Take Care of Our Daughter

by Emily Mulcahey

Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[McKynnleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This typically isn’t a genre that I reach for, but it had me hooked from start to finish and may be the start to me branching out.

Someone else said in their review “Stephen King meets Blake Crouch,” and I think that’s the perfect way to describe it.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some post-apocalyptic stories are really about the monsters. Take Care of Our Daughter is about the people trying to live around them.

At its core are Rory and her teenage daughter, moving north with the slow, careful logic of people who know one wrong choice could be their last. They’re navigating a world where danger comes from every direction. The monsters are real, but the novel understands something more unsettling: other people can be worse.

You end up rooting for them almost immediately. Rory is trying to hold the line between survival and compassion, which gets harder the smaller the world becomes. Her daughter is sharp, watchful, growing up far too quickly in a place where childhood has mostly disappeared.

When they encounter a father and son on the road, the story shifts. The rules Rory has built to keep herself and her daughter alive start to bend under the weight of another family’s need. Who do you help? Who do you turn away? And what does it mean to care for someone when that care might put the people you love most at risk? These questions feel uncomfortably real, and Mulcahey handles them with a natural honesty that never feels forced.

What stayed with me most was the sense of place fluid as the geography was. The north wasn't just a direction they were heading. You feel it in the empty roads, the cold air, the stretches of land that seem both beautiful and indifferent. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it shapes every decision the characters make.

For all its darkness, the book keeps its attention on something small and human. Even when the future feels thin and uncertain, people still form connections. Sometimes, because they have to. Sometimes, because they choose to.

Take Care of Our Daughter is a quiet, haunting story about survival, but more than that, it’s about the uneasy line between protecting your own and caring for others when the world has stopped caring at all.

Mulcahey knocked her debut novel out of the park.

[Scott Hansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible Read!!! Not my typical genre, but once started I could not put this down. I found myself caring for each of the characters (some in a loving way, some in a hating way) and anxious to follow their journey to the end. So many times I found my heart racing, vocally cursing, smiling or tearing up. It was truly captivating. Highly recommend this book from an extremely talented young author. I so look forward to future works from Emily!

[Emily Rosman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being an early reader of Emily’s book and loved it! The pacing is done so well and I literally still think about the twist at the end. Her characters are nuanced and thoughtful, and the you feel as if you’re a part of their post-apocalyptic found family. This is a refreshing and welcome new addition to the genre!

[Emma Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!!! I loved this book from start to finish. The shorter chapters had me speeding through. The sci fi elements that kept evolving kept me on edge until the end. But what I loved most were the ever-present themes of love, the ultimate sacrifice and the importance of finding family that helps you make it through your darkest days

[Meagan Beckerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read!!! The perspective and timeline shifts create a fast reading pace, keeping you hooked and engaged from page 1, all while blending together seamlessly! This was a thrilling, action-packed, creative sci-fi novel with beautiful themes of sacrificial love, family values, and the empowerment & perseverance of women interwoven throughout. Go read it now!!

[Kelly winstanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and so fast-paced! A wonderful tale of badassery and good people fighting the good fight. The end really kept me on my toes, I did not guess what was going to happen. I fell in love with some of the characters and really enjoyed the plot. Excellent debut novel by Emily Mulcahey!

[Kelly Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This hooked me from the very beginning and I just had to know how it ended! The pacing of this book was excellent and really made me feel like I was traversing a post-apocalyptic world with Rory and Sarah.

[Taylor Nigrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the very rare occaisions where I finished a novel in one sitting. A gripping, thrilling story that kept me on my toes. The future depicted here, while fantastical, feels like a grave warning.
An incredible debut for Emily, can't wait to see what's next for her!

[Holly Mrozak · Rating 5 out of 5]

👏👏👏👏👏
Stephen King meets Blake Crouch

[Beka McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! An easy to read, fast paced novel that gave me Stranger Things vibes! You won’t be disappointed ❤️

[Rachel Noone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously so good!! Quickly got attached to all the characters and Emily made my heart race multiple times!

[Katelyn Unterborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super compelling story. I couldn’t put it down!

[Madeline Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The type of book you can’t put down! Such a dynamic and thrilling story filled with incredibly compelling characters. We need a sequel, please and thanks!

[Annie Reiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The what ifs are endless. The reality is that, in life, all we can do is our best with the hand we are dealt." I absolutely loved this book. It's a unique blend of Hunger Games meets A Quiet Place meets Project Hail Mary and the social commentary is extremely meaningful. 5 stars for a great read. I hope this is the beginning of a very long writing career for Emily Mulcahey!