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The Other Daughter
Raised in a poor yet genteel household, Rachel Woodley is working in France as a governess when she receives news that her mother has died suddenly. Grief stricken, she returns to the small town in England where she was raised to clear out the cottage...and finds a cutting from a London society magazine, with a photograph of her supposedly deceased father dated all of three month before. He's an earl, respected and influential, and he is standing with another daughter - his legitimate daughter. Which makes Rachel...not legitimate. Everything she thought she knew about herself and her past - even her very name - is a lie.
Still reeling from the death of her mother and furious at this betrayal, Rachel sets herself up in London under a new identity. There she insinuates herself into the partygoing crowd of Bright Young Things, with a steely determination to unveil her father's perfidy and bring his - and her half sister's - charmed world crashing down. Very soon, however, Rachel faces two unexpected She finds she genuinely likes her half-sister, Olivia, whose situation isn't as simple it appears; and she might just be falling for her sister's fiancé....
From Lauren Willig, author of the New York Times best-selling novel The Ashford Affair, comes The Other Daughter, an audiobook full of deceit, passion, and revenge.
Still reeling from the death of her mother and furious at this betrayal, Rachel sets herself up in London under a new identity. There she insinuates herself into the partygoing crowd of Bright Young Things, with a steely determination to unveil her father's perfidy and bring his - and her half sister's - charmed world crashing down. Very soon, however, Rachel faces two unexpected She finds she genuinely likes her half-sister, Olivia, whose situation isn't as simple it appears; and she might just be falling for her sister's fiancé....
From Lauren Willig, author of the New York Times best-selling novel The Ashford Affair, comes The Other Daughter, an audiobook full of deceit, passion, and revenge.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2015
396 people are currently reading
12311 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
42 books4,728 followersLauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,053 reviews
June 21, 2015
4 stars!
I enjoyed this historical read. My only complaint is that the romance was very weak. I wish I could elaborate more but I'm in a serious book reviewing funk so I'll get back to this one later.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this historical read. My only complaint is that the romance was very weak. I wish I could elaborate more but I'm in a serious book reviewing funk so I'll get back to this one later.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2015
A surprise Joyful Read!
From start to finish I enjoyed the storytelling!
This novel has everything I enjoy in a fiction novel ...
From loss, grief, poverty, and a discovered secret.....an adventure story takes on a life of its own.
Engaging, charming, mysterious, a little mischievous, and a little romantic....
Lauren Willig has written a wonderful 'curl-up-and-snuggle' escape read. One or two sittings and the end has come before you've realized it.
Watch Rachel transform... starting with a vengeful fantasy of a newspaper headline which would say...,"Earl's Abandon Daughter Seeks Justice"
A cousin, a name change, a chaperone, ( or, shall we say, " a business venture"), a father, a half sister, a fiancé, love, betrayal, twists and turns, some tender sensitive moments, humor, .....
All in the wonderful seductive era of the 1920's.
Think nightclub parties, cocktails, and cigarettes!
This was a time in England - after WW1-- when the mood of the country saw great change ...
and it was no different for the characters in "The Other Sister".
The hedonistic lifestyle along with genuine forgiveness.. ( letting go of bitterness), makes this a very satisfying read!
From start to finish I enjoyed the storytelling!
This novel has everything I enjoy in a fiction novel ...
From loss, grief, poverty, and a discovered secret.....an adventure story takes on a life of its own.
Engaging, charming, mysterious, a little mischievous, and a little romantic....
Lauren Willig has written a wonderful 'curl-up-and-snuggle' escape read. One or two sittings and the end has come before you've realized it.
Watch Rachel transform... starting with a vengeful fantasy of a newspaper headline which would say...,"Earl's Abandon Daughter Seeks Justice"
A cousin, a name change, a chaperone, ( or, shall we say, " a business venture"), a father, a half sister, a fiancé, love, betrayal, twists and turns, some tender sensitive moments, humor, .....
All in the wonderful seductive era of the 1920's.
Think nightclub parties, cocktails, and cigarettes!
This was a time in England - after WW1-- when the mood of the country saw great change ...
and it was no different for the characters in "The Other Sister".
The hedonistic lifestyle along with genuine forgiveness.. ( letting go of bitterness), makes this a very satisfying read!
August 3, 2015
Personally, I don't prefer historical fiction. I'll choose another genre over it at pretty much every opportunity unless it has been strongly recommended or I just don't have anything else to read, the latter being the case with The Other Daughter. That being said, it didn't take me long at all to know I was going to devour this book. I loved it ♥
Lauren Willig created an amazing storyline and characters for this standalone novel. This story offers family secrets, deceit, revenge, false identities, mystery, 1920's London...The Other Daughter definitely kept a fast and fun pace, and I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish.
So why not five roaring stars? Unfortunately, I was a bit underwhelmed by the secrets I learned at the end (but I was on cloud freakin' nine so I could have been expecting too much). Also, I personally needed more romance when the plot called for it near the end. These characters are passionate to their core - it's obvious through their character building - but again, I felt it was a bit underwhelming in comparison to the anticipation I felt. It just left me a tiny bit disappointed. But it's all good. Remember, I'm still a newbie when it comes to historical fiction so this might not be an issue with other readers.
Regardless of these minor moments at the end, I just couldn't dismiss my overall reaction to this novel. I so enjoyed this book and let me add that the audio version is outstanding in my opinion. I'd highly recommend it. Four stars is still pretty damn good in my book and I will definitely be reading more of this author! Check it out!
My favorite quote:
"We're all liars my sweet. Some of us are simply better at it than others."
Lauren Willig created an amazing storyline and characters for this standalone novel. This story offers family secrets, deceit, revenge, false identities, mystery, 1920's London...The Other Daughter definitely kept a fast and fun pace, and I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish.
So why not five roaring stars? Unfortunately, I was a bit underwhelmed by the secrets I learned at the end (but I was on cloud freakin' nine so I could have been expecting too much). Also, I personally needed more romance when the plot called for it near the end. These characters are passionate to their core - it's obvious through their character building - but again, I felt it was a bit underwhelming in comparison to the anticipation I felt. It just left me a tiny bit disappointed. But it's all good. Remember, I'm still a newbie when it comes to historical fiction so this might not be an issue with other readers.
Regardless of these minor moments at the end, I just couldn't dismiss my overall reaction to this novel. I so enjoyed this book and let me add that the audio version is outstanding in my opinion. I'd highly recommend it. Four stars is still pretty damn good in my book and I will definitely be reading more of this author! Check it out!
My favorite quote:
"We're all liars my sweet. Some of us are simply better at it than others."
June 5, 2015
3.5 Stars
In 1927, Rachel Woodley is living in France working as a governess. She receives a telegram altering her to her mother's ailing health in England. Upon her return to England she discovers that she is too late; her mother has died. While going through her mother's room, Rachel discovers a picture, torn out from a gossip publication, of her father posing wit a woman who is listed as his daughter, Olivia. This is a traumatic moment for Rachel, as she was told when she was 4 years old that her father, a botanist, died. Not only is Rachel's father very much alive, he is an Earl and has another family!
Rachel travels to London to learn more about her father....She meets gossip columnist who helps her come up with a plan to become part of the the Bright Young Things to befriend her sister, and ultimately,get revenge on her father.
I think that this novel has potential. I really liked having a glimpse into the Bright Young Things and the fast pace of the narrative. However, the supporting characters were underdeveloped, leading to an ending that felt unbelievable.
In 1927, Rachel Woodley is living in France working as a governess. She receives a telegram altering her to her mother's ailing health in England. Upon her return to England she discovers that she is too late; her mother has died. While going through her mother's room, Rachel discovers a picture, torn out from a gossip publication, of her father posing wit a woman who is listed as his daughter, Olivia. This is a traumatic moment for Rachel, as she was told when she was 4 years old that her father, a botanist, died. Not only is Rachel's father very much alive, he is an Earl and has another family!
Rachel travels to London to learn more about her father....She meets gossip columnist who helps her come up with a plan to become part of the the Bright Young Things to befriend her sister, and ultimately,get revenge on her father.
I think that this novel has potential. I really liked having a glimpse into the Bright Young Things and the fast pace of the narrative. However, the supporting characters were underdeveloped, leading to an ending that felt unbelievable.
April 17, 2015
I've read a few other books by Lauren Willig (all from the Pink Carnation series) and I found them mildly likeable but often felt like they were trying too hard -- wanting to be smarter, wanting to be a little bit more feminist and adventurous, or a little more romantic than they could ultimately sustain. I would say The Other Daughter is a massive step forward for Ms Willig, especially in crafting characters. And, oddly, though the plot in this novel becomes twice as intricate as any of the Pink Carnation books, it reads as far more elegant and well constructed. The story reaches a Comedy of Errors level of mistaken assumptions, lies, and twists that strain credulity, yet it's entirely satisfying how it plays out. It feels like Willig found the one safe path through a maze where disaster might have pounced at any corner, and it's a pretty impressive feat.
If you're wondering whether this is a romance novel, I would say the answer is no, though you might someday find it on a shelf with historical romances. It does have a happy ending that includes falling in love, but most of the novel is not about the couple. There are a lot of interesting historical details -- some that even made me look up the facts to see if Willig really knew what she was talking about (for example I had no idea rayon existed a hundred years ago; I would have guessed it was invented much more recently). There are also no sex scenes whatsoever, so it is very definitely not that sort of romance novel. More importantly, there are some pleasingly complex and surprising characters who make this feel much more substantial than what you probably think of as a romance novel.
Most of all, there is an undercurrent of darkness through most of this book that doesn't read like a typical romance. The main character, Rachel, discovers that she is illegitimate only when her mother dies in Rachel's 27th year. She thought her father to be a botanist, deceased over two decades earlier. But apparently he's an Earl, alive, and has a family living in comfort and ignorance of her existence (while Rachel and her mother barely had money for food and lodging). Confusion, curiosity, and anger war with each other, and we see that Rachel wants to do something in the pursuit of justice, but isn't sure what exactly she wants to do or is really capable of doing. She creates an alter ego, Vera, to venture into London and insert herself in the Earl's family's social circles, and all the while vacillates about what she really wants to do when she has the opportunity. Only when she meets the Earl and he demonstrates absolutely no interest in her or recognition of the daughter that he abandoned does she dedicate herself to revenge. And then there are a series of reveals and plot twists that show almost everyone in the story to be surprising in some way -- many of them better than they seem, and a few, surprisingly worse.
I found Rachel to be sympathetic and usually intelligent. She finds a partner in schemes in the enigmatic Simon, and the two of them have some very witty, occasionally bitter, and very occasionally sweet conversations. She thinks she knows the limitations of how much she can trust him, yet she is confounded multiple times by the truth about him when additional layers are exposed. Their relationship is fascinating, and I would have liked even more detail about it and more gradual revelations for each of them about what they're capable of feeling and doing. The weakness of the book is in Rachel's repeatedly going through the process of thinking she probably can't really trust Simon because he has his own agenda but deciding that she's going to keep working with him anyway. I feel like we got three or four variations of her beginning to have questions about him, making a halfhearted effort to get answers, not getting answers, and deciding she doesn't need the answers and going on just as she was. A little too much treading water for a book that isn't very long.
On top of everything, while pretending to be Vera and spending time with the "fast" crowd, Rachel gets swept up in a lot of their activities and experiences a genuine compromise of her initial soul and self. This isn't just the same old story where the naive good girl has a handsome and popular Pygmalion to transform her, but then despite having sudden access to a different lifestyle, she retains all of her pure, honorable, angelic ideals and attitudes. Rachel is a smart and sensitive person, but she ends up partying and lying and using people in a combination of escapism and alleged intent to serve her scheme that I find well done because it realistically depicts a person's blurred lines. Of course there's a happy ending where her core values do turn out to be "good" ones... but Rachel is not a Disney Cinderella. She's a much more complex person.
I think for this to be a great novel, there would need to be a little bit more time building the central romantic relationship, and some more significant action taken in the pursuit of revenge. Rachel's excuse for not simply exposing the Earl's actions at the outset seems flimsy, so much so that it reads like an authorial contrivance to force a longer story instead of as a defining truth of Rachel's character. Rachel ultimately turns out to be a likeable, thoughtful person, and I suppose I can accept that she was never capable of bringing Armageddon down if innocent people would have been hurt along with guilty ones. But the book would be a lot more interesting if she at least occasionally spun out a detailed, specific scheme in her own head so that we could see what she was capable of thinking of doing or wanting to do, even if she wasn't ultimately a person who would do something drastic and destructive. That could have made for a much more sophisticated character portrait.
I also wouldn't mind slightly less of a feeling that the author is obviously capitalizing on the recent resurgence in interest in the Jazz Age due to Gatsby, making sure you know about the dresses and the parties and the gossip and the cigarette holders, and all those trappings of the glamour of that period. But as a novel that is consciously tapping into a trend, The Other Daughter has a little extra something that makes it compelling, and that has to do with finding such a clever balance between romantic wish fulfillment and a more nuanced approach to characters' motivations and their multifaceted, periodically conflicting desires. This is a better-than-average weekend/vacation/beach read, and I feel confident that if you're sifting through reviews because you're pretty sure you wanted to read it but just wanted a little more info, The Other Daughter will end up being a book you enjoy.
**
As what may be a sign that I am ascending the ranks of Net Galley reviewers, they allowed me to enjoy a complimentary copy of the probable best seller which is The Other Daughter in return for my honest review. Thanks, guys!
If you're wondering whether this is a romance novel, I would say the answer is no, though you might someday find it on a shelf with historical romances. It does have a happy ending that includes falling in love, but most of the novel is not about the couple. There are a lot of interesting historical details -- some that even made me look up the facts to see if Willig really knew what she was talking about (for example I had no idea rayon existed a hundred years ago; I would have guessed it was invented much more recently). There are also no sex scenes whatsoever, so it is very definitely not that sort of romance novel. More importantly, there are some pleasingly complex and surprising characters who make this feel much more substantial than what you probably think of as a romance novel.
Most of all, there is an undercurrent of darkness through most of this book that doesn't read like a typical romance. The main character, Rachel, discovers that she is illegitimate only when her mother dies in Rachel's 27th year. She thought her father to be a botanist, deceased over two decades earlier. But apparently he's an Earl, alive, and has a family living in comfort and ignorance of her existence (while Rachel and her mother barely had money for food and lodging). Confusion, curiosity, and anger war with each other, and we see that Rachel wants to do something in the pursuit of justice, but isn't sure what exactly she wants to do or is really capable of doing. She creates an alter ego, Vera, to venture into London and insert herself in the Earl's family's social circles, and all the while vacillates about what she really wants to do when she has the opportunity. Only when she meets the Earl and he demonstrates absolutely no interest in her or recognition of the daughter that he abandoned does she dedicate herself to revenge. And then there are a series of reveals and plot twists that show almost everyone in the story to be surprising in some way -- many of them better than they seem, and a few, surprisingly worse.
I found Rachel to be sympathetic and usually intelligent. She finds a partner in schemes in the enigmatic Simon, and the two of them have some very witty, occasionally bitter, and very occasionally sweet conversations. She thinks she knows the limitations of how much she can trust him, yet she is confounded multiple times by the truth about him when additional layers are exposed. Their relationship is fascinating, and I would have liked even more detail about it and more gradual revelations for each of them about what they're capable of feeling and doing. The weakness of the book is in Rachel's repeatedly going through the process of thinking she probably can't really trust Simon because he has his own agenda but deciding that she's going to keep working with him anyway. I feel like we got three or four variations of her beginning to have questions about him, making a halfhearted effort to get answers, not getting answers, and deciding she doesn't need the answers and going on just as she was. A little too much treading water for a book that isn't very long.
On top of everything, while pretending to be Vera and spending time with the "fast" crowd, Rachel gets swept up in a lot of their activities and experiences a genuine compromise of her initial soul and self. This isn't just the same old story where the naive good girl has a handsome and popular Pygmalion to transform her, but then despite having sudden access to a different lifestyle, she retains all of her pure, honorable, angelic ideals and attitudes. Rachel is a smart and sensitive person, but she ends up partying and lying and using people in a combination of escapism and alleged intent to serve her scheme that I find well done because it realistically depicts a person's blurred lines. Of course there's a happy ending where her core values do turn out to be "good" ones... but Rachel is not a Disney Cinderella. She's a much more complex person.
I think for this to be a great novel, there would need to be a little bit more time building the central romantic relationship, and some more significant action taken in the pursuit of revenge. Rachel's excuse for not simply exposing the Earl's actions at the outset seems flimsy, so much so that it reads like an authorial contrivance to force a longer story instead of as a defining truth of Rachel's character. Rachel ultimately turns out to be a likeable, thoughtful person, and I suppose I can accept that she was never capable of bringing Armageddon down if innocent people would have been hurt along with guilty ones. But the book would be a lot more interesting if she at least occasionally spun out a detailed, specific scheme in her own head so that we could see what she was capable of thinking of doing or wanting to do, even if she wasn't ultimately a person who would do something drastic and destructive. That could have made for a much more sophisticated character portrait.
I also wouldn't mind slightly less of a feeling that the author is obviously capitalizing on the recent resurgence in interest in the Jazz Age due to Gatsby, making sure you know about the dresses and the parties and the gossip and the cigarette holders, and all those trappings of the glamour of that period. But as a novel that is consciously tapping into a trend, The Other Daughter has a little extra something that makes it compelling, and that has to do with finding such a clever balance between romantic wish fulfillment and a more nuanced approach to characters' motivations and their multifaceted, periodically conflicting desires. This is a better-than-average weekend/vacation/beach read, and I feel confident that if you're sifting through reviews because you're pretty sure you wanted to read it but just wanted a little more info, The Other Daughter will end up being a book you enjoy.
**
As what may be a sign that I am ascending the ranks of Net Galley reviewers, they allowed me to enjoy a complimentary copy of the probable best seller which is The Other Daughter in return for my honest review. Thanks, guys!
August 5, 2015
It's so try-hard with its premise, and yet does nothing interesting with it. And the "banter" is just terrible. Terrible! I finished it, so that's it's only virtue, really.
May 28, 2017
I wavered between a 3 and a 4. I read the book in one sitting, it was good. But it won't stand out in my mind a week from now. Everything seemed too easy for the heroine. She was a governess, who found out she was the illegitimate daughter of an earl. She decided she was going to become a part of the Bright Young Things and get access to him so she could confront him. Seconds later, she meets filthy rich Simon, who has an agenda of his own and fronts the money for the whole thing. He has never met her before. He puts her up in his mom's flat, introduces her to the right people...blah blah blah.
It would be like if all of a sudden I decided that I was going to hang out with celebrities, and I turn a corner and Johnny Depp is there and says, "Yeah, I'll help you."
You must be prepared to suspend your disbelief!
It would be like if all of a sudden I decided that I was going to hang out with celebrities, and I turn a corner and Johnny Depp is there and says, "Yeah, I'll help you."
You must be prepared to suspend your disbelief!
June 15, 2016
I was a bit skeptical of this book when I first started it. I didn't really agree with the main character's desire for revenge. Despite the great wrong done to her, I wished she'd be a bit more curious as to WHY it was done....and consider possibly she wasn't the only victim in this great tragedy.
Well, as things progress Rachel's eyes do open and I liked her more.
Around 80% or so a twist definitely occurs and then around 90% there are some more unexpected twists and turns...
In the end I was really happy with the story and all that happened. I loved the way the author ended it!
If you enjoy historical fiction, I would recommend this book.
Well, as things progress Rachel's eyes do open and I liked her more.
Around 80% or so a twist definitely occurs and then around 90% there are some more unexpected twists and turns...
In the end I was really happy with the story and all that happened. I loved the way the author ended it!
If you enjoy historical fiction, I would recommend this book.
July 24, 2015
After her mother dies of influenza, Rachel stumbles upon a picture torn from the society pages of a magazine. It's of her father who she thought was dead together with his daughter –– the eponymous other daughter. As an earl he has everything, wealth, status and respect. All things she lacks.
She forms an uneasy alliance with Simon, a gossip columnist who is a society insider and manages to insinuate herself into the bright young things of London in the 1920s. But as she sets her plan into motion to confront the father who abandoned her, everything starts crashing down around her.
The Other Daughter is good...occasionally it's brilliant but it still somehow managed to leave me feeling a little unsatisfied. The resolutions are painfully sparse and in some cases completely absent. You grow to love Olivia and Cece but they just disappear without so much as a 'by your leave'.
Overall, it's worth the effort but those few missteps tarnished an otherwise great book.
She forms an uneasy alliance with Simon, a gossip columnist who is a society insider and manages to insinuate herself into the bright young things of London in the 1920s. But as she sets her plan into motion to confront the father who abandoned her, everything starts crashing down around her.
The Other Daughter is good...occasionally it's brilliant but it still somehow managed to leave me feeling a little unsatisfied. The resolutions are painfully sparse and in some cases completely absent. You grow to love Olivia and Cece but they just disappear without so much as a 'by your leave'.
Overall, it's worth the effort but those few missteps tarnished an otherwise great book.
June 29, 2015
First off, many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Courtney made my dreams come true when she offered this huge Lauren Willig fan a copy! :)
This was a great book! It had secrets, intrigue, revenge-- you name it! There wasn't very much actual romance, and it was a clean read. It was also on the short side. I wanted to keep reading non stop and was sad to finish. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the fact that it felt a little superficial, and could have been deeper if more had been written. I liked the ending but would have loved even more details about what was next!
The main character Rachel/Vera is likable and draws you into her tale. I liked her character a lot...and Simon's. I enjoyed all the secrets and what was ultimately revealed. Willig fans will not be disappointed!
This was a great book! It had secrets, intrigue, revenge-- you name it! There wasn't very much actual romance, and it was a clean read. It was also on the short side. I wanted to keep reading non stop and was sad to finish. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the fact that it felt a little superficial, and could have been deeper if more had been written. I liked the ending but would have loved even more details about what was next!
The main character Rachel/Vera is likable and draws you into her tale. I liked her character a lot...and Simon's. I enjoyed all the secrets and what was ultimately revealed. Willig fans will not be disappointed!
July 27, 2015
The year is 1927 and Rachel Woodley is a governess to three spoiled children. She gets word that her mother is gravely ill and by the time she reaches her side, it's too late. Her mother has passed away and Rachel has even missed the funeral. While she is cleaning out her mother's house, she finds a photograph of a man that looks exactly like her deceased father. This sends her for a tailspin, obviously, as she has always been told her father is dead. After more digging, she finds out her father isn't dead; in fact, he is a earl with children of his own. With the help of Simon Montfort, a journalist who has many connections, she plans on meeting the people who are her family except she'll be posing as someone else. She is not only curious about her new family, but she also wants revenge in a sense as she feels extremely betrayed. Lauren Willig's The Other Daughter is an entertaining historical read that brings the 1920s to life.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 22, 2015
Another great historical fiction that was both entertaining and a joy to read. Although, I seriously would have had a hard time tearing up the paper at the end just to piss off Violet.
There are a lot of lies, a lot of secrets and a lot of trickery going on in this story and the author captured it perfectly. Frankly, I would have wanted to get on that ship myself and see what happens next.
I really felt like I knew the characters in this book and was sad to have to say goodbye to them. It was strange how Olivia could be such a mousy thing, but I suppose all those years with her had a lot to attribute to that.
If your into historical fiction or early 1900 England,this would be a great book for you to read.
Thank you St.Martin's Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT RACHAEL. Sequel, sequel, Ha!
There are a lot of lies, a lot of secrets and a lot of trickery going on in this story and the author captured it perfectly. Frankly, I would have wanted to get on that ship myself and see what happens next.
I really felt like I knew the characters in this book and was sad to have to say goodbye to them. It was strange how Olivia could be such a mousy thing, but I suppose all those years with her had a lot to attribute to that.
If your into historical fiction or early 1900 England,this would be a great book for you to read.
Thank you St.Martin's Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT RACHAEL. Sequel, sequel, Ha!
July 26, 2015
I think it would take a lot for me not to like a Lauren Willig novel. I love historical books, this one set in early 1920's England, one of my favorite periods. Add in family secrets, lies, snarky humor, and just a dash of love, well, you pretty much have my attention.
December 30, 2015
What an enjoyable read this was! Its competent intelligent writing reminded me of Susanna Kearsley's work. The story maybe a little light on romance but it's fully compensated by a very engaging plot (I had hard time walking away from reading and consumed the story almost in one setting) , beautiful characterization, and setting that sparkled with authenticity. I felt transported to this deceptively care-free, neurotic time known as the Roaring Twenties. Numerous secondary characters didn't destruct from the plot but, quite opposite, enhanced the narative. They brought additional wrinkle, extra layer of depth to make the story complete.
When we first met the heroine, Rachel Woodley , she is working in France as a governess. A news of her widowed mother illness quickly sent her back home to a small town in England. But she was too late, her mother died of influenza. Rachel lost her only living relative besides her cousin in Oxford. Or, so she thought, until clearing out the cottage she finds a cutting from a London society magazine, with a photograph of her supposedly deceased father dated all of three month before. He's an earl, respected and influential, and he is standing with another daughter-his legitimate daughter. Everything Rachel thought she knew about herself and her past turned into lie. Seeking confirmation of what she found, Rachel travels to Oxford to see her cousin. There, in her cousin's office, she encounters Simon Montfort, a member of an old aristocratic family and a gossip column writer. With his aid, Rachel infiltrates the ranks of the Bright Young Things in order to accost her wayward father. But things rarely go as planned..
The twists and turns of the book made it hard to put down. Rachel is such a gem! She is funny, intelligent, bold and endearing. The interactions between her and Simon were so enhancing. The witty repartee and tension between the two was fascinating.
This is a standalone book but I hope the author writes a sequel. I could think of at least two characters whose stories I would love to read.
When we first met the heroine, Rachel Woodley , she is working in France as a governess. A news of her widowed mother illness quickly sent her back home to a small town in England. But she was too late, her mother died of influenza. Rachel lost her only living relative besides her cousin in Oxford. Or, so she thought, until clearing out the cottage she finds a cutting from a London society magazine, with a photograph of her supposedly deceased father dated all of three month before. He's an earl, respected and influential, and he is standing with another daughter-his legitimate daughter. Everything Rachel thought she knew about herself and her past turned into lie. Seeking confirmation of what she found, Rachel travels to Oxford to see her cousin. There, in her cousin's office, she encounters Simon Montfort, a member of an old aristocratic family and a gossip column writer. With his aid, Rachel infiltrates the ranks of the Bright Young Things in order to accost her wayward father. But things rarely go as planned..
The twists and turns of the book made it hard to put down. Rachel is such a gem! She is funny, intelligent, bold and endearing. The interactions between her and Simon were so enhancing. The witty repartee and tension between the two was fascinating.
This is a standalone book but I hope the author writes a sequel. I could think of at least two characters whose stories I would love to read.
July 7, 2015
After a successful divergence from her Napoleonic spy romances of the Pink Carnation series with the post-Edwardian "The Ashford Affair" and "That Summer" novels, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig again embarks on another stand-alone narrative with "The Other Daughter".
Rachel Woodley, a governess working in France, learns her mother has died. As if that isn't enough, she soon discovers her supposedly dead father is not only alive and well but is an influential earl...and head of prominent family! Everything Rachel has ever known is now topsy-turvy and all she feels is betrayal.
After meeting with an old time friend to demand some answers, she meets Simon, one of London's young elite. And for unknown reasons, he undertakes Rachel's cause, setting her up in a swanky London apartment, with a wardrobe fitting her glamorous, mysterious new identity. But to what end? Blackmail? Revenge? Curiosity? As Rachel falls in with this rich, party-going crowd, she meets cousins she never knew existed as well as her sister and father. (Like always, it was fun seeing the name Vaughn! Even if it was hyphenated with another.) But her plans are upset when she discovers she might actually like this half-sister.
As in other Willig stand-alone novels...once I started reading "The Other Daughter" I could not put it down until I reached its wholly satisfying conclusion. Willig's lush, likeable characters and layered historical aspects, touches of mystery, and a dash of romance will keep you mulling over the storyline and other intrinsic detailing long after you’ve inhaled that satisfying last page.This is a MustRead...if only to pacify your anticipation for the conclusion of Willig's Pink Carnation series.
*I received an advanced reader copy from St. Martins Press in exchange for my fair & honest review.
Rachel Woodley, a governess working in France, learns her mother has died. As if that isn't enough, she soon discovers her supposedly dead father is not only alive and well but is an influential earl...and head of prominent family! Everything Rachel has ever known is now topsy-turvy and all she feels is betrayal.
After meeting with an old time friend to demand some answers, she meets Simon, one of London's young elite. And for unknown reasons, he undertakes Rachel's cause, setting her up in a swanky London apartment, with a wardrobe fitting her glamorous, mysterious new identity. But to what end? Blackmail? Revenge? Curiosity? As Rachel falls in with this rich, party-going crowd, she meets cousins she never knew existed as well as her sister and father. (Like always, it was fun seeing the name Vaughn! Even if it was hyphenated with another.) But her plans are upset when she discovers she might actually like this half-sister.
As in other Willig stand-alone novels...once I started reading "The Other Daughter" I could not put it down until I reached its wholly satisfying conclusion. Willig's lush, likeable characters and layered historical aspects, touches of mystery, and a dash of romance will keep you mulling over the storyline and other intrinsic detailing long after you’ve inhaled that satisfying last page.This is a MustRead...if only to pacify your anticipation for the conclusion of Willig's Pink Carnation series.
*I received an advanced reader copy from St. Martins Press in exchange for my fair & honest review.
June 4, 2017
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I've eyed Lauren Willig's novels for a long time, but The Other Daughter marks my first real experience with her work. I read The Record Set Right, the short Willig contributed to Fall of Poppies, but there's a world of difference between an anthology submission and a full length narrative. It's apples to oranges really, but that's neither here nor there.
I listened to the audio edition of The Other Daughter and I think it safe to say the format colored my experience. Nicola Barber's voice isn't poor, but I wasn't thrilled with her performance. The inflections she employed for each individual character drove me up the wall. The male cast members suffered more than their female counterparts, but I felt led and I didn't like how Barber's interpretations pigeonholed each of Willig's characters.
The plot itself also challenged me. I prefer meatier stories and the trials faced by Miss Rachael Woodley lacked the sort of intrigue that captures my imagination. Don't misunderstand, it's a fun narrative, overflowing with lighthearted humor and smart literary references, but Willig's London is dressed to the nines, encrusted in jewels, and positively drowning in champagne. The mysteries at the heart of the novel felt petty and the motivations behind them vague and coincidental. The reveal lacked the punch I craved and I ultimately felt rather indifferent over the lack of deliberate antagonism in the story.
Perhaps I picked the wrong novel or selected the wrong format, but The Other Daughter didn't work as well as I hoped and while I'm happy to have sampled it, I am not chomping at the bit to get into the Pink Carnation series.
I've eyed Lauren Willig's novels for a long time, but The Other Daughter marks my first real experience with her work. I read The Record Set Right, the short Willig contributed to Fall of Poppies, but there's a world of difference between an anthology submission and a full length narrative. It's apples to oranges really, but that's neither here nor there.
I listened to the audio edition of The Other Daughter and I think it safe to say the format colored my experience. Nicola Barber's voice isn't poor, but I wasn't thrilled with her performance. The inflections she employed for each individual character drove me up the wall. The male cast members suffered more than their female counterparts, but I felt led and I didn't like how Barber's interpretations pigeonholed each of Willig's characters.
The plot itself also challenged me. I prefer meatier stories and the trials faced by Miss Rachael Woodley lacked the sort of intrigue that captures my imagination. Don't misunderstand, it's a fun narrative, overflowing with lighthearted humor and smart literary references, but Willig's London is dressed to the nines, encrusted in jewels, and positively drowning in champagne. The mysteries at the heart of the novel felt petty and the motivations behind them vague and coincidental. The reveal lacked the punch I craved and I ultimately felt rather indifferent over the lack of deliberate antagonism in the story.
Perhaps I picked the wrong novel or selected the wrong format, but The Other Daughter didn't work as well as I hoped and while I'm happy to have sampled it, I am not chomping at the bit to get into the Pink Carnation series.
July 21, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
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With a perfect blend of secrets, lies, suspense, and intrigue, Lauren Willig has truly captured my attention in this poignant, beautiful and addicting historical read. This was first my book that I have read from this author and after reading this page-turning book, this is surely won't be my last. The Other Daughter was a touching tale that unraveled the raw depths of emotions of a young woman discovering the truth of her family secrets. In this raw portrayal, the unraveling of secrets, deceits, and lies was both intriguing and at the same time heartbreaking. I love it when an author can make you feel for the characters and that's what Ms. Willig did. She wrote a compelling story that dealt with raw emotions that was intertwined in a historical era that truly encompassed a woman's journey from poverty, loss, grief, and betrayal. The Other Daughter had a perfect blend of historical and intrigue that will definitely allow readers to get lost in the story of Rachel Woodley.
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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...
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With a perfect blend of secrets, lies, suspense, and intrigue, Lauren Willig has truly captured my attention in this poignant, beautiful and addicting historical read. This was first my book that I have read from this author and after reading this page-turning book, this is surely won't be my last. The Other Daughter was a touching tale that unraveled the raw depths of emotions of a young woman discovering the truth of her family secrets. In this raw portrayal, the unraveling of secrets, deceits, and lies was both intriguing and at the same time heartbreaking. I love it when an author can make you feel for the characters and that's what Ms. Willig did. She wrote a compelling story that dealt with raw emotions that was intertwined in a historical era that truly encompassed a woman's journey from poverty, loss, grief, and betrayal. The Other Daughter had a perfect blend of historical and intrigue that will definitely allow readers to get lost in the story of Rachel Woodley.
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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...
May 16, 2016
Worthy of a reread.
What a wonderful book to come back from a long audiobook hiatus.
Just a heads up, there was one scene right at the beginning that made me cry. I rarely cry. But this scene is about mothers and with Nicola's narration it absolutely kills you, so I suggest listening to the book :)
The Other Daughter is an exciting page-turner. From the get-go I knew I was going to love Rachel's character. Instead of being cold or snotty with her prim and proper personality, Rachel is incredibly warm and caring. With the news of her mother's illness, she becomes part of a life-changing experience that makes her more mature while uncovering many juicy secrets.
'20s London setting is written marvellously, the dialogue snappy with just the right amount of naivety-on-purpose on the girls' parts and braggart personalities of the guys.
Setting the revenge plot aside (which you will love) with its surprising depths and twists, what I enjoyed most were the layers to the characters. Forget Simon, listening to Olivia's character was a roller coaster. I loved the feeling of being completely in-tune with Rachel's feelings with regards to Olivia which went everywhere from hate, indifference, envy, jealousy, pity and grudging admiration. (The star of the show is still Rachel followed by Simon)
However, despite being able to keep a steady momentum throughout the book with nary a draggy section, one of the reasons The Other Daughter didn't get five stars was because I though the last 25% was a little too-heavy on plot development. The second reason was the romance: for me, the shift a little jarring, the male character too hostile/sarcastic initially to become the passionate lover at the end, even within context.
Willig does love her kaleidoscopes though.
What a wonderful book to come back from a long audiobook hiatus.
Just a heads up, there was one scene right at the beginning that made me cry. I rarely cry. But this scene is about mothers and with Nicola's narration it absolutely kills you, so I suggest listening to the book :)
The Other Daughter is an exciting page-turner. From the get-go I knew I was going to love Rachel's character. Instead of being cold or snotty with her prim and proper personality, Rachel is incredibly warm and caring. With the news of her mother's illness, she becomes part of a life-changing experience that makes her more mature while uncovering many juicy secrets.
'20s London setting is written marvellously, the dialogue snappy with just the right amount of naivety-on-purpose on the girls' parts and braggart personalities of the guys.
Setting the revenge plot aside (which you will love) with its surprising depths and twists, what I enjoyed most were the layers to the characters. Forget Simon, listening to Olivia's character was a roller coaster. I loved the feeling of being completely in-tune with Rachel's feelings with regards to Olivia which went everywhere from hate, indifference, envy, jealousy, pity and grudging admiration. (The star of the show is still Rachel followed by Simon)
However, despite being able to keep a steady momentum throughout the book with nary a draggy section, one of the reasons The Other Daughter didn't get five stars was because I though the last 25% was a little too-heavy on plot development. The second reason was the romance: for me, the shift a little jarring, the male character too hostile/sarcastic initially to become the passionate lover at the end, even within context.
Willig does love her kaleidoscopes though.
July 22, 2021
Monthly buddy read with @Maegan... : )
"In the past few weeks, Rachel had, somehow, acquired a reputation as a wit. Or, rather, Vera Merton had. Rachel couldn't see that it had taken terribly much. All she had done was speak her mind." (PG. 164)
I almost gave up on the story but waited and hoped it could get better. The banter between Rachel and Simon was annoying and confusing but I got through it. I was confused about the year it took place. Could have been anytime after 1870 but found it to be 1927.
The twists near the end were the only saving grace of the novel but even then it could have been predictable especially if you are into soap operas. I can imagine this being a good BBC show or mini movie.
"In the past few weeks, Rachel had, somehow, acquired a reputation as a wit. Or, rather, Vera Merton had. Rachel couldn't see that it had taken terribly much. All she had done was speak her mind." (PG. 164)
I almost gave up on the story but waited and hoped it could get better. The banter between Rachel and Simon was annoying and confusing but I got through it. I was confused about the year it took place. Could have been anytime after 1870 but found it to be 1927.
The twists near the end were the only saving grace of the novel but even then it could have been predictable especially if you are into soap operas. I can imagine this being a good BBC show or mini movie.
August 9, 2015
I had a hard time getting past the fact that Rachel was able to take on the persona of Vera with such aplomb! Maybe in 2015, but no way in the 1920s. This book was just not my cup of tea, Rachel-as-Vera was just irritating, petulant and whiny. Rachel-as-Rachel was too wide-eyed and indignant - I wanted both of them to fall of a cliff. There wasn't enough tension between Rachel and the ultimate love interest to make it plausible.
October 24, 2022
Likeable story that takes place in England in the 1920s. One could tell the author researched this era well. Points for that as I really like historical fiction books. Other good qualities: secrecy, romance and delightful ending. I wasn't too keen on the many pages/chapters of conversation but still a pleasant read.
April 16, 2017
3.75
This was a nice light read especially as a stress buster for exams.
It's a historical novel that takes place during the roaring 20's.
Rachel Woodley is a governess who recently discovers that her presumed dead father has actually been alive and is in good standing with his own family. Infuriated by is abandonment she ensnares herself into a plot for revenge with the help of the cheeky enigmatic journalist, Simon. The plot that seems straightforward at first becomes more complex and dark as the story progresses.
Despite the simplistic concept of poor-girl-gets-revenge-on-rich-parent-with-some-handsome-dude, Willig really deepens it with such complexity of human nature and how position and class meant everything to Britain's wealthy.
When you read books that show the regality of England. The power, the wealth, the class and elegance. The hotspot for technology, medicine, business, crime, justice, etc, you never really think on how much your position determined your fate and outlook. People are treated terribly because of their position. Initially, both the reader and Rachel believe that it's only the poor and weak who are treated as such but as you enter the high society you learn just how toxic it is.
We are met with a cast of character each with their own personalities. As Rachel befriends them and in turn gets closer to Simon, you see that this crowd of bumbling 20 year olds that can easily have the sticker of spoiled, lazy, rich, idiotic are the mice in this game of cat and mouse.
Their life sucks and the only way to cope with it is to rely on coping mechs i.e distractions from reality. After all what else is the human spirit supposed to do when there is no one they can rely on. When there is no one they can open up to. When their every action and word is watched and analyzed by others.
What I liked is that you as the reader know how this book plots out. You know the generic formula. It's kind of like a rom-com. You know who's the good guy. The bad guy. The misunderstood one. The romantic interest. You know it all. Nothing comes as a surprise yet interwoven in this simplistic tale is the harrowing effects of the war. The post WW1 generation who have to deal with the loss. With the tremors. With the heartaches. With nightmares of the trenches. Hearing the sounds of men crying in pain and death. Too have no one to rely on and being told by general society to "get on with it" because god forbid the concept of being mentally and emotionally scarred by war.
Rachel as a character was good. Her mindset and thinking process resembled a person who spent her life scrimping and pinching to keep her small and simplistic life possible. With the added bonus of governess schooling she is the epitome of dull and forgettable. A wallflower as she is expected to be. Does she want to be this? Most likely not but life has not allowed her to afford discovering who she is or what she wants, so she must settle on what she can. When she gets revenge into her mind. She learns under the guidance of Simon on how to act rich. How to spend. How to be. Soon the wallflower comes of the wall and blooms into a real flower yet the soil is grows in is not pure. It's toxic and she know it is. It scares her as she learns just how chained to their fate her new rich friends are. Some characters never receive a happy ending. Terrified she now must decide if taking revenge on these prisoners is really worth it. Overall, I liked her character. Smart, able, wise, observant, quick; Rachel is all. Yet when she plays the rich lady her inner sympathetic, simplistic nature gets hurt. And her kindness starts to seep out. A trait unknown to these rich folk. Slowly she is able to unravel their issues and help them move forward.
I think the main theme of this novel was on masks. How things are not as they appear. Her father's disappearance is also not so straight forward. Things are messy and chaotic which is why everyone wears masks to give the appearance of normalcy.
There were some issues that made this book 3.75 instead of 4:
1. It was simplistic true. That's ok because the characters made up for it but I wish we saw it more then just be told about it. So many characters go through a lot yet only one outwardly displays signs of breakdown, anxiety, stress. The others just kind of tell it to Rachel. If a certain character has been through the war and mental hospital don't just tell me that this character was been though it show me how this character struggles or has nightmares. Show it to me. They seemed too well put together for me to believe that they struggle with all this.
2. The romance. It, thankfully, wasn't insta love or "I keep thinking about you but it's totally not insta love" love but it seemed so sudden and rushed. There wasn't any chemistry and it just happened. It wasn't bad but I couldn't help but think, "that's it?".
3. It was simplistic. This isn't bad but it's not at a 4 star level. The plot was generic nothing "new" was added. If Willig really fleshed out the characters with post WW1 Britain then we could have something to analyze.
Overall, it was kind of like eating pasta. You know how it tastes. You like it. It's comforting. There was some cheese added for a little chewiness and taste. Something to make it more tastier but in the end it's just pasta with cheese. It didn't become lasagna just because you added cheese. If you took the time to roll the cheese with vegetables and sauce, then you might have lasagna; but you didn't.
I would still recommend it though.
This was a nice light read especially as a stress buster for exams.
It's a historical novel that takes place during the roaring 20's.
Rachel Woodley is a governess who recently discovers that her presumed dead father has actually been alive and is in good standing with his own family. Infuriated by is abandonment she ensnares herself into a plot for revenge with the help of the cheeky enigmatic journalist, Simon. The plot that seems straightforward at first becomes more complex and dark as the story progresses.
Despite the simplistic concept of poor-girl-gets-revenge-on-rich-parent-with-some-handsome-dude, Willig really deepens it with such complexity of human nature and how position and class meant everything to Britain's wealthy.
When you read books that show the regality of England. The power, the wealth, the class and elegance. The hotspot for technology, medicine, business, crime, justice, etc, you never really think on how much your position determined your fate and outlook. People are treated terribly because of their position. Initially, both the reader and Rachel believe that it's only the poor and weak who are treated as such but as you enter the high society you learn just how toxic it is.
We are met with a cast of character each with their own personalities. As Rachel befriends them and in turn gets closer to Simon, you see that this crowd of bumbling 20 year olds that can easily have the sticker of spoiled, lazy, rich, idiotic are the mice in this game of cat and mouse.
Their life sucks and the only way to cope with it is to rely on coping mechs i.e distractions from reality. After all what else is the human spirit supposed to do when there is no one they can rely on. When there is no one they can open up to. When their every action and word is watched and analyzed by others.
What I liked is that you as the reader know how this book plots out. You know the generic formula. It's kind of like a rom-com. You know who's the good guy. The bad guy. The misunderstood one. The romantic interest. You know it all. Nothing comes as a surprise yet interwoven in this simplistic tale is the harrowing effects of the war. The post WW1 generation who have to deal with the loss. With the tremors. With the heartaches. With nightmares of the trenches. Hearing the sounds of men crying in pain and death. Too have no one to rely on and being told by general society to "get on with it" because god forbid the concept of being mentally and emotionally scarred by war.
Rachel as a character was good. Her mindset and thinking process resembled a person who spent her life scrimping and pinching to keep her small and simplistic life possible. With the added bonus of governess schooling she is the epitome of dull and forgettable. A wallflower as she is expected to be. Does she want to be this? Most likely not but life has not allowed her to afford discovering who she is or what she wants, so she must settle on what she can. When she gets revenge into her mind. She learns under the guidance of Simon on how to act rich. How to spend. How to be. Soon the wallflower comes of the wall and blooms into a real flower yet the soil is grows in is not pure. It's toxic and she know it is. It scares her as she learns just how chained to their fate her new rich friends are. Some characters never receive a happy ending. Terrified she now must decide if taking revenge on these prisoners is really worth it. Overall, I liked her character. Smart, able, wise, observant, quick; Rachel is all. Yet when she plays the rich lady her inner sympathetic, simplistic nature gets hurt. And her kindness starts to seep out. A trait unknown to these rich folk. Slowly she is able to unravel their issues and help them move forward.
I think the main theme of this novel was on masks. How things are not as they appear. Her father's disappearance is also not so straight forward. Things are messy and chaotic which is why everyone wears masks to give the appearance of normalcy.
There were some issues that made this book 3.75 instead of 4:
1. It was simplistic true. That's ok because the characters made up for it but I wish we saw it more then just be told about it. So many characters go through a lot yet only one outwardly displays signs of breakdown, anxiety, stress. The others just kind of tell it to Rachel. If a certain character has been through the war and mental hospital don't just tell me that this character was been though it show me how this character struggles or has nightmares. Show it to me. They seemed too well put together for me to believe that they struggle with all this.
2. The romance. It, thankfully, wasn't insta love or "I keep thinking about you but it's totally not insta love" love but it seemed so sudden and rushed. There wasn't any chemistry and it just happened. It wasn't bad but I couldn't help but think, "that's it?".
3. It was simplistic. This isn't bad but it's not at a 4 star level. The plot was generic nothing "new" was added. If Willig really fleshed out the characters with post WW1 Britain then we could have something to analyze.
Overall, it was kind of like eating pasta. You know how it tastes. You like it. It's comforting. There was some cheese added for a little chewiness and taste. Something to make it more tastier but in the end it's just pasta with cheese. It didn't become lasagna just because you added cheese. If you took the time to roll the cheese with vegetables and sauce, then you might have lasagna; but you didn't.
I would still recommend it though.
February 2, 2017
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Rachel Woodley is a governess in France. When a telegram arrives saying her mother is very sick, she rushes back home to England. Upon arrival, Rachel learns two things: her mother died and the father she thought had died (during her childhood) is actually an earl living in London. Overcome with grief and anger, Rachel forms an alliance with Simon (a gossip newspaper writer) where she takes on a new identity to infiltrate the London elite to hopefully confront her father. Soon she will discover that matters are not as simple as they seem.
When I first started to read this novel, I thought it could be fairly predictable. I was wrong. Not only that, I actually quite enjoyed reading it. The prose has an effortless quality that made it a rather easy and (at many points) entertaining read. I quite liked the setting too (1920´s London). The banter between Rachel and Simon has got to be one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Simon is far from being a saint and he´ll be the first one to admit it. Their "business venture" benefits them both: Rachel can get closer to her father and Simon gets to write about Vera Merton (Rachel´s alias), the newcomer to the London social scene. Except its not that simple. There are ulterior motives both are hiding. Characterization was done nicely. Most of the characters had more than one facet. Now, towards the end, certain plot elements felt rushed. Once the secrets started to be revealed, they came down like a row of dominoes. Despite some issues, I found the novel to be an enjoyable read.
Rachel Woodley is a governess in France. When a telegram arrives saying her mother is very sick, she rushes back home to England. Upon arrival, Rachel learns two things: her mother died and the father she thought had died (during her childhood) is actually an earl living in London. Overcome with grief and anger, Rachel forms an alliance with Simon (a gossip newspaper writer) where she takes on a new identity to infiltrate the London elite to hopefully confront her father. Soon she will discover that matters are not as simple as they seem.
When I first started to read this novel, I thought it could be fairly predictable. I was wrong. Not only that, I actually quite enjoyed reading it. The prose has an effortless quality that made it a rather easy and (at many points) entertaining read. I quite liked the setting too (1920´s London). The banter between Rachel and Simon has got to be one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Simon is far from being a saint and he´ll be the first one to admit it. Their "business venture" benefits them both: Rachel can get closer to her father and Simon gets to write about Vera Merton (Rachel´s alias), the newcomer to the London social scene. Except its not that simple. There are ulterior motives both are hiding. Characterization was done nicely. Most of the characters had more than one facet. Now, towards the end, certain plot elements felt rushed. Once the secrets started to be revealed, they came down like a row of dominoes. Despite some issues, I found the novel to be an enjoyable read.
July 21, 2015
After her mother’s death, Rachel finds a picture of her long-dead father on a page torn from a gossip magazine; only, he isn’t dead. He is very much a living Earl with a second family. Confused and devastated all over again once her father’s cousin confirms his identity, she is determined to confront him and exact revenge for his seemingly inexplicable abandonment. With the help of her cousin’s former student, the cynical, devil-may-care Simon, Rachel poses as a wealthy heiress and inserts herself into her father and step-siblings’ world of society and excess. What she finds there will change everything.
Willig captures perfectly the mood and extravagance of 1920’s London, where the shadow of WWI still lingers, and empty frivolity is embraced by a society facing its own demise. Her talent for writing rich characters that come alive for the reader is extraordinary, and what could have been a simple story of revenge is instead a nuanced tale of “what-ifs” and self-discovery. While Rachel eventually comes to terms with the truth of her family, I find myself, a week later, still musing over the final twist, wondering who, if any, deserves my alternating outrage, despair, and eventually relief on her behalf.
Willig captures perfectly the mood and extravagance of 1920’s London, where the shadow of WWI still lingers, and empty frivolity is embraced by a society facing its own demise. Her talent for writing rich characters that come alive for the reader is extraordinary, and what could have been a simple story of revenge is instead a nuanced tale of “what-ifs” and self-discovery. While Rachel eventually comes to terms with the truth of her family, I find myself, a week later, still musing over the final twist, wondering who, if any, deserves my alternating outrage, despair, and eventually relief on her behalf.
November 24, 2015
This time period is a favorite. Ive been binging on Downton Abbey so the cover caught my eye right off the bat. I havent read Lauren Willig before (crazy, right?) leaving me with no comparison from her back titles. I am impressed and will definitely explore her earlier works.
The Other Daughter (I keep calling it The Other Sister...*pardon my mnemonic brain hiccup*) unfolds with a sad event, a family secret, hints of Pygmaleonesque romance, revenge, and loyalty: the perfect recipe for historical fiction. I would have appreciated more romance to the story even when the romance took an idyllic back seat. The secondary characters were easily likeable. I would have loved to dive deeper in their characters.
If you like your historical fiction well-written with a dash of romance, and secrets upon secrets, you will enjoy this book immensely.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the
lovely people at St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
The Other Daughter (I keep calling it The Other Sister...*pardon my mnemonic brain hiccup*) unfolds with a sad event, a family secret, hints of Pygmaleonesque romance, revenge, and loyalty: the perfect recipe for historical fiction. I would have appreciated more romance to the story even when the romance took an idyllic back seat. The secondary characters were easily likeable. I would have loved to dive deeper in their characters.
If you like your historical fiction well-written with a dash of romance, and secrets upon secrets, you will enjoy this book immensely.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the
lovely people at St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
I liked this book. It was refreshing to read about someone searching for her past that was still a linear novel. I did listen to it in one day, which was a plus. I listened to it while my dog ran away, unknown to me, since I was busy listening, so I'll always probably not remember it with the right amount of fondness!
The characters were likable and flawed. I love that it took place during the Jazz Age and mixed classes. Getting a look at the very upper class of England from the educated lower class and cynical upper class point of view was fun. And, I don't think I would be far off from guessing that one main character might be a bit of an F. Scott Fitzgerald!
The characters were likable and flawed. I love that it took place during the Jazz Age and mixed classes. Getting a look at the very upper class of England from the educated lower class and cynical upper class point of view was fun. And, I don't think I would be far off from guessing that one main character might be a bit of an F. Scott Fitzgerald!
August 10, 2015
Review to come...
October 9, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have this book to blame for being very tired today – I stayed up so late reading it; I was completely gripped. There is no better feeling than being completely immersed in a story world – and no sadder feeling than the book ending! But I have the comfort that all of the author’s other books await me. I have discovered, through The Other Daughter, a new author to add to my favourites list.
This book is just fabulous: witty, indulgent, pacey escapism. I adore the author’s rendering of the post-war era, and the upper-class society. The fashion (the cover pulled me in!), the drinks, the parties, the style of speech – all have the feel of luxuriant, epic writing, but there is such a poignancy that grounds the novel. I was very moved by the author’s unmasking of various characters to show what pain and uncertainty lies beneath their jolly, confident, devil-may-care veneers. Ultimately, the heroine feels like a fraud, but is no less of one than any other in the circle she has infiltrated.
Rachel is a really refreshing heroine in the genre. At first, I was a little taken aback by her decision to be deceptive, but I soon settled into the subterfuge; I think, like her, I was sucked into it. It made me remember being a young woman experiencing independent life for the first time – parties, men, friendships; and it struck me as authentic that the world appeals to her so. So, too, did her inner struggle with the lies she was telling. No matter her plan for vengeance, it is impossible not to care about Rachel and forgive her for her actions.
Because Rachel isn’t the easiest of characters to fathom, I didn’t easily predict the direction of the plot, which kept me eagerly turning the pages; I just had to find out more. When I reached the denouement I was astonished: I hadn’t seen the twists coming at all, and how I loved them!
The other characters in the book are just as interesting, especially Rachel’s half-sister, who is also playing a part in a sense, and the fabulously cheeky Simon, who is Rachel’s partner in crime. I was also very interested in Rachel’s father, and his motives for having left Rachel’s life, and the character of Cece, who seems at first glance to be entirely vacuous, but is carrying a terrible pain.
And the pain… oh the pain! The author so sensitively weaves in real agonies that people were dealing with in the aftermath of war, and this is the greatest element of the writing. All the romance, all the frivolity, all the humour (and there is plenty of it) work beautifully because they are the supporting acts of the great emotion of the piece.
When I read the last sentence, my first response was, ‘No… I need more!’, and then quite simply, ‘Brava.’ I would love to read a sequel, following the heroine in her next life. Given her propensity for adventure, it would be a riveting read! For now, though, I have settled for buying Ms Willig’s entire backlist. That’s how much I loved The Other Daughter.
I have this book to blame for being very tired today – I stayed up so late reading it; I was completely gripped. There is no better feeling than being completely immersed in a story world – and no sadder feeling than the book ending! But I have the comfort that all of the author’s other books await me. I have discovered, through The Other Daughter, a new author to add to my favourites list.
This book is just fabulous: witty, indulgent, pacey escapism. I adore the author’s rendering of the post-war era, and the upper-class society. The fashion (the cover pulled me in!), the drinks, the parties, the style of speech – all have the feel of luxuriant, epic writing, but there is such a poignancy that grounds the novel. I was very moved by the author’s unmasking of various characters to show what pain and uncertainty lies beneath their jolly, confident, devil-may-care veneers. Ultimately, the heroine feels like a fraud, but is no less of one than any other in the circle she has infiltrated.
Rachel is a really refreshing heroine in the genre. At first, I was a little taken aback by her decision to be deceptive, but I soon settled into the subterfuge; I think, like her, I was sucked into it. It made me remember being a young woman experiencing independent life for the first time – parties, men, friendships; and it struck me as authentic that the world appeals to her so. So, too, did her inner struggle with the lies she was telling. No matter her plan for vengeance, it is impossible not to care about Rachel and forgive her for her actions.
Because Rachel isn’t the easiest of characters to fathom, I didn’t easily predict the direction of the plot, which kept me eagerly turning the pages; I just had to find out more. When I reached the denouement I was astonished: I hadn’t seen the twists coming at all, and how I loved them!
The other characters in the book are just as interesting, especially Rachel’s half-sister, who is also playing a part in a sense, and the fabulously cheeky Simon, who is Rachel’s partner in crime. I was also very interested in Rachel’s father, and his motives for having left Rachel’s life, and the character of Cece, who seems at first glance to be entirely vacuous, but is carrying a terrible pain.
And the pain… oh the pain! The author so sensitively weaves in real agonies that people were dealing with in the aftermath of war, and this is the greatest element of the writing. All the romance, all the frivolity, all the humour (and there is plenty of it) work beautifully because they are the supporting acts of the great emotion of the piece.
When I read the last sentence, my first response was, ‘No… I need more!’, and then quite simply, ‘Brava.’ I would love to read a sequel, following the heroine in her next life. Given her propensity for adventure, it would be a riveting read! For now, though, I have settled for buying Ms Willig’s entire backlist. That’s how much I loved The Other Daughter.
August 9, 2015
Though she has been on my 'To Be Read' radar for some time, this is the first Lauren Willig novel I have had the opportunity to read, and I'm happy to say I found it to be a pleasant experience. Her writing has a nice style and flow that makes it easy to read and the pages quick to turn.
The main character, Rachel, is likeable, and it is fun to watch her transform in Pygmalion/Cinderella-style into outrageous party girl "Vera" in order to gain access to her father and his second family. And the secondary characters are interesting and more complex than they first appear, showing depth and heartache beneath their shiny exteriors. Though I had a slight issue with the ease of her initial transformation, Rachel's journey is a satisfying one. Through her alter ego she gains confidence, discovers who she truly is and what she wants, and takes control of her life.
The plot held my interest and contains some nice twists as Willig brings everything together in the end. There are a few lingering questions and loose threads, and I personally would have appreciated a bit more resolution to Olivia's and Cece's storylines. However, on the whole, this was a quick and entertaining read, and I would not hesitate to pick up another book by this author in the future.
Full review on the blog: http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
The main character, Rachel, is likeable, and it is fun to watch her transform in Pygmalion/Cinderella-style into outrageous party girl "Vera" in order to gain access to her father and his second family. And the secondary characters are interesting and more complex than they first appear, showing depth and heartache beneath their shiny exteriors. Though I had a slight issue with the ease of her initial transformation, Rachel's journey is a satisfying one. Through her alter ego she gains confidence, discovers who she truly is and what she wants, and takes control of her life.
The plot held my interest and contains some nice twists as Willig brings everything together in the end. There are a few lingering questions and loose threads, and I personally would have appreciated a bit more resolution to Olivia's and Cece's storylines. However, on the whole, this was a quick and entertaining read, and I would not hesitate to pick up another book by this author in the future.
Full review on the blog: http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
September 2, 2015
I love Lauren Willig and her books. I binged read the Pink Carnation series but this book does not seem to be as tightly plotted as her other books. The actions of the main character, Rachel, seems to have very little impact on the outcome of the book. Also, unlike Willig's other books, the main character has very little interaction with the leading man Simon. The hook up at the end between Rachel and Simon seems to come out of the blue. Overall, this is the weakest book I have read by Willig. I recommend sticking with the Pink Carnation series or the Ashford Affair.
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