her father constantly in debt and the family moving from one place to next, Lori, finds herself struggling to be the reliable 'parent'. Eventually, I grew frustrated with the dad. Despite him being a loving parent, his lack of control over financial matters became exhausting to read.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like reading memoirs and bios/autobios, especially when they happen here in Canada.

This is the author's memoir about growing up with a father who was loving and charismatic but rarely able to provide stability. After Lori and Brad, her younger brother, are abandoned by their mother, their father, Dacker, raises them on his own while chasing a series of big dreams and business ventures that rarely work out. As a result, the family moves frequently, struggles financially and lives an unpredictable lifestyle. The author often finds herself taking on adult responsibilities at a young age, helping care for her brother and, in many ways, looking after her father. Despite the challenges, she shares many adventures with him and has a deep bond with him.

This memoir follows the author from childhood into adulthood as she tries to make sense of her unconventional upbringing, her relationship with her absent mother and the impact her father's choices had on her life.

I thought this book was okay. I found myself frustrated with the choices her father (whose brother was the late Alan Thicke's father) made and his belief that everything would work out (sometimes it did but usually it didn't). I was also frustrated with the actions the author made as a teenager, though they can be excused since she was dealing with the bad decisions her parents had made. The memoir ends in 1986 as she is heading off to Paris, Dacker had driven to Mexico and Brad was living on Vancouver Island. It would have been nice to have a summary chapter at the end to let us know what happened to her, Dacker and Brad in the last 40 years. As a head's up, there is swearing and drug use.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2026/06...

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I missed the point of this memoir about a woman's atypical childhood with her eccentric father. Lori Thicke was certainly a great writer, yet the book felt unfinished. It was revealed that Brad, her younger brother, dropped out of high school near the end, but readers never find out where he ended up as an adult. She also never revealed what the rest of her father's life was like after she started her own family.
Generally, her father was one-of-a-kind. He was memorable and carefree, always living by the seat of his pants. Somehow, I found myself getting frustrated with him instead of finding his antics amusing. He may have loved his children, but in my mind, it wasn't enough to make him a good parent because he never provided guidance or a steady upbringing. Lori also tried to get away and be on her own several times, and he always weaseled his way into her home, driving out her roommates. It was like she was never fully rid of him since he always followed her wherever she went. - Either that, or he was in a bind, so she had to take him and her brother in. Lastly, his irresponsibility with finances and poorly thought out serial entrepreneurship were infuriating! Things may have worked out okay for the family, but he made things more complicated than they needed to be.
I did just read House of Sticks by Ly Tran, which was excellent, so maybe I was expecting more self-reflection in the writing by the end. There wasn't enough that felt like a satisfying note to leave the story on.

[K. Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compelling story about the complicated childhood and early adulthood of the author in Northern Ontario and the West Coast. It is an honest account of the author’s struggle to both define herself independently of her dysfunctional family as well as her struggle to pull the family together. Thicke doesn’t shy away from the hard moments of her life. But the book is not dark. Thicke writes of the love in her family and the humour that got them through difficult times.
A central figure in the book is Dacker Thicke, the author’s father. He is unlike the fathers in many gritty coming-of-age memoirs. Dacker was a dreamer (hence the title). In his own telling, he was always one great idea away from success. And although success never comes, the ideas never cease and, as we come to know Dacker, it seems equally possible to love him or hate him. Love him or hate him, life was never dull around Dacker.
Book clubs could argue whether the author was a casualty of her father’s incompetence or a beneficiary of his unorthodox joie de vivre. In my read, the book is the author’s ode to a colourful and strangely endearing father.
Saying this book is a great summer read does not give it the credit it deserves. However, that said, it is a great summer read.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the advanced copy I received in a goodreads giveaway from Simon & Schuster.

I thought the memoir was excellently written and was engaging from the first chapter. The author detailed her struggles growing up and living in a chaotic home. Given the chaos she lived through and sometimes poor choices she made as a kid in response to the chaos, it's amazing how she got herself to where she is now.

I think one of the big takeaways from this book was also how life doesn't work out perfectly but you can still live the life you want. There were some things that seemed unresolved (i.e. her relationship with her mother), which maybe it won't ever get resolved, but the author seems to have still built the life she strived for as a child. I think that it is relatable for a lot of people, and a reminder that there are lots of complexities and not so perfect aspects of our lives.

I would have liked to see a bit more detail in her life after her big move, but perhaps she is saving that for another book?!

Overall, I'm really happy I finally won a giveaway and it was this gem!

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamers Daughter: Surviving My Childhood and Raising My Father by Lori Thicke

This is a fascinating memoir describing a childhood scarred by the abandonment of her mother and a chaotic, unpredictable life with her father.

Dacker, her father, is a dreamer, always scheming for his next get rich business venture rather than steady work. He scrapes by on the generosity of extended family and a silvery tongue, but calamity and misfortune are never far behind. Although loving and quick to see the wonder in his children, he is disorganized and poor at setting limits resulting in frequent moves, lost homes and financial strain.

Thicke depicts a complicated parental relationship: she adores her father’s his free spirit and warmth, yet resents the instability his unreliability creates. Feeling responsible for him and the family’s wellbeing, she becomes parentified at a young age and even attempts at independence are repeatedly undermined by his needs. Her father is at once frustrating and loveable.

Overall, a poignant, affecting memoir about love, responsibility, and the messy bonds between parent and child.

[Janet Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamer's Daughter written by Lori Thicke is one of those rare books I didn't want to put down, yet at the same time I wanted to slow down and savour every chapter.

For me, the story felt both familiar and completely eye-opening. I smiled as I recognized places and locales from my own life. Those familiar threads made the story feel deeply personal.

At the same time, Lori Thicke opened a door to a world I know very little about. While I cannot pretend to understand the experiences she shares, her honesty, vulnerability, and courage gave me a deeper sense of compassion and appreciation for lives so different from my own.

This is a beautifully written memoir that invites readers not only to witness one woman's journey, but also to reflect on empathy, resilience, and the remarkable strength of the human spirit.

It is a book written with such heart that it left me emotional. I laughed, I squirmed, I cried, and more than once my heart simply smiled.

Some books are finished when you turn the last page. This isn't one of them.
Dreamer's Daughter is a book you never really put down, because long after you've closed the cover, it stays with you.♥️

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this memoir for many reasons. Among a crop of stories about growing up in dysfunctional families (e.g. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and Educated, by Tara Westover), this one is exceptional because the author looked at her life through an unclouded lens and saw both the negative and the positive. It was almost painful to read in parts, especially when the author wrote about missing her absent mother. On the other hand, she was so unconditionally loved by the father who raised her that it was also deeply heartwarming. Above all, the memoir is written in a light and humorous style. Her Dreamer Dad, who failed at everything but never gave up, was a character in every sense of the word. His exploits were hilarious — I actually laughed out loud several times, and I’m not usually a LOL reader. Book clubs, take note: this memoir would make for a great group discussion.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for an Advance Review Copy.

[Lauraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamer's Daughter 

Lori Thicke

Apr.7, 2026

I thoroughly enjoyed Dreamer's Daughter. A great memoire of a young, strong girl/woman who had more responsibility than most her age. Basically, raising her brother and father. Despite all the disappointments, she was determined to reach her goals, and that she eventually did. Thank God for several family members and a few good friends.  It was the first time I read a book in two days.  Never a dull moment. I laughed, cried, and was frustrated at Dacker for his shinanagins. The love he had for his children was so touching.  I was shocked at some of the things the writer got involved in. I can't imagine  any child today having  to be so responsible.  Nothing mattered to Dacker, as long as he had his children.

 Wishing that the rest of Lori's life is long, healthy, and happy. I can't wait to read whatever else Lori Thicke writes.

[Leslie Bradford-Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Dreamer's Daughter from Simon & Schuster.

Lori Thicke writes with honesty about growing up with a father who was brilliant but chaotic. This isn’t a score-settling memoir. It’s a clear-eyed attempt to make sense of love, loyalty, and the complicated inheritance of being the child of an unconventional parent.

In the darker times we’re living through right now, it’s refreshing to encounter a story that offers a reprieve from the constant focus on trauma. Thicke doesn’t ignore hardship, but she also shows the more hopeful side of complicated family relationships and the possibility of growth and resilience.

A thoughtful, engaging memoir about family, identity, and the strange ways we become ourselves. And, frankly, a reminder that even messy families can produce something surprisingly hopeful.

[Kim Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond words with this memoir. This book is going in my favorite section. I felt like I was reading a story, it is so well written, and the timeline is so smooth it read like a normal story, it could be a normal story. It was very easy to picture her story as I read.
so many things stand out for me in this book:
- her mother leaving;
- her dads financial unstability but unwavering love and dedication;
- when she met her "famous bad friend" I'll call her that to not spoil too much. LITTERALLY I WAS IN MY HEAD GOING: OMFG, SAY WHAT. i could NOT STOP at that point, she had me hooked (iykyk)
- when she returned her father famous "... shetland ponies" I almost cried !!

there's too many GREATS in this book. thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for this giveaway book. ps it was my first won as a Giveaway and boy did it not disappoint!!

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir has been compared to The Glass Castle and Educated but is a unique story of resilience and how eccentric and traumatic parenting yielded memorable stories. The author writes about being abandoned by her mother and raised by a father who believed in magical thinking, getting them from one unstable housing situation to the next, with stories about it being the "year of Dacker." Dacker, her father, had countless business ideas and led with optimism and creativity. As you read about tragic, tough situations, you can't help but be impressed by how this family carried on. Thicke does not write with an angle of having you feel sorry for her, even though there were many concerning details. I admire how she wrote about her unconventional father and upbringing.

[Nancy Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a life.
I found myself wondering whether, if this story were taking place today, the children would have been removed from their father's care—or whether the same circumstances would still be deemed "okay" and they would have remained with him.
This book was another eye-opener for me about how few people are truly born or prepared to be ready to raise children with the standards, skills, stability, and emotional capacity that parenting requires—and how fortunate some children are to grow up with two parents who can provide safety, security, and comfort.
I did feel that the middle of the book could have been shortened, but overall, it was a thought-provoking read.
I am left wondering how the four family members are doing today.