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The Secret Daughter
Many adoptees dream of discovering that their birth parents are royalty, celebrities, or aristocrats. It’s the stuff of fantasy. But what happens when it could be a reality?
The Secret Daughter is the tale of Nikki Carlson, an adoptee whose search for her roots sets her on an unbelievable thrill ride and emotional odyssey that forever changes her. Adopted as a toddler into a big game-hunting Minnesota family and raised on the flat prairies of the Midwest, Nikki’s life is wholly unremarkable. Haunted by the mysteries of her origins, once Nikki comes of age, she begins to search for her biological roots. What she uncovers is more surreal and twisted than anything she could have imagined.
Her quest to understand her origins brings her into the world of New York high society and then in an unforeseen turn of events, across the Atlantic and into old Italian aristocracy. She unlocks these pieces of information one painstaking step at a time, with people trying to block her path at every turn.
The man believed to be her biological father is an Italian aristocrat, a staple of European gossip columns who hosted Jackie Kennedy in Rome, was rumored to have romanced Princess Margaret, and in his later years, lived a secret second life with his much younger male partner.
When Nikki eventually connects with the man she believes is her biological father, things take a tragic he’s just learned he’s terminally ill—which prompts a cast of characters in his life to stake their claims to his roughly €20 million estate.
Suspicions simmer around Nikki’s intentions, her timing and her place in the world of her purported father. What follows is a dizzying descent into deception, betrayal and high-society scandal. Throughout, questions Is Nikki a grieving daughter simply trying to connect with her heritage? Or is she a manipulative outsider exploiting an old man at the end of his life? Did this man want to leave her anything? Who did he want to have his riches and why?
There are accusations of fraud, whispers of art theft, and even suggestions that the funeral arrangements are a smokescreen to bar Nikki from the family. Tabloid photographers chase the story. Lawyers line up on both sides of the Atlantic.
More than anything, Nikki Carlson wants to know the truth about her origins. She wants answers and to deeply connect to who she really is. Will she unlock her true identity? Will she gain the resolution she’s sought her entire life?
The Secret Daughter is an unforgettable true saga that urges all of us to ask who we are and what it is we want.
The Secret Daughter is the tale of Nikki Carlson, an adoptee whose search for her roots sets her on an unbelievable thrill ride and emotional odyssey that forever changes her. Adopted as a toddler into a big game-hunting Minnesota family and raised on the flat prairies of the Midwest, Nikki’s life is wholly unremarkable. Haunted by the mysteries of her origins, once Nikki comes of age, she begins to search for her biological roots. What she uncovers is more surreal and twisted than anything she could have imagined.
Her quest to understand her origins brings her into the world of New York high society and then in an unforeseen turn of events, across the Atlantic and into old Italian aristocracy. She unlocks these pieces of information one painstaking step at a time, with people trying to block her path at every turn.
The man believed to be her biological father is an Italian aristocrat, a staple of European gossip columns who hosted Jackie Kennedy in Rome, was rumored to have romanced Princess Margaret, and in his later years, lived a secret second life with his much younger male partner.
When Nikki eventually connects with the man she believes is her biological father, things take a tragic he’s just learned he’s terminally ill—which prompts a cast of characters in his life to stake their claims to his roughly €20 million estate.
Suspicions simmer around Nikki’s intentions, her timing and her place in the world of her purported father. What follows is a dizzying descent into deception, betrayal and high-society scandal. Throughout, questions Is Nikki a grieving daughter simply trying to connect with her heritage? Or is she a manipulative outsider exploiting an old man at the end of his life? Did this man want to leave her anything? Who did he want to have his riches and why?
There are accusations of fraud, whispers of art theft, and even suggestions that the funeral arrangements are a smokescreen to bar Nikki from the family. Tabloid photographers chase the story. Lawyers line up on both sides of the Atlantic.
More than anything, Nikki Carlson wants to know the truth about her origins. She wants answers and to deeply connect to who she really is. Will she unlock her true identity? Will she gain the resolution she’s sought her entire life?
The Secret Daughter is an unforgettable true saga that urges all of us to ask who we are and what it is we want.
Audible Audio
Published July 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 21, 2025
I found this a little irritating! I don't know if it was how it was narrated or the writing, but I'm afraid I did have the urge to shake Nikki and say get a grip.
I have never been the worlds most sympathetic reader, but I'm afraid this one pushed all the wrong buttons. I found the legal side of the book interesting, but the rest, with all of the awful characters, not so much.
I have never been the worlds most sympathetic reader, but I'm afraid this one pushed all the wrong buttons. I found the legal side of the book interesting, but the rest, with all of the awful characters, not so much.
September 10, 2025
the amount of times they said "it's not about the money" yet it's legitimately ALL you're talking about was so annoying lol
August 1, 2025
Annoying "true" saga is a huge time waster. If that's what you need, then borrow this aubible.com freebie and return it as fast as you can.
There's more talk and descriptions about "the Italian summer nights" "the Italian food" the Italian clothes", etc...More FANTASY and WISH FULFILLMENT than actual story.
If this is a true tall tale, then someone ought to write a better story than this "All American who is the only person to save the Italian heirs in an Italian inheritance case". All hail the savvy American adoptee!
Oh and lets talk about the judges hair and demeanor, or the bloody tampons that was kept by the Italian dude, and the fact that she just flew to Italy without a DNA to confront her suspected "father" and eveyone is cool with it. Then "il babbo" dies within weeks of meeting his secret daughter and grandchild and BOOM, we also find out that "daddy" is GAY!!
The voice actors are definitely good, too good because real people would have been more authentic aka believable.
August 11, 2025
This gives a little too much
."These Tangled Vines"
The podcasty vibe of the telling was annoying and if the Italians recognize a child as automatically getting half why is this still such a fight? Also, the way Nikis daughter talked about being so close with her grand parents is creepy since why in the hell did Niki entrust her child with a man who sexually abused her? And they were like sign these papers or we are going to tell everyone what you did...what? Insane behavior...from everyone.
Im from and live in Minnesota so I thought ok this will be cool..it wasn't.
."These Tangled Vines"
The podcasty vibe of the telling was annoying and if the Italians recognize a child as automatically getting half why is this still such a fight? Also, the way Nikis daughter talked about being so close with her grand parents is creepy since why in the hell did Niki entrust her child with a man who sexually abused her? And they were like sign these papers or we are going to tell everyone what you did...what? Insane behavior...from everyone.
Im from and live in Minnesota so I thought ok this will be cool..it wasn't.
January 3, 2026
The Secret Daughter by Forest Sounds is a NF book about Nikki Carlson, an adoptee who spends years trying to uncover her biological roots and find where she really belongs. Her search takes her from the Midwest into New York high society and finally to Europe, where she learns her supposed father is a wealthy Italian aristocrat — but the reunion isn’t simple and leads to drama, betrayal, and a complicated fight over identity and a large inheritance. It’s emotional, intense, and makes you think about what “family” really means.
October 22, 2025
Meh…it was an interesting story but the storytelling was not captivating.
February 7, 2026
Very interesting but the audio is read like a crime tv show
February 10, 2026
This kind of just did nothing for me. It wasn't gripping or engaging, and I feel like as much as it was persistently said "It wasn't about the money," it quite OBVIOUSLY was about the money. An interesting story, but not presented in the way that it needed to be.
July 18, 2025
Overall: 4 stars • Performance: 5 stars • Story: 3 stars
October 12, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Absolutely wild and crazy, true story about an adopted woman from Minnesota and her hunger to find her biological parents.
Absolutely wild and crazy, true story about an adopted woman from Minnesota and her hunger to find her biological parents.
October 28, 2025
Quite interesting- all she had to go through to prove her parentage.
November 6, 2025
Interesting….
January 20, 2026
Interesting but I wouldn't recommend
February 10, 2026
--------The Secret Daughter was interest and twisty and had a lot of facts that held my interest.
November 21, 2025
I had mixed feelings about this.
The one daughter kinda bothered me indulging in Mario’s gifts where her mom didn’t want to partake. I think if I was in Nikki’s position I’d feel the same way she did about wanting a relationship and not wanting to be perceived as a gold digger. …but I also know as a young adult like her daughter, I’d be stoked to find out I had an Italian Daddy Warbucks as my grandpa and not see a problem with developing a relationship and accepting gifts from a long lost relative. It also rubbed me wrong after Mario dies, her daughter is the one pushing her mom towards moving forward in the legal battles… which is exhausting. All Nikki wanted was a connection to a family. Going to court for a speeding ticket is stressful, I don’t know how you go years between continents dealing with it. The daughter also laments at some point how after Mario dies her dreams she had made of becoming a fashion designer and the money Mario said he’d put into her career died, because the money she was told she would get wasn’t coming. What were you planning on doing BEFORE you learned you had an extremely wealthy grandpappy? Then at the end they go to collect some Andy Warhol painting grand-dad left to a former communist leader, who agreed to give it up, and the daughter is stoked cuz she’s a socialist. You just spent years encouraging your mom to fight for a large inheritance, but you’re a socialist? I hope the daughter’s plan is that if she ever inherits the money she plans on handing it all over to the US Government for social programs.
I’m mixed on Nikki too, I understand this book wasn’t about the childhood abuse by her adoptive family, but it kinda got glossed over, which leaves it up to the readers imagination that it was absolutely horrific, or she was a damaged kid and interpreted feeling out of place as abuse. Especially since her kids still had a good relationship with her adoptive parents, which means, she brought her kids around them regularly.
I sympathize with the wanting to know who your bio parents are and finding an identity and I’m glad Nikki got to spend time with her bio dad before he died. If I were her, I’d have given up on the inheritance early on. That’s exhausting, and I think the cousins would have still been welcoming to her once biology was established and she had already put up a little bit of a fight for them. It seems like she’s fighting for it so she can redistribute to the nieces and nephews that seemed to be randomly cut out in a questionable revising of the Will, which is commendable to a point.
I don’t know, there’s two sides to every story, and there were a few people whose perspective I would’ve liked to hear that declined interview.
It was an interesting overall story, just some things that I was like “ehhhh, I’d like a little more insight on that detail.”
The one daughter kinda bothered me indulging in Mario’s gifts where her mom didn’t want to partake. I think if I was in Nikki’s position I’d feel the same way she did about wanting a relationship and not wanting to be perceived as a gold digger. …but I also know as a young adult like her daughter, I’d be stoked to find out I had an Italian Daddy Warbucks as my grandpa and not see a problem with developing a relationship and accepting gifts from a long lost relative. It also rubbed me wrong after Mario dies, her daughter is the one pushing her mom towards moving forward in the legal battles… which is exhausting. All Nikki wanted was a connection to a family. Going to court for a speeding ticket is stressful, I don’t know how you go years between continents dealing with it. The daughter also laments at some point how after Mario dies her dreams she had made of becoming a fashion designer and the money Mario said he’d put into her career died, because the money she was told she would get wasn’t coming. What were you planning on doing BEFORE you learned you had an extremely wealthy grandpappy? Then at the end they go to collect some Andy Warhol painting grand-dad left to a former communist leader, who agreed to give it up, and the daughter is stoked cuz she’s a socialist. You just spent years encouraging your mom to fight for a large inheritance, but you’re a socialist? I hope the daughter’s plan is that if she ever inherits the money she plans on handing it all over to the US Government for social programs.
I’m mixed on Nikki too, I understand this book wasn’t about the childhood abuse by her adoptive family, but it kinda got glossed over, which leaves it up to the readers imagination that it was absolutely horrific, or she was a damaged kid and interpreted feeling out of place as abuse. Especially since her kids still had a good relationship with her adoptive parents, which means, she brought her kids around them regularly.
I sympathize with the wanting to know who your bio parents are and finding an identity and I’m glad Nikki got to spend time with her bio dad before he died. If I were her, I’d have given up on the inheritance early on. That’s exhausting, and I think the cousins would have still been welcoming to her once biology was established and she had already put up a little bit of a fight for them. It seems like she’s fighting for it so she can redistribute to the nieces and nephews that seemed to be randomly cut out in a questionable revising of the Will, which is commendable to a point.
I don’t know, there’s two sides to every story, and there were a few people whose perspective I would’ve liked to hear that declined interview.
It was an interesting overall story, just some things that I was like “ehhhh, I’d like a little more insight on that detail.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
No adoption story is easy and this one fraught with more pitfalls than many, yet it is a good story to hear. While far more sensationalized than I like, the story brings up so many of the issues surrounding adoption.
The adoptee wants to know her bio family, which is a common theme in adoption stories and completely understandable. The book also brings out the question of the rights of the bio mom to relinquish the child and that be the end of it. It brings up where the bio dad fits in the picture and where the adoptee fits in his family and lineage.
Adoptees face not only acceptance/rejection by their bio parents, but also how the rest of the two families will accept/reject them. It affects siblings and extended family. It affects what people have always thought about the bio parents and how the revelation of a child relinquished in adoption challenges conceptions of a person.
Their is so much here to unpack, which is only complicated by the fact that another country becomes part of the legal wrangling of paternity and all that entails.
Seeing the searching of my high school best friend for her bio mom (reading the telephone book, driving around town examining faces) has me relating very personally to Nikki. Unlike Nikki, my friend did not discover her bio family and it lingers, wondering who she is and where she came from.
I've watched my internationally adopted daughter struggle with the same questions. It is an existential search for identity that never leaves, even after bio family is found. The what ifs are always just a blink away in the back of ones mind.
It's not easy being adopted and when unfortunate events surround the adoptee it can become their worst nightmare.
The adoptee wants to know her bio family, which is a common theme in adoption stories and completely understandable. The book also brings out the question of the rights of the bio mom to relinquish the child and that be the end of it. It brings up where the bio dad fits in the picture and where the adoptee fits in his family and lineage.
Adoptees face not only acceptance/rejection by their bio parents, but also how the rest of the two families will accept/reject them. It affects siblings and extended family. It affects what people have always thought about the bio parents and how the revelation of a child relinquished in adoption challenges conceptions of a person.
Their is so much here to unpack, which is only complicated by the fact that another country becomes part of the legal wrangling of paternity and all that entails.
Seeing the searching of my high school best friend for her bio mom (reading the telephone book, driving around town examining faces) has me relating very personally to Nikki. Unlike Nikki, my friend did not discover her bio family and it lingers, wondering who she is and where she came from.
I've watched my internationally adopted daughter struggle with the same questions. It is an existential search for identity that never leaves, even after bio family is found. The what ifs are always just a blink away in the back of ones mind.
It's not easy being adopted and when unfortunate events surround the adoptee it can become their worst nightmare.
July 18, 2025
The Secret Daughter, as an audiobook by "Forest Sounds" and narrated by Ellen Archer, is a peculiar choice for a title. After listening, I can only assume the name "Forest Sounds" is meant to be a nod to the book's occasionally naturalistic and hushed tone, but it comes across as more of an oddity.
The biggest issue with this audiobook is the uneven narration. Ellen Archer has a pleasant enough voice, but her performance in this book is just not consistent. At times, she delivers the story with a compelling intimacy, but then she falls into a surprisingly flat, almost monotone delivery for stretches, which makes the more emotional or suspenseful parts of the plot fall flat. It's like listening to a story that keeps losing its rhythm.
The plot itself, about an adoptee's quest for her aristocratic biological father, has a lot of potential. However, it gets bogged down in an overwhelming amount of detail. The author (whoever they are behind the "Forest Sounds" pseudonym) seems to have thrown every possible scandal and twist into the mix—secret affairs, disputed wills, high society gossip, and a sick old man. The narrative becomes a dizzying list of events rather than a cohesive story. There's a difference between a complex plot and a jumbled one, and this feels like the latter.
While the premise is intriguing, the execution is hampered by both the unfocused storytelling and the narrator's inconsistent performance. It's a shame, as the core idea is a good one, but the final product is a messy and ultimately unsatisfying listen.
The biggest issue with this audiobook is the uneven narration. Ellen Archer has a pleasant enough voice, but her performance in this book is just not consistent. At times, she delivers the story with a compelling intimacy, but then she falls into a surprisingly flat, almost monotone delivery for stretches, which makes the more emotional or suspenseful parts of the plot fall flat. It's like listening to a story that keeps losing its rhythm.
The plot itself, about an adoptee's quest for her aristocratic biological father, has a lot of potential. However, it gets bogged down in an overwhelming amount of detail. The author (whoever they are behind the "Forest Sounds" pseudonym) seems to have thrown every possible scandal and twist into the mix—secret affairs, disputed wills, high society gossip, and a sick old man. The narrative becomes a dizzying list of events rather than a cohesive story. There's a difference between a complex plot and a jumbled one, and this feels like the latter.
While the premise is intriguing, the execution is hampered by both the unfocused storytelling and the narrator's inconsistent performance. It's a shame, as the core idea is a good one, but the final product is a messy and ultimately unsatisfying listen.
January 14, 2026
This story unfolded with quiet honesty, drawing me into a deeply personal journey that balanced heartbreak and healing in equal measure. It was the kind of memoir that didn’t rush to make a point but instead let the truth unravel naturally, moment by moment. Through memories that felt both fragile and vivid, the narrator explored the weight of identity, belonging, and the unspoken ties that bound families together. It was emotional without being sentimental, reflective without drowning in nostalgia.
The characters, though real, felt as layered and compelling as any in fiction. There was an intimacy in how relationships were portrayed; strained yet tender, filled with the contradictions that define real human connection. I could sense the ache of loss, the cautious hope of reconciliation, and the quiet strength it took to confront the ghosts of the past.
The writing was graceful, rhythmic, and beautifully paced, and the audio narration added a rawness that made the experience even more immersive. The setting shifted between memory and present reality, each place painted with emotional texture rather than mere description. It was the kind of story that lingered long after it ended, reminding me that understanding where we come from is often the first step toward finding where we’re meant to be.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
The characters, though real, felt as layered and compelling as any in fiction. There was an intimacy in how relationships were portrayed; strained yet tender, filled with the contradictions that define real human connection. I could sense the ache of loss, the cautious hope of reconciliation, and the quiet strength it took to confront the ghosts of the past.
The writing was graceful, rhythmic, and beautifully paced, and the audio narration added a rawness that made the experience even more immersive. The setting shifted between memory and present reality, each place painted with emotional texture rather than mere description. It was the kind of story that lingered long after it ended, reminding me that understanding where we come from is often the first step toward finding where we’re meant to be.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
August 4, 2025
This is an overly dramatic tell of Nikki Carlson's story.
She was adopted by a family in Pennsylvania when she was a toddler, and even though she had a normal life and was loved by her adoptive family, she always felt as if she didn't belong. When she was of age she started her journey towards learning who her biological family was. She found her mother, who didn't want anything to do with her. 10 years later she found her father who is an Italian aristocrat who has ties to Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. But her father has cancer and dies shortly after.
This is an ongoing legal battle still, so there is no real ending to the story.
I liked it because it was told like a very dramatic soap opera, so it was even funny to listen to.But to be honest, in this story Nikki comes out looking very unlikeable, and I just don't trust her.
I can understand that an adopted child feels the strong sense of wanting to know where she comes from. But, where does the rights of the bio parents come into place? When they gave up their child to be adopted doesn't it mean they want nothing to do with said child? Why are the chldren given their information?
This story in particular has a lot of inconsistencies.
She was adopted by a family in Pennsylvania when she was a toddler, and even though she had a normal life and was loved by her adoptive family, she always felt as if she didn't belong. When she was of age she started her journey towards learning who her biological family was. She found her mother, who didn't want anything to do with her. 10 years later she found her father who is an Italian aristocrat who has ties to Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. But her father has cancer and dies shortly after.
This is an ongoing legal battle still, so there is no real ending to the story.
I liked it because it was told like a very dramatic soap opera, so it was even funny to listen to.But to be honest, in this story Nikki comes out looking very unlikeable, and I just don't trust her.
I can understand that an adopted child feels the strong sense of wanting to know where she comes from. But, where does the rights of the bio parents come into place? When they gave up their child to be adopted doesn't it mean they want nothing to do with said child? Why are the chldren given their information?
This story in particular has a lot of inconsistencies.
December 13, 2025
I think a lot of readers are misunderstanding what this story is really about. This was never about greed or chasing money. it was about identity and reclaiming truth. The inheritance was incidental. Even if she never received a cent, she still wanted the truth acknowledged, and she was clear that the money could go to the cousins. At its core, this is a story about belonging and origin. She did come from that family, whether people are comfortable with that fact or not, and dismissing it ignores the emotional weight of discovering who you are and where you come from. Let that concept sink in before judging her motivations.
Coming from a middle-class background also shaped her perspective differently than the rest of the family, and that contrast added depth rather than entitlement. I found the story compelling, emotional, and brave. It takes courage to stand up for your identity when others would rather deny it. Overall, an incredible and thought-provoking story—and I applaud her for telling it.
Coming from a middle-class background also shaped her perspective differently than the rest of the family, and that contrast added depth rather than entitlement. I found the story compelling, emotional, and brave. It takes courage to stand up for your identity when others would rather deny it. Overall, an incredible and thought-provoking story—and I applaud her for telling it.
January 3, 2026
Title + Author: The Secret Daughter — Forest Sounds
Format: Audiobook
Why I picked this up:
The title struck me. Reading in the description that this was about adoption piqued my interest because some of my research is on the impact of adoption, especially transracial adoption.
What it’s really about:
The book reframes identity, connection, and family in the context of adoption.
What stood out:
The constant disrespect that adoptees / adopted people are met with. Even within the reviews, there's this idea that adoptees should be "grateful" for being adopted. Throughout the podcast-like book, Nikki Carlson, now Maria Nicoletta (Nikki) d'Urso, was treated incredibly disrespected for daring to look for her natural (or first) family - the people she is connected to biologically and genetically.
Who this is for / not for:
Great for reflective readers; the format might be jarring or annoying for others.
Bottom line:
It felt like I was listening to a podcast, more than a book. At any rate, I was intrigued, and largely because of my interest in adoption.
Format: Audiobook
Why I picked this up:
The title struck me. Reading in the description that this was about adoption piqued my interest because some of my research is on the impact of adoption, especially transracial adoption.
What it’s really about:
The book reframes identity, connection, and family in the context of adoption.
What stood out:
The constant disrespect that adoptees / adopted people are met with. Even within the reviews, there's this idea that adoptees should be "grateful" for being adopted. Throughout the podcast-like book, Nikki Carlson, now Maria Nicoletta (Nikki) d'Urso, was treated incredibly disrespected for daring to look for her natural (or first) family - the people she is connected to biologically and genetically.
Who this is for / not for:
Great for reflective readers; the format might be jarring or annoying for others.
Bottom line:
It felt like I was listening to a podcast, more than a book. At any rate, I was intrigued, and largely because of my interest in adoption.
January 26, 2026
Book 📖: 2.5/5 stars
Audiobook 🎙️: ⭐⭐
What a weird story. Normally I wait a while to figure out a rating but I had to get my thoughts down while they are fresh. In general the story was quite interesting and I liked hearing some of the factual stuff about adoptions in the 70s. I guess I just wish the chapters were more robust? We got one side of the story (Nikki's) and there were plenty of other people, including her own daughters, that I would have liked to get more of their perspectives.
I think my biggest qualms was that Nikki and the narration itself (since it derives from her perspective) is unreliable. While intentions are being told at us, keen listeners can tell there's more being left out or unaddressed which counters these said intentions. Like a lot of people I couldn't help but side eye the claims made in this story.
I think overall the story was fine but it was the execution and story building that was left wanting. Also the narrator sounded like AI which really bothered me. Apparently she may not be, but it adds to the bizarre listening experience.
Audiobook 🎙️: ⭐⭐
What a weird story. Normally I wait a while to figure out a rating but I had to get my thoughts down while they are fresh. In general the story was quite interesting and I liked hearing some of the factual stuff about adoptions in the 70s. I guess I just wish the chapters were more robust? We got one side of the story (Nikki's) and there were plenty of other people, including her own daughters, that I would have liked to get more of their perspectives.
I think my biggest qualms was that Nikki and the narration itself (since it derives from her perspective) is unreliable. While intentions are being told at us, keen listeners can tell there's more being left out or unaddressed which counters these said intentions. Like a lot of people I couldn't help but side eye the claims made in this story.
I think overall the story was fine but it was the execution and story building that was left wanting. Also the narrator sounded like AI which really bothered me. Apparently she may not be, but it adds to the bizarre listening experience.
September 6, 2025
While this story did seem a bit far-fetched at times, that’s also what made it intriguing. While I was not a fan of the narration, I felt the other reviews were rather harsh and generally lacked compassion. As someone who grew up without a relationship with my biological father and later found out that I had been lied to about who my father was, I could completely relate to some of the feelings expressed by Nikki that may see odd or irrational to readers who haven’t experienced anything similar.
The book did a good job of illustrating just how much not knowing your true identity affects every other area of your life- especially your sense of self worth and belonging (or lack thereof). I wish Nikki and her family nothing but the best and I hope she is able to get a final resolution regarding the will soon- not for the financial payout, but so that she can hopefully find a sense of closure and be at peace.
The book did a good job of illustrating just how much not knowing your true identity affects every other area of your life- especially your sense of self worth and belonging (or lack thereof). I wish Nikki and her family nothing but the best and I hope she is able to get a final resolution regarding the will soon- not for the financial payout, but so that she can hopefully find a sense of closure and be at peace.
January 12, 2026
It appears that this was a podcast limited series that got turned into a book? Ok, great. Many of those would make good books. But the formatting didn’t change. All they did was take out commercial breaks and space between episodes.
Aside from the formatting, I found it very hard to believe that Nikki’s intentions were as altruistic as she claimed. I applauded her effort to try to claim a family space for herself, but at no point was I convinced that she was going through all that effort *only* for the family space. It kept getting harder and harder to cheer her on as the effort kept doubling down.
That doesn’t make it a bad story. It was enthralling. It’s enchanting to think that this happened to someone in real life. Marketing the same exact thing as both a podcast and a book was a turn off. Painting the main character of the story as such a wholesome character was unbelievable. Those things made it less appealing than it probably would have been otherwise.
Aside from the formatting, I found it very hard to believe that Nikki’s intentions were as altruistic as she claimed. I applauded her effort to try to claim a family space for herself, but at no point was I convinced that she was going through all that effort *only* for the family space. It kept getting harder and harder to cheer her on as the effort kept doubling down.
That doesn’t make it a bad story. It was enthralling. It’s enchanting to think that this happened to someone in real life. Marketing the same exact thing as both a podcast and a book was a turn off. Painting the main character of the story as such a wholesome character was unbelievable. Those things made it less appealing than it probably would have been otherwise.
October 26, 2025
This is a podcast with all episodes combined to form a "book." Meh. Not that interesting. I found it difficult to empathize with the "heroine." I kind of felt like telling her that lots of people are abused. Looking for your birth family as a way to become a part of a different family doesn't seem like a great path to go. She was not willing to admin any financial motives, when clearly she had some. Her one daughter was clearly supporting her for the financial gain. It would have been interesting to hear the thoughts of Nikki's therapist, assuming she has one, regarding the issue of someone with dissociative identify disorder seeking to uncover a secret life. All the "players" in this story seemed dysfunctional and self-centered.
September 23, 2025
OK
She chased after finding out who her parents were and found them. She discovers her father has alot of money. She wants to get to know him better but not about the money.
She claims she doesnt care about the money but spends years and most of her own money trying to right a Will.
Personally once I discovered who my parents were I would stop there. Especially when one of them didnt want anything to do with me and then the other dies before we developed a relationship. (Sorry that was a serious run on sentence. Cant you tell I am not a writer lol.)
Craziness, just a total waist of time.
Good read though :)
She chased after finding out who her parents were and found them. She discovers her father has alot of money. She wants to get to know him better but not about the money.
She claims she doesnt care about the money but spends years and most of her own money trying to right a Will.
Personally once I discovered who my parents were I would stop there. Especially when one of them didnt want anything to do with me and then the other dies before we developed a relationship. (Sorry that was a serious run on sentence. Cant you tell I am not a writer lol.)
Craziness, just a total waist of time.
Good read though :)
August 26, 2025
As a child of abusive parents, this story touched a nerve. I also discovered a father and a half brother as an adult so I could relate to this story. The fact that Nikki Carlson’s biological family were so wealthy and powerful adds another level of drama.
This is a tale of how money corrupts people’s hearts. When someone is reaching out for a connection to a parent and they get rejected, it is heartbreaking. This happens all the time. it never stops being incredible to me that greed stops people from doing the right thing.
This is a tale of how money corrupts people’s hearts. When someone is reaching out for a connection to a parent and they get rejected, it is heartbreaking. This happens all the time. it never stops being incredible to me that greed stops people from doing the right thing.
October 1, 2025
Interesting true story about a Minnesota woman who searches for her biological father, who is a rich aristocratic Italian. They never tell What her abuse was in her adopted family but she has PTSD from it. Knowing that I was ready for her to get her father’s fortune. But sadly, her life was always in a turmoil. She just wanted a family more than anything, but she ended up in a legal battle that never ended. It was sad. And her biological mother treated her horribly, even testifying against her in court. It was depressing. Not a fun audible.com Free read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
While the story is captivating, the narration is not. There were things mentions in the story that were unnecessary I guess it was to add suspense but it didn’t. The granddaughter was quick to get her mother’s adoption reversed even though she was very close to her grandmother. She is now not a legal granddaughter to her mother’s adoptive mother. That made no sense, unless she is a gold digger. Nikki tried to make it seem she only wanted the truth, but even after the truth came out, Nikki wanted the money.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Overproduced
This was a very interesting biographical account of one woman’s remarkable journey after digging into her past pre-adoption. While appreciate Audible publishing it, I found it way over produced for my liking. All the music, breathless explanations and multiple transitions took away from the listening experience. I actually emailed Audible to confirm it was biographical, and fiction. So, listen for the story, if you can brave the unnecessary drama.
This was a very interesting biographical account of one woman’s remarkable journey after digging into her past pre-adoption. While appreciate Audible publishing it, I found it way over produced for my liking. All the music, breathless explanations and multiple transitions took away from the listening experience. I actually emailed Audible to confirm it was biographical, and fiction. So, listen for the story, if you can brave the unnecessary drama.
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