What do you think?
Rate this book
No Greater Strength #1
Córka doskonała
Żona. Matka. Córka. Tylko, co zrobić, kiedy ma się tego wszystkiego serdecznie dosyć?
Jackie całym sercem kocha swoją rodzinę. Jasne, jej nastoletnie dzieci potrafią być rozkapryszone, a mężowi czasami przydałby się porządny kopniak... motywacji. Ach, i całodobowe usługiwanie matce z Alzheimerem to również nie jest bułka z masłem.
Jackie poświęciła wiele, żeby jej dom stał się ostoją bezpieczeństwa i miłości. Jednak ciasna, acz urokliwa posiadłość z widokiem na morze już jej nie wystarcza. Największym pragnieniem Jackie jest, aby jej dzieci nie zmarnowały swojej przyszłości, tak jak niegdyś zrobiła to ona. Skoro Martha, jej najstarsza córka, dostała się na uniwersytet i spełnia marzenia, to jej poświęcenie chyba było czegoś warte… prawda?
Jackie całym sercem kocha swoją rodzinę. Jasne, jej nastoletnie dzieci potrafią być rozkapryszone, a mężowi czasami przydałby się porządny kopniak... motywacji. Ach, i całodobowe usługiwanie matce z Alzheimerem to również nie jest bułka z masłem.
Jackie poświęciła wiele, żeby jej dom stał się ostoją bezpieczeństwa i miłości. Jednak ciasna, acz urokliwa posiadłość z widokiem na morze już jej nie wystarcza. Największym pragnieniem Jackie jest, aby jej dzieci nie zmarnowały swojej przyszłości, tak jak niegdyś zrobiła to ona. Skoro Martha, jej najstarsza córka, dostała się na uniwersytet i spełnia marzenia, to jej poświęcenie chyba było czegoś warte… prawda?
408 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2015
1313 people are currently reading
1530 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Prowse
83 books1,942 followersPrevious Book: 'Swimming to Lundy', published th August 2024'.
Latest Book: 'This One Life', published 7th January 2025.
Next Book: 'Ever After' published 7th August 2025.
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose thirty-two novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan
'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail
'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!
'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun
'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan
'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat
'Magical' - Now magazine
Latest Book: 'This One Life', published 7th January 2025.
Next Book: 'Ever After' published 7th August 2025.
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose thirty-two novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan
'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail
'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!
'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun
'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan
'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat
'Magical' - Now magazine
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
July 16, 2020
I've really enjoyed Amanda Prowse books however this one i felt was bang average. The story line was a bit like a race track, some parts really dragged out while others felt 100 miles per hour which affected the flow of the book and the characters were not developed enough.
May 9, 2023
*Dreams*
This is a tale about Jacks, she had dreams and wanted to travel with the man of her dreams. She romanticised it all in her head and life did not turn out as she would have hoped for.
In reality she had two children who she is living the life that she wants through them. How will that work out?
The man she married was a lad from school who she saw as a mate, why? Life is not working out how she wanted. With her beloved father now passed on she is left with caring for her cold mum who has dementia, she was never warm towards Jacks and treated her Dad harshly, why?
The story flips & flops between the past & present and in time we get to see the reasons behind Jacks resentments and disappointments when a blast from the past appears and she is in a dilemma when history looks like it is about to repeat itself and Jacks feels like her husband has no ambition and seems to be happy with life with their crappy life and house etc the list is endless. She is juggling everything and the bitterness she feels almost swallows her whole.
This blast from the past means that there may be a glimmer of a new life.
Which path will she take? Will she open her eyes and see what is right in front of her?…..
The ending although I enjoyed it jumps five years ahead in the future and so much was crammed in…. But overall a great read with emotions all over the place.
This is a tale about Jacks, she had dreams and wanted to travel with the man of her dreams. She romanticised it all in her head and life did not turn out as she would have hoped for.
In reality she had two children who she is living the life that she wants through them. How will that work out?
The man she married was a lad from school who she saw as a mate, why? Life is not working out how she wanted. With her beloved father now passed on she is left with caring for her cold mum who has dementia, she was never warm towards Jacks and treated her Dad harshly, why?
The story flips & flops between the past & present and in time we get to see the reasons behind Jacks resentments and disappointments when a blast from the past appears and she is in a dilemma when history looks like it is about to repeat itself and Jacks feels like her husband has no ambition and seems to be happy with life with their crappy life and house etc the list is endless. She is juggling everything and the bitterness she feels almost swallows her whole.
This blast from the past means that there may be a glimmer of a new life.
Which path will she take? Will she open her eyes and see what is right in front of her?…..
The ending although I enjoyed it jumps five years ahead in the future and so much was crammed in…. But overall a great read with emotions all over the place.
September 3, 2015
Review on www.novelicious.com
She’s a wife, mother and daughter, but somewhere over the years Jacks Morgan has lost herself. Each day is jam-packed with fulfilling the needs of her family and she barely has time to have a cup of tea let alone dwell of what might have been. Her husband Pete may have been there through thick and thin, but he is not much help when it comes to the everyday struggles of having a stroppy teenager and a mother with Alzheimer’s under the same roof.
Jacks may not be living the life she always dreamed of but she is determined that her eldest daughter Martha will reach her full potential. However, when a new boyfriend pops up out of the blue, Jacks is terrified of history repeating itself and the last thing she wants is Martha’s ambition to be sidetracked.
Amanda Prowse’s books allow an insight into ordinary people dealing with difficult situations and in Perfect Daughter we step right into the shoes of Jacks Morgan, who is drowning under her family’s demands. I really felt as though I was in amongst the unpacked boxes and half-finished cups of tea described in this novel. A mother with Alzheimer's is hard for anyone to handle, but even more so for Jacks as the flashbacks to her past show that their mother/daughter relationship was strained even before the illness struck. The chapters alternating between time periods worked extremely well and showed just how much her original life plan differed from the actuality. Both past and present were equally riveting.
Interspersed with the mundane day-to-day caring responsibilities, Jacks also has her daughter Martha to contend with. Martha is on the cusp of adulthood and preparing for university (she has even bought a toastie machine). Jacks has high hopes for her daughter and is living vicariously through her, which is a lot of pressure to place on a child, but understandable as history is gradually revealed.
Perfect Daughter is an absorbing read with a character that most women will identify with in some way. With this book Amanda Prowse has scored a hat trick of 10/10 scores meaning she is now firmly amongst my all-time favourite women writers. She is also a reader’s dream in that she writes faster than I can read and still manages to maintain her high standards. Nobody's perfect but Amanda Prowse’s writing is pretty close!
She’s a wife, mother and daughter, but somewhere over the years Jacks Morgan has lost herself. Each day is jam-packed with fulfilling the needs of her family and she barely has time to have a cup of tea let alone dwell of what might have been. Her husband Pete may have been there through thick and thin, but he is not much help when it comes to the everyday struggles of having a stroppy teenager and a mother with Alzheimer’s under the same roof.
Jacks may not be living the life she always dreamed of but she is determined that her eldest daughter Martha will reach her full potential. However, when a new boyfriend pops up out of the blue, Jacks is terrified of history repeating itself and the last thing she wants is Martha’s ambition to be sidetracked.
Amanda Prowse’s books allow an insight into ordinary people dealing with difficult situations and in Perfect Daughter we step right into the shoes of Jacks Morgan, who is drowning under her family’s demands. I really felt as though I was in amongst the unpacked boxes and half-finished cups of tea described in this novel. A mother with Alzheimer's is hard for anyone to handle, but even more so for Jacks as the flashbacks to her past show that their mother/daughter relationship was strained even before the illness struck. The chapters alternating between time periods worked extremely well and showed just how much her original life plan differed from the actuality. Both past and present were equally riveting.
Interspersed with the mundane day-to-day caring responsibilities, Jacks also has her daughter Martha to contend with. Martha is on the cusp of adulthood and preparing for university (she has even bought a toastie machine). Jacks has high hopes for her daughter and is living vicariously through her, which is a lot of pressure to place on a child, but understandable as history is gradually revealed.
Perfect Daughter is an absorbing read with a character that most women will identify with in some way. With this book Amanda Prowse has scored a hat trick of 10/10 scores meaning she is now firmly amongst my all-time favourite women writers. She is also a reader’s dream in that she writes faster than I can read and still manages to maintain her high standards. Nobody's perfect but Amanda Prowse’s writing is pretty close!
February 27, 2016
This isn't my usual kind of read at all. However I'm currently laid up with a broken ankle, and was looking for something easy to read through the drug and pain haze!
The most I can say about the book was it was OK. The main character, "Jacks" (urgh!) Morgan is a wife, mother and carer to her own elderly mother who is suffering from dementia. The relationship between "Jacks" (urgh!) and her mother was never on the best of terms even when she was little, so it's surprising that "Jacks" (urgh!) takes such close care of her as she does. She has a husband who seems to barely lift a finger, and two children (10 and 18) who expect every little thing handed to them. Then "Jacks" (urgh!) complains that she's tired and run down. I can't help but think if she wasn't such a doormat then things could be a whole lot better for her!
There's a very odd side-story about a childhood sweetheart who makes a reappearance, which didn't really add anything to the story. There were also a couple of "secrets" which became quite obvious as the book went on and which I was just relieved when they were revealed.
There really isn't a lot to this book. It's fine for what it is - but I don't think I'll be picking up any more in this series. Besides which, the name "Jacks" (urgh!) just grated every single time I read it!!
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
The most I can say about the book was it was OK. The main character, "Jacks" (urgh!) Morgan is a wife, mother and carer to her own elderly mother who is suffering from dementia. The relationship between "Jacks" (urgh!) and her mother was never on the best of terms even when she was little, so it's surprising that "Jacks" (urgh!) takes such close care of her as she does. She has a husband who seems to barely lift a finger, and two children (10 and 18) who expect every little thing handed to them. Then "Jacks" (urgh!) complains that she's tired and run down. I can't help but think if she wasn't such a doormat then things could be a whole lot better for her!
There's a very odd side-story about a childhood sweetheart who makes a reappearance, which didn't really add anything to the story. There were also a couple of "secrets" which became quite obvious as the book went on and which I was just relieved when they were revealed.
There really isn't a lot to this book. It's fine for what it is - but I don't think I'll be picking up any more in this series. Besides which, the name "Jacks" (urgh!) just grated every single time I read it!!
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
August 31, 2015
Dubbed as 'the perfect summer read', I found it anything but. I was relieved to be rid of it. It had felt like an endurance test and I was looking for a medal for finishing it. No one supplied!
Finding a fantastic book is a great feeling, after all we invest a lot of hours in each book. It's a portion of our lives and I have an intolerance of time-wasting. This book felt like a waste of time. I select books carefully and only have myself to blame for this one. The front cover should have alerted me to the chick-lit genre, which I can't abide. In fairness, it did, but having read the reviews, I'd satisfied myself that it was a serious read and would have some literary quality. Nope! The blurb looked encouraging. Old lady with dementia was being looked after in the home of her daughter. The daughter has a husband and kids; her life is tough. It seemed like a fair-enough premise for a novel. I was sufficiently intrigued to take the plunge. I should have spared myself.
I'd been warned it was a weepy. The tissues were ready. The old lady (portrayed as a bit of a dragon) was bound to pop her clogs at some point. The event itself was an anti-climax. No tissues required. I'm bored with even reviewing this book, so I'll wrap up as quickly as possible by saying that if you enjoy serious literature with good writing and convincing characters, don't bother. My problem with chick-lit (said with little experience, granted) is that elements of the genre spoil what could be a perfectly decent read. This could have been a good book, but we have the horrendous attempts at humour. Cheesy, obvious and embarrassing attempts which just made my eyes roll. Then we have the perfect characters, like the daughter's husband. Sorry, but I've never met a man as accommodating as that. Then we have the side-characters - the unfunny best friends. And which English women refer to their close friends as 'mate'? The lingo was just annoying and unauthentic. All the characters have the same sense of humour, is my next complaint. No diversity of characters at all. All the cheesy jokes/one-liners can come from any of the characters. None of them raised so much as a smile. Then there's always the side love-interest - the rich, handsome male, elusive in some way. P-lease! What has any of this got to do with a woman caring for her sick mother, I wanted to know? Too much silliness for me. Not funny. Not moving. Not at all worth the effort, and not a single sentence that arrested me for its literary quality. Just a mishmash of 'women's stuff'! Is that what chick-lit is? Sighs.
Other than those minor points though, I loved it!! Lol.
Finding a fantastic book is a great feeling, after all we invest a lot of hours in each book. It's a portion of our lives and I have an intolerance of time-wasting. This book felt like a waste of time. I select books carefully and only have myself to blame for this one. The front cover should have alerted me to the chick-lit genre, which I can't abide. In fairness, it did, but having read the reviews, I'd satisfied myself that it was a serious read and would have some literary quality. Nope! The blurb looked encouraging. Old lady with dementia was being looked after in the home of her daughter. The daughter has a husband and kids; her life is tough. It seemed like a fair-enough premise for a novel. I was sufficiently intrigued to take the plunge. I should have spared myself.
I'd been warned it was a weepy. The tissues were ready. The old lady (portrayed as a bit of a dragon) was bound to pop her clogs at some point. The event itself was an anti-climax. No tissues required. I'm bored with even reviewing this book, so I'll wrap up as quickly as possible by saying that if you enjoy serious literature with good writing and convincing characters, don't bother. My problem with chick-lit (said with little experience, granted) is that elements of the genre spoil what could be a perfectly decent read. This could have been a good book, but we have the horrendous attempts at humour. Cheesy, obvious and embarrassing attempts which just made my eyes roll. Then we have the perfect characters, like the daughter's husband. Sorry, but I've never met a man as accommodating as that. Then we have the side-characters - the unfunny best friends. And which English women refer to their close friends as 'mate'? The lingo was just annoying and unauthentic. All the characters have the same sense of humour, is my next complaint. No diversity of characters at all. All the cheesy jokes/one-liners can come from any of the characters. None of them raised so much as a smile. Then there's always the side love-interest - the rich, handsome male, elusive in some way. P-lease! What has any of this got to do with a woman caring for her sick mother, I wanted to know? Too much silliness for me. Not funny. Not moving. Not at all worth the effort, and not a single sentence that arrested me for its literary quality. Just a mishmash of 'women's stuff'! Is that what chick-lit is? Sighs.
Other than those minor points though, I loved it!! Lol.
December 21, 2018
Amanda Prowse has always loved crafting short stories and scribbling notes for potential books. I have read most of Amanda Prowse's books and loved them all. Peter and Jacks lived in a little Weston-super Mare terrace with a small square kitchen, three bedrooms, and a bathroom and two rooms downstairs. They had plans to decorate the littlest room first. In a couple of years they will be on their feet and get the place real shipshape, replace the windows, get the garden nice, put a new kitchen in and then move upstairs. It was a good plan. But life has other ideas First Martha came along, then Jonty and now their little terrace was bursting at the seams. Too add to the problems Jacks elderly mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she could no longer live alone.
November 30, 2015
I was quite surprised at just how much I loved reading this delightful novel. For me it turned out to be the perfect autumn read, I put on my snuggly sweater and curled up with this book and a mug of hot chocolate and lost myself in the pages and the life of Jackie (Jacks) I fell into her world with a bump and was instantly there, living her life and to be honest I found it a little depressing, yet there were feelings I could really relate to and a deft touch of lightness to lift the gloom which made it sing.
A caring daughter, loving wife and devoted Mum to two kids, Jacks lives a life of what-ifs, her life hasn't turned out that bad, but she often feels she could have done so much MORE with her life - and who can't relate to that? (If you're the one who never thinks this, I take my hat off to you as you're very lucky)
She spends her days struggling to make ends meet, caring for her discontended, alzheimers-ridden Mother and feeling taken for granted, often annoyed by her husband and frustrated by her kids and the monotony which has become her daily routine, and she daydreams about how things might have been if she'd ended up with a different man, the childhood sweetheart, the one that got away.
She has a wonderful, loyal friend Gina who injects a few moments of bright humour into the proceedings but the real sparkle in her eyes is provided by teenage daughter Martha on whom Jacks is pinning all her hopes. Martha is bright, does well at her studies and is going to do all the things Jacks blew the chance at doing and Jacks is planning to experience success vicariously, through the achievements of Martha - the perfect daughter.
The whole story is set in Weston Super Mare, a place I've never visited but through the book I felt I knew it, it has that small town "Broadchurch" ffeel and in my mind (possibly erroneously) the characters spoke with similar burring accents to the families in this popular tv drama.
What delighted me most is the beautifully compassionate and descriptive writing. This is a romantic novel about everyday life that is SO wonderfully believeable and deliciously readable I galloped through it and felt bereft at the ending - all the signs of the perfect read. I will most certainly be reading more by this author who I'm delighted to have discovered.
A caring daughter, loving wife and devoted Mum to two kids, Jacks lives a life of what-ifs, her life hasn't turned out that bad, but she often feels she could have done so much MORE with her life - and who can't relate to that? (If you're the one who never thinks this, I take my hat off to you as you're very lucky)
She spends her days struggling to make ends meet, caring for her discontended, alzheimers-ridden Mother and feeling taken for granted, often annoyed by her husband and frustrated by her kids and the monotony which has become her daily routine, and she daydreams about how things might have been if she'd ended up with a different man, the childhood sweetheart, the one that got away.
She has a wonderful, loyal friend Gina who injects a few moments of bright humour into the proceedings but the real sparkle in her eyes is provided by teenage daughter Martha on whom Jacks is pinning all her hopes. Martha is bright, does well at her studies and is going to do all the things Jacks blew the chance at doing and Jacks is planning to experience success vicariously, through the achievements of Martha - the perfect daughter.
The whole story is set in Weston Super Mare, a place I've never visited but through the book I felt I knew it, it has that small town "Broadchurch" ffeel and in my mind (possibly erroneously) the characters spoke with similar burring accents to the families in this popular tv drama.
What delighted me most is the beautifully compassionate and descriptive writing. This is a romantic novel about everyday life that is SO wonderfully believeable and deliciously readable I galloped through it and felt bereft at the ending - all the signs of the perfect read. I will most certainly be reading more by this author who I'm delighted to have discovered.
August 30, 2015
It was mainly boring.
July 5, 2015
It seems like only yesterday I was totally absorbed in Amanda Prowse's last release Her Mother's Story. Yet here we are only a few short months later and once again Amanda has provided her readers with another stunning story that hits you right where it matters - direct to the heart. With such a prolific output (this is the author's third release since Christmas and there is more to come this year) you would be forgiven for thinking how can the author maintain the same standard across all her books. But rest assured the quality of writing just gets better and better with each book and Perfect Daughter is no exception. Amanda has not shied away from tackling issues which are only going to become more relevant in today's ever changing society. This new book introduces the term 'sandwich mother', a woman doing the best she can to look after her own young family whilst caring for her mother who suffers from Alzheimers. This book resonated with me not thankfully because my own mother has dementia but from seeing from my parents looking after my grandparents when they suffered with the illness many years ago. The author has skilfully written a book which explores so many situations and emotions that you couldn't fail to fall just that little bit in love with the Davies family as they traverse the daily battles of life.
In the prologue Jacks Davies is newly married to Pete, a wonderful future awaits them and their soon to be born child in Weston Super Mare. A recently purchased house with big plans for renovation is their next goal. Fast forward numerous years later and Jacks is still stuck in the same house with no nice conservatory or additions to the house. Oh how her genuine optimism has now left her. She now has two children, 17 year old Martha and the much longed for 8 year old Jonty. Jonty was the hidden gem of the book with his innocence and humour providing light relief and a sprinkling of wit at just the right moment. I certainly developed a soft spot for him and you could see Jacks wished she had more time to devote to him so he wasn't forgotten. But Jacks has pressure from all sides as well as keeping house and raising two children, her mother Ida is resident in Jonty's old room and suffering from Alzheimers. Of course Jacks would go out of her way to look after the person who raised her, yet was this what she had envisaged for herself at a still relatively young age?
The author portrays the difficulties for everyone in the family of having a person living in the house with an illness in such a realistic way. There was no avoiding the issue or the details of the day-to-day care, Amanda should be applauded for this because I firmly believe if you decide to write about something like dementia or postnatal depression there should be no short cuts or skirting round the deeper emotions. Readers want the truth. Not made up facts and Amanda never shies away from the true nature of the situation. She describes the family as loving the person Ida once was but this new frail person is a shadow occupying their house. I thought this summed up everything perfectly and I'm sure this will resonate many readers. To see someone you love go from a normal happy person regress back to childhood in terms of care needs and to lose their ability to converse and remember things is one of the most heartbreaking things any person can go through. You almost resent the person for who they are now but have to remember the good times you once shared and enjoyed with them.
Jacks was a really well written character and I felt every bit that she was torn in two between her husband and children and caring for her mother. You could see the daily routine was a grind and a juggling act where she rarely had time for herself. Her own dreams and aspirations had slipped away and Jacks wishes her daughter will achieve everything that she herself was unable to do. But my god she did her best to keep things going and the numerous things she went through before the kids even left for school just left me tired reading about them. This may sound silly but what I really loved about her was that no matter what Jonty or Martha asked for she always did her best to have it. Just the small things like when Martha yells for a clean shirt in the morning, Jacks replies it's on her chair or whatever and that is something my mum always did for me. It's the little things that count. The story flips back and forth between the present and when Jacks was a teenager and falling in love and dealing with her parents. At first I couldn't see what the point of this was but as various events unfolded it all helped me to understand why Jacks reacts the way she does. Just when you think no surely the author couldn't throw any more at the family that is exactly what Amanda does. I'm not going into any detail except to say it made me see a different side of Jacks. A side for a chunk of the novel I did not like, simply for the way she reacted. It took her some time to realise she needed to make peace with her past in order to become satisfied with what is ongoing in the present. Even though it is every mother's wish to see their children succeed and to give them everything they themselves might not have it. At times you should really leave it up to the child to see their path and make their own decisions.
This was another excellent read from Amanda Prowse although for me slightly not as good as A Mother's Story as I was an emotional wreck after reading that book. I was waiting for the jaw drop moment in this read and it didn't come for me but that is one minor complaint. Perfect Daughter is a book that should be on your reading list this Summer, it's not your usual run of the mill chick lit and I welcome that as people need a change. If you want something thought provoking and just that bit different to read over the next few weeks then go for this. You won't be disappointed. For once we weren't reading of a disfunctional family but rather a normal family battling through everyday problems and that is a relief. This sets it apart from all the other women's fiction out there at the moment. I feel there is another story about the Davies family waiting to be written. Maybe featuring Martha further down the line, well I have my fingers crossed anyway. Amanda is carving herself a successful niche in the women's fiction market and I hope she continues to write in this vein as I have really enjoyed these last few books I have read. Not long to wait until the next release. I'm looking forward to September and Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats already.
In the prologue Jacks Davies is newly married to Pete, a wonderful future awaits them and their soon to be born child in Weston Super Mare. A recently purchased house with big plans for renovation is their next goal. Fast forward numerous years later and Jacks is still stuck in the same house with no nice conservatory or additions to the house. Oh how her genuine optimism has now left her. She now has two children, 17 year old Martha and the much longed for 8 year old Jonty. Jonty was the hidden gem of the book with his innocence and humour providing light relief and a sprinkling of wit at just the right moment. I certainly developed a soft spot for him and you could see Jacks wished she had more time to devote to him so he wasn't forgotten. But Jacks has pressure from all sides as well as keeping house and raising two children, her mother Ida is resident in Jonty's old room and suffering from Alzheimers. Of course Jacks would go out of her way to look after the person who raised her, yet was this what she had envisaged for herself at a still relatively young age?
The author portrays the difficulties for everyone in the family of having a person living in the house with an illness in such a realistic way. There was no avoiding the issue or the details of the day-to-day care, Amanda should be applauded for this because I firmly believe if you decide to write about something like dementia or postnatal depression there should be no short cuts or skirting round the deeper emotions. Readers want the truth. Not made up facts and Amanda never shies away from the true nature of the situation. She describes the family as loving the person Ida once was but this new frail person is a shadow occupying their house. I thought this summed up everything perfectly and I'm sure this will resonate many readers. To see someone you love go from a normal happy person regress back to childhood in terms of care needs and to lose their ability to converse and remember things is one of the most heartbreaking things any person can go through. You almost resent the person for who they are now but have to remember the good times you once shared and enjoyed with them.
Jacks was a really well written character and I felt every bit that she was torn in two between her husband and children and caring for her mother. You could see the daily routine was a grind and a juggling act where she rarely had time for herself. Her own dreams and aspirations had slipped away and Jacks wishes her daughter will achieve everything that she herself was unable to do. But my god she did her best to keep things going and the numerous things she went through before the kids even left for school just left me tired reading about them. This may sound silly but what I really loved about her was that no matter what Jonty or Martha asked for she always did her best to have it. Just the small things like when Martha yells for a clean shirt in the morning, Jacks replies it's on her chair or whatever and that is something my mum always did for me. It's the little things that count. The story flips back and forth between the present and when Jacks was a teenager and falling in love and dealing with her parents. At first I couldn't see what the point of this was but as various events unfolded it all helped me to understand why Jacks reacts the way she does. Just when you think no surely the author couldn't throw any more at the family that is exactly what Amanda does. I'm not going into any detail except to say it made me see a different side of Jacks. A side for a chunk of the novel I did not like, simply for the way she reacted. It took her some time to realise she needed to make peace with her past in order to become satisfied with what is ongoing in the present. Even though it is every mother's wish to see their children succeed and to give them everything they themselves might not have it. At times you should really leave it up to the child to see their path and make their own decisions.
This was another excellent read from Amanda Prowse although for me slightly not as good as A Mother's Story as I was an emotional wreck after reading that book. I was waiting for the jaw drop moment in this read and it didn't come for me but that is one minor complaint. Perfect Daughter is a book that should be on your reading list this Summer, it's not your usual run of the mill chick lit and I welcome that as people need a change. If you want something thought provoking and just that bit different to read over the next few weeks then go for this. You won't be disappointed. For once we weren't reading of a disfunctional family but rather a normal family battling through everyday problems and that is a relief. This sets it apart from all the other women's fiction out there at the moment. I feel there is another story about the Davies family waiting to be written. Maybe featuring Martha further down the line, well I have my fingers crossed anyway. Amanda is carving herself a successful niche in the women's fiction market and I hope she continues to write in this vein as I have really enjoyed these last few books I have read. Not long to wait until the next release. I'm looking forward to September and Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats already.
April 28, 2019
Saaiiii...
October 18, 2016
This was a nice easy read and once I got into it I became quickly immersed in Jacks family and all their dramas.
Jacks was the main character and I didn't really like her,yes she had a hard life with being a full time career to her mum with dementia and running after her kids and husband but she was never done complaining about her lot in life and thinking about a past love in 'Sven' and wondering what might have been with him.
But she never did anything about her lot in life,she never took respite care for her mum to give herself a break or asked her family to help and it was really a case of thinking the grass is greener.
I didn't like the way Jacks was so resolute in controlling her daughter Martha's life,yes she didn't want her to end up with a life like her and to succeed and go to university but at the same time she wanted to live the life she never got to through her daughter.
Forget what Martha wants,it's what Jacks wanted.
Going back and forth from past to present you see that Jacks and her mum Ida had a very strained relationship and this continues to the day but we don't really know why,there is a secret there which I had already figured out the gist of it and I felt sorry for Ida.
You also see that there is another big secret which didn't really excite me, it was just another bit in the story really,like been there done that so many times before,give us something original.
It did feel very rushed in places.especially with regards to Jacks realising the grass wasn't necessarily greener and that she really was lucky to have her family,she had so much angst and this dark cloud hung over her for so long and then she just got over it like that,magic!
I'm glad that she realised her dad wasn't perfect after all because the way she had him on this permanent pedestal every single day years after his death really bored and irritated me,like he couldn't have been that perfect the way he treated Ida in the past,cause no matter what way he was portrayed in the past as this hard done by husband it just didn't ring true with me!
Jacks was the main character and I didn't really like her,yes she had a hard life with being a full time career to her mum with dementia and running after her kids and husband but she was never done complaining about her lot in life and thinking about a past love in 'Sven' and wondering what might have been with him.
But she never did anything about her lot in life,she never took respite care for her mum to give herself a break or asked her family to help and it was really a case of thinking the grass is greener.
I didn't like the way Jacks was so resolute in controlling her daughter Martha's life,yes she didn't want her to end up with a life like her and to succeed and go to university but at the same time she wanted to live the life she never got to through her daughter.
Forget what Martha wants,it's what Jacks wanted.
Going back and forth from past to present you see that Jacks and her mum Ida had a very strained relationship and this continues to the day but we don't really know why,there is a secret there which I had already figured out the gist of it and I felt sorry for Ida.
You also see that there is another big secret which didn't really excite me, it was just another bit in the story really,like been there done that so many times before,give us something original.
It did feel very rushed in places.especially with regards to Jacks realising the grass wasn't necessarily greener and that she really was lucky to have her family,she had so much angst and this dark cloud hung over her for so long and then she just got over it like that,magic!
I'm glad that she realised her dad wasn't perfect after all because the way she had him on this permanent pedestal every single day years after his death really bored and irritated me,like he couldn't have been that perfect the way he treated Ida in the past,cause no matter what way he was portrayed in the past as this hard done by husband it just didn't ring true with me!
July 8, 2015
The author doesn't hesitate to tackle uncomfortable subjects and this novel is no different. I loved the central character of Jacks and her daydreaming about what might have been while she cares for her family and her mother who has Alzheimer's. She was never that close to her mother and the frustration and impossible/ ness of the situation comes though so well. I was on that cliff too with her!
I didn't think the story gelled quite as well as previous books and the ending was a bit too perfect so four stars not five.
Really well written though - Amanda Prowsr really can write.
I didn't think the story gelled quite as well as previous books and the ending was a bit too perfect so four stars not five.
Really well written though - Amanda Prowsr really can write.
April 10, 2016
This is a great read and doesn't shy away from the reality of juggling a caring role with everyday life and trying to raise a family - whilst still doing the right thing all the way through. This book has some great moments, funny ones, tearful ones and action packed ones - well worth a read.
November 28, 2015
Although well written, I found this book boring and predictable.
And " Jacks" an ungrateful wingebag.
Not Amanda Prowse's best effort.
And " Jacks" an ungrateful wingebag.
Not Amanda Prowse's best effort.
March 15, 2019
4.5*
Jacks Davies’ life hasn’t turned out the way she’d envisaged. When she and Pete got married they had all sorts of plans—work hard, do up the house and move to a better place with a garage, more space, maybe a conservatory. But here they were, years later, with two children, Martha and Jonty, and Jacks’ mother, Ida, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, all living in the same slightly run down semi. It was very cramped, not nearly enough storage, and Jacks never seems to have a minute between looking after the children, ferrying them to and fro and being her mother’s sole carer.
'Like everything else in the house that was defunct, mismatched or ageing, they had got used to it, lived with it, until it was just how things were. This even applied to the cardboard boxes full of clothes and bits and bobs that had been packaged up and stacked in the front hallway.'
Even though Jacks’ dreams have been put on hold, she is determined her daughter, Martha won’t be stuck in Weston-super-Mare for the rest of her life. She’ll do whatever she has to give Martha the future she deserves, everything that evaded Jacks. She can see it now—university, a great job, a lovely home in an up market area. When a boyfriend appears on the scene, Jacks can see her dreams crumbling a second time.
Amanda Prowse portrays family life with its difficulties and ups and downs with realism. Juggling the constant and personal care needed for a very confused and scared old lady with looking after the rest of the family, Jacks has very little time to call her own and is exhausted much of the time.
'She now sat at the kitchen table. This was her one small window of opportunity at the beginning of every day when she was able to read the local news. A brief moment before the world came rushing up to meet her and she had to run to keep up…'
Jacks was only thirty-six and couldn’t help wondering if this gruelling daily routine was all there is. Trying desperately to make ends meet and feeling taken for granted, the thoughts of what might have been play on her mind. It takes a blast from the past to make Jacks realise what’s really important. The grass isn’t always greener.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the present and Jacks’ earlier life, which worked really well, showing the contrast and ironically drawing attention to the similarities between Jacks’, Ida’s and Martha’s predicaments and attitudes as young adults. The characterisations are convincing with relatable scenarios, encompassing a range of emotions including hope, frustration, loss, despair and love—ordinary people dealing with the hand life has dealt. Jacks’ best friend, Gina and son, Jonty provide humour and lightness to balance out the story.
I chose to read and review Perfect Daughter based on a copy of the book kindly supplied by the author.
Jacks Davies’ life hasn’t turned out the way she’d envisaged. When she and Pete got married they had all sorts of plans—work hard, do up the house and move to a better place with a garage, more space, maybe a conservatory. But here they were, years later, with two children, Martha and Jonty, and Jacks’ mother, Ida, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, all living in the same slightly run down semi. It was very cramped, not nearly enough storage, and Jacks never seems to have a minute between looking after the children, ferrying them to and fro and being her mother’s sole carer.
'Like everything else in the house that was defunct, mismatched or ageing, they had got used to it, lived with it, until it was just how things were. This even applied to the cardboard boxes full of clothes and bits and bobs that had been packaged up and stacked in the front hallway.'
Even though Jacks’ dreams have been put on hold, she is determined her daughter, Martha won’t be stuck in Weston-super-Mare for the rest of her life. She’ll do whatever she has to give Martha the future she deserves, everything that evaded Jacks. She can see it now—university, a great job, a lovely home in an up market area. When a boyfriend appears on the scene, Jacks can see her dreams crumbling a second time.
Amanda Prowse portrays family life with its difficulties and ups and downs with realism. Juggling the constant and personal care needed for a very confused and scared old lady with looking after the rest of the family, Jacks has very little time to call her own and is exhausted much of the time.
'She now sat at the kitchen table. This was her one small window of opportunity at the beginning of every day when she was able to read the local news. A brief moment before the world came rushing up to meet her and she had to run to keep up…'
Jacks was only thirty-six and couldn’t help wondering if this gruelling daily routine was all there is. Trying desperately to make ends meet and feeling taken for granted, the thoughts of what might have been play on her mind. It takes a blast from the past to make Jacks realise what’s really important. The grass isn’t always greener.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the present and Jacks’ earlier life, which worked really well, showing the contrast and ironically drawing attention to the similarities between Jacks’, Ida’s and Martha’s predicaments and attitudes as young adults. The characterisations are convincing with relatable scenarios, encompassing a range of emotions including hope, frustration, loss, despair and love—ordinary people dealing with the hand life has dealt. Jacks’ best friend, Gina and son, Jonty provide humour and lightness to balance out the story.
I chose to read and review Perfect Daughter based on a copy of the book kindly supplied by the author.
May 5, 2020
What a beautifully told story Perfect Daughter is. I have thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Jacks’ and Pete’s story.
When we first meet Jacks, in the prologue, she has just married Pete. However, the story is set nineteen years later when Jacks’ life is nothing like the life she envisioned.
I had conflicting feelings about Jacks throughout this book. Don’t get me wrong, she is a very likeable character and I could totally understand her frustrations. She’s only in her late thirties and has lost herself to her demanding lifestyle which mostly involves looking after everyone else. She has a heart of gold and a strong sense of duty but is also quite resentful at times which I imagine is only natural given her circumstances. She is living in an overcrowded house with Pete and two children, one now an adult, as well as her aging mother with every increasing personal care needs. No disposable income to speak of and no time to herself.
We all tend to sometimes want what we don’t or can’t have. Many people wonder what if? It’s human nature. I really felt sorry for Pete though as he seems to suffer the brunt of Jacks’ frustrations and often can’t seem to do anything right despite being a hard working husband and father doing his best to provide for his family having lost the chance of a footballing career due to injury. I warmed to Pete straight away and he grew on me more and more as the story progressed. He has very different fears to Jacks when it comes to their daughter and my heart went out to him.
I do think we’re all guilty of not appreciating what we have right now instead of focusing on what we don’t, and this made Jacks very real and believable. She has a lot on her plate, and I can totally understand her fears for her daughter and not wanting her to struggle in life as much as they have. There is a lot to be said for love and happiness though, far more important than money. As many would say around here, you can’t take it with you! (I won’t attempt to write the potteries slang version!)
I could talk about this book for ages, but I don’t want to give too much away. I very much recommend you read it for yourself.
A very powerful family drama full of love, commitment and sacrifice. It is so full of emotion and I’m sure most readers will relate to it in one way or another. It has a very positive lesson for us all also.
We all find our way in the end and this story certainly ends on a high which left me crying happy tears.
I LOVED it!
When we first meet Jacks, in the prologue, she has just married Pete. However, the story is set nineteen years later when Jacks’ life is nothing like the life she envisioned.
I had conflicting feelings about Jacks throughout this book. Don’t get me wrong, she is a very likeable character and I could totally understand her frustrations. She’s only in her late thirties and has lost herself to her demanding lifestyle which mostly involves looking after everyone else. She has a heart of gold and a strong sense of duty but is also quite resentful at times which I imagine is only natural given her circumstances. She is living in an overcrowded house with Pete and two children, one now an adult, as well as her aging mother with every increasing personal care needs. No disposable income to speak of and no time to herself.
We all tend to sometimes want what we don’t or can’t have. Many people wonder what if? It’s human nature. I really felt sorry for Pete though as he seems to suffer the brunt of Jacks’ frustrations and often can’t seem to do anything right despite being a hard working husband and father doing his best to provide for his family having lost the chance of a footballing career due to injury. I warmed to Pete straight away and he grew on me more and more as the story progressed. He has very different fears to Jacks when it comes to their daughter and my heart went out to him.
I do think we’re all guilty of not appreciating what we have right now instead of focusing on what we don’t, and this made Jacks very real and believable. She has a lot on her plate, and I can totally understand her fears for her daughter and not wanting her to struggle in life as much as they have. There is a lot to be said for love and happiness though, far more important than money. As many would say around here, you can’t take it with you! (I won’t attempt to write the potteries slang version!)
I could talk about this book for ages, but I don’t want to give too much away. I very much recommend you read it for yourself.
A very powerful family drama full of love, commitment and sacrifice. It is so full of emotion and I’m sure most readers will relate to it in one way or another. It has a very positive lesson for us all also.
We all find our way in the end and this story certainly ends on a high which left me crying happy tears.
I LOVED it!
July 25, 2021
With a title like that I was bound to be drawn in! I'm a daughter, and have two daughters of my own.
This is an immersive story about Jacks and her family, her husband Pete, her mum Ida and her daughter Martha. It's also a story about regrets, the choices we make, the fears that we could have taken a different path and perhaps had a more exciting life. Perfect Daughter doesn't shy away from life's difficulties and real struggles: looking after an aging parent with Alzheimer and keeping the family on an even keel especially when life has a way of veering off course bringing more grief in its wake.
Perfect Daughter doesn't hide away from these issues, at times it's quite difficult reading and at other times it is heart warming and uplifting. It is a generational story focusing on three female family members: Jack's mother Ida, Jacks and Jack's daughter situation too.
There is a sense of history repeating itself. Can Jacks discover what really matters beyond material wealth and the freedoms it brings?
Perfect Daughter whizzes back and forward giving us a taste of life when Jacks was younger to the present day difficulties. Should she stay with dependable Pete, (who was there for her through thick and thin,) or should she risk throwing it all away for a promise of rekindled love with someone who could give supposedly give her everything?
Thank you to the author for kindly gifting a hardback copy. My review is freely given and without bias.
Highly recommended.
This is an immersive story about Jacks and her family, her husband Pete, her mum Ida and her daughter Martha. It's also a story about regrets, the choices we make, the fears that we could have taken a different path and perhaps had a more exciting life. Perfect Daughter doesn't shy away from life's difficulties and real struggles: looking after an aging parent with Alzheimer and keeping the family on an even keel especially when life has a way of veering off course bringing more grief in its wake.
Perfect Daughter doesn't hide away from these issues, at times it's quite difficult reading and at other times it is heart warming and uplifting. It is a generational story focusing on three female family members: Jack's mother Ida, Jacks and Jack's daughter situation too.
There is a sense of history repeating itself. Can Jacks discover what really matters beyond material wealth and the freedoms it brings?
Perfect Daughter whizzes back and forward giving us a taste of life when Jacks was younger to the present day difficulties. Should she stay with dependable Pete, (who was there for her through thick and thin,) or should she risk throwing it all away for a promise of rekindled love with someone who could give supposedly give her everything?
Thank you to the author for kindly gifting a hardback copy. My review is freely given and without bias.
Highly recommended.
June 22, 2020
True to life
As always, Amanda Prowse has produced a book about average family life that is full of drama, love, fun and fear. Every mother wants her child to be successful and it can be hard to realise that as they grow they make their own decisions. Jacks made a big mistake early in her life, and whilst trying to make a happy family, she often wonders where an alternative dream she once had might have taken her. Through family experiences she discovers that she needs to look forward and stop looking backwards.
An excellent read.
As always, Amanda Prowse has produced a book about average family life that is full of drama, love, fun and fear. Every mother wants her child to be successful and it can be hard to realise that as they grow they make their own decisions. Jacks made a big mistake early in her life, and whilst trying to make a happy family, she often wonders where an alternative dream she once had might have taken her. Through family experiences she discovers that she needs to look forward and stop looking backwards.
An excellent read.
August 10, 2017
Really enjoyed this book, some people may not get on with the way it jumps back and forth nineteen years (namely my mum!!!). I bought this book from a charity shop, it was one of the world book day ones so has been doing the rounds, after I read it I left it behind in a holiday cottage we are staying in, so hopefully more people will get to enjoy this book.
January 24, 2020
Wasn't sure if I was going to like this book and after reading the reviews I was even more unsure... However I was surprised! I loved it. Such a normal story, the real life ups and downs! Really made me think of my own life. Loved the pace of the book and all the characters!
March 14, 2019
I loved this book as it is set in my home town and loved all the local references! It wasn't really well written but I enjoyed the story and it kept me interested until the end.
March 29, 2017
Reading books about families will always be touching - knowing about their struggles and triumphs. A truly uplifting and lovely summer read.
August 21, 2017
The descriptions of the pressure and challenges Jackie faces are so well written, it feels real.
Wonderful writing and so insightful.
Wonderful writing and so insightful.
July 4, 2016
Ugh, this was baaaad. I am so glad my reading rate is high at the moment, because I don't think I could stand more than two days of reading this one.
Thinking this was going to be a light chick-flick, I was sorely mistaken. Although, the little blurb on the front didn't have me particularly caught in the first place... it reminded me of one of Cecelia Ahern's books. Dull and dreary, this plodded along, barely raising any hope throughout its 300-odd pages. And this was supposed to be a mood-lifter?! It was anything but, dragging just as much as Jacks' life.
I think the conclusion is exactly what I would loathe in life. Ugh. Give me high flying adventure any day. Jacks herself, I started off trying to sympathise with, but come the middle of the book and she was going off the rails, it was very difficult to find anything redeeming about her, and it continued to the end of the book for me. I hated how very saintlike she tried to make herself, trying to justify her unpleasant actions through "But I'm so tired" or "the world is all against meeeeee". By the end it was just annoying.
I guess the themes would appeal to some, although as a World Book Night read, I think overall I am unimpressed. It reads slowly, without much to keep the reader going if you were to stop and think about it- it's just fairly miserable the whole way through. Not my choice, if I were picking the lineup.
Thinking this was going to be a light chick-flick, I was sorely mistaken. Although, the little blurb on the front didn't have me particularly caught in the first place... it reminded me of one of Cecelia Ahern's books. Dull and dreary, this plodded along, barely raising any hope throughout its 300-odd pages. And this was supposed to be a mood-lifter?! It was anything but, dragging just as much as Jacks' life.
I think the conclusion is exactly what I would loathe in life. Ugh. Give me high flying adventure any day. Jacks herself, I started off trying to sympathise with, but come the middle of the book and she was going off the rails, it was very difficult to find anything redeeming about her, and it continued to the end of the book for me. I hated how very saintlike she tried to make herself, trying to justify her unpleasant actions through "But I'm so tired" or "the world is all against meeeeee". By the end it was just annoying.
I guess the themes would appeal to some, although as a World Book Night read, I think overall I am unimpressed. It reads slowly, without much to keep the reader going if you were to stop and think about it- it's just fairly miserable the whole way through. Not my choice, if I were picking the lineup.
December 17, 2019
Another heartwarming tale with elements of fire within.
It's never easy, being a wife and mother, and caring for an elderly parent on top of that can be exhausting.
Jacks is stuck in a wheel of looking after her children, her husband, Pete, Ida, her mum, the house and family life in general.
This wasn't the life she had dreamt of, for herself, all those years ago.
Instead, she lives her life vicariously, through her daughter, envisioning a bright future for her.
But, what Jacks sees as one bad choice by her daughter, all her dreams turn to dust.
The story moves back and forth, mirroring Jacks life as a teen with that of her as the mother of a teen, and slowly realisations become clear.
It's not easy being a carer. The reader is really made to feel the sense of duty, and love, as well as the frustration that is involved in looking after your own parent.
It isn't any easier being a parent. Guiding your children all their lives, until suddenly they are ready to take control of their own decisions. And the choices they make aren't what you would want.
I loved reading this story and was sucked in from the beginning. I empathised with Jacks. Though her personal situation is not like my own, I could understand her frustrations, her yearning for something different.
A lovely read.
It's never easy, being a wife and mother, and caring for an elderly parent on top of that can be exhausting.
Jacks is stuck in a wheel of looking after her children, her husband, Pete, Ida, her mum, the house and family life in general.
This wasn't the life she had dreamt of, for herself, all those years ago.
Instead, she lives her life vicariously, through her daughter, envisioning a bright future for her.
But, what Jacks sees as one bad choice by her daughter, all her dreams turn to dust.
The story moves back and forth, mirroring Jacks life as a teen with that of her as the mother of a teen, and slowly realisations become clear.
It's not easy being a carer. The reader is really made to feel the sense of duty, and love, as well as the frustration that is involved in looking after your own parent.
It isn't any easier being a parent. Guiding your children all their lives, until suddenly they are ready to take control of their own decisions. And the choices they make aren't what you would want.
I loved reading this story and was sucked in from the beginning. I empathised with Jacks. Though her personal situation is not like my own, I could understand her frustrations, her yearning for something different.
A lovely read.
August 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect Daughter by Amanda Prowse was the first book of hers I’ve read, and it definitely won’t be my last. I found it so relatable and beautifully written — there were so many moments that had me choked up, swallowing the lump in my throat as I turned the pages. The characters felt real, and their struggles really resonated with me. A heartfelt and emotional read that touched me deeply.
Perfect Daughter by Amanda Prowse was the first book of hers I’ve read, and it definitely won’t be my last. I found it so relatable and beautifully written — there were so many moments that had me choked up, swallowing the lump in my throat as I turned the pages. The characters felt real, and their struggles really resonated with me. A heartfelt and emotional read that touched me deeply.
February 7, 2017
Mocht je de boeken van Amanda Prowse nog niet kennen... ik kan ze aanraden. Ook dit boek had ik zo uit.
October 20, 2015
Whilst this book was well written and realistic, it was a little too depressing for my liking. Also I felt like Jacks spent almost all of the book complaining which made it hard to like her and made it difficult to like the book as it's from her perspective. I can understand that her life is difficult, but I feel like she made everything harder for herself. Maybe I just didn't like her character.
February 6, 2017
This was an easy, enjoyable read and very moving at times. I thought Jacks was a good central character and felt her relationships with her family were realistic although I wanted to shake Pete sometimes for being too nice! I had great sympathy with Jacks throughout most of the book. I enjoyed the plot even though it was predictable in places. The ending felt a little too neat though hence only 3 stars.
February 22, 2016
3:5 stars...
The book was well written, but i felt Jacs was just a bit too difficult to sympathise with at times. Although leading a very hard life, and we meet her at a time where her life criss crosse over to mother and carer for her mum.
We never know where we are going to go in life, this was a good portrayal of that.
The book was well written, but i felt Jacs was just a bit too difficult to sympathise with at times. Although leading a very hard life, and we meet her at a time where her life criss crosse over to mother and carer for her mum.
We never know where we are going to go in life, this was a good portrayal of that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews