What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other Daughter
You only get one life – but what if it isn’t the one you were meant to live?
‘When it finally arrived I was shocked to see it; to read the words Mum wrote about these women fighting for rights I know I take for granted. Mum was here. And while she was, something happened that changed the entire course of my life.
Perhaps, if I can summon the courage, the next eight weeks will help me finally figure out what that was . . .’
When Jessica, a young British woman, discovers a shocking secret about her birth she travels to Switzerland in search of answers. She knows her mother spent time in the country writing an article on the Swiss women’s rights movement, but what she doesn’t know is what happened to her while she was there. Can Jess summon the courage to face the truth about her family, or will her search only hurt herself and those around her even more?
Set across a stunning Swiss backdrop, The Other Daughter follows one woman in her search for the truth about her birth, and another desperately trying to succeed in a man’s world. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Elizabeth Noble and Kathryn Hughes.
‘When it finally arrived I was shocked to see it; to read the words Mum wrote about these women fighting for rights I know I take for granted. Mum was here. And while she was, something happened that changed the entire course of my life.
Perhaps, if I can summon the courage, the next eight weeks will help me finally figure out what that was . . .’
When Jessica, a young British woman, discovers a shocking secret about her birth she travels to Switzerland in search of answers. She knows her mother spent time in the country writing an article on the Swiss women’s rights movement, but what she doesn’t know is what happened to her while she was there. Can Jess summon the courage to face the truth about her family, or will her search only hurt herself and those around her even more?
Set across a stunning Swiss backdrop, The Other Daughter follows one woman in her search for the truth about her birth, and another desperately trying to succeed in a man’s world. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Elizabeth Noble and Kathryn Hughes.
461 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2021
26 people are currently reading
1059 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Bishop
5 books37 followersCaroline is a British-Canadian freelance writer and author living in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the past 15 years she has written about travel, food and the arts for national newspapers, magazines and websites in the UK and Switzerland including Lonely Planet, The Guardian and BBC Travel. She was also the editor of anglophone Swiss news site TheLocal.ch for two years.
Caroline writes dual timeline novels centred around family, friendships and strong women. Her most recent novel, a Cold War story of love, loss and regrets, is The Day I Left You.
In the past 15 years she has written about travel, food and the arts for national newspapers, magazines and websites in the UK and Switzerland including Lonely Planet, The Guardian and BBC Travel. She was also the editor of anglophone Swiss news site TheLocal.ch for two years.
Caroline writes dual timeline novels centred around family, friendships and strong women. Her most recent novel, a Cold War story of love, loss and regrets, is The Day I Left You.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 18, 2024
I love learning about times, places, and people I know little about, so this premise caught my attention - it's the first piece of historical fiction I've encountered that is set in Switzerland. It's obvious that the author lives in and knows the place she writes about as she takes us on a thorough tour of the political scene, working conditions, and women's rights movement of 1970s Switzerland.
This is a book with dual narratives, timelines, and locations, which can get messy, but doesn't here - the pacing is right and the flow is never disrupted. In many dual narrative novels, we get a shocking reveal near the end when we learn how our protagonists' stories are connected; here, we get this reveal fairly early on, which enhance the effect. This is a lovely character-driven piece, but as usual with dual narratives, I am more interested in one story line than the other - in this instance, Sylvia's.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.
This is a book with dual narratives, timelines, and locations, which can get messy, but doesn't here - the pacing is right and the flow is never disrupted. In many dual narrative novels, we get a shocking reveal near the end when we learn how our protagonists' stories are connected; here, we get this reveal fairly early on, which enhance the effect. This is a lovely character-driven piece, but as usual with dual narratives, I am more interested in one story line than the other - in this instance, Sylvia's.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.
May 23, 2020
Jessica discovers a shocking truth about her birth so she travelled to Switzerland to get some answers. Her mother had spent some time writing an article on the Swiss women's rights movement. But she doesn't know what had happened to her while she was there. Jessica is desperate to find out the truth surrounding her birth.
This is quite an informative read. We learn of the challenged working women in the 1970's and Swiss politics. There is a few side stories and it took me a little while to get into the book. The book is well written and the characters are well rounded. I'm glad I stuck with this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Caroline Bishop for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is quite an informative read. We learn of the challenged working women in the 1970's and Swiss politics. There is a few side stories and it took me a little while to get into the book. The book is well written and the characters are well rounded. I'm glad I stuck with this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Caroline Bishop for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 31, 2022A fascinating, winding tale based around two important aspects of women’s history in Switzerland, and one that delves into the equally fascinating thoughts and hearts of the women themselves. Because of Ms Bishop’s beautiful, descriptive passages, I now feel the need to travel to Switzerland and experience it firsthand. Oh, and there’s a major twist at the end that I never saw coming. What a rare treat for me!
December 5, 2022
This is my first time reading a Caroline Bishop book and with it came rave reviews.
I enjoy dual time period stories. I like it for the glimpses into history as well as seeing two different points of view connect to one plot. The historical aspect of 1976 Switzerland with the women’s liberation movement was intriguing to read and learn about. Actually not just Switzerland but London as well and the treatment of women, their rights and expectations once married and even to marry. I was a teen during that time and can somewhat relate.
In 2016, Jess is struggling after discovering secrets which have created havoc in her life. Heading off to Switzerland she hopes to discover answers and possibly healing.
I enjoyed the authors writing style, the story and the mystery kept me intrigued. The story weaved nicely through time at a good pace and ended with a conclusion that was authentic and worked.
Ultimately, The Other Daughter is a story of family, of secrets, and having the courage & strength to face your past, to face the unknown. As both women struggled with issues and prejudices ultimately there is healing and new beginnings found in unlikely places.
The Other Daughter hits books shelves on January 10th. My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy dual time period stories. I like it for the glimpses into history as well as seeing two different points of view connect to one plot. The historical aspect of 1976 Switzerland with the women’s liberation movement was intriguing to read and learn about. Actually not just Switzerland but London as well and the treatment of women, their rights and expectations once married and even to marry. I was a teen during that time and can somewhat relate.
In 2016, Jess is struggling after discovering secrets which have created havoc in her life. Heading off to Switzerland she hopes to discover answers and possibly healing.
I enjoyed the authors writing style, the story and the mystery kept me intrigued. The story weaved nicely through time at a good pace and ended with a conclusion that was authentic and worked.
Ultimately, The Other Daughter is a story of family, of secrets, and having the courage & strength to face your past, to face the unknown. As both women struggled with issues and prejudices ultimately there is healing and new beginnings found in unlikely places.
The Other Daughter hits books shelves on January 10th. My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2023
*I’m always a fan of historical fiction with dual time lines, especially when it’s a past and present timeline. I was hooked right from the beginning, the author really set the tone and atmosphere perfectly and I could feel the desperation and yearning throughout. Which I absolutely loved of course! This story had SO much to offer and the potential to be perfect, it really was so close. I think what threw me off is that at one point I just really started to hate all the characters and I’m a very character based reader. I did really enjoy it though, it kept me guessing the whole way through, I just wish the characters hadn’t soured me so much by the end. The ending was absolutely phenomenal as well, I truly didn’t see it coming and it surprised the heck out of me!
**Thanks to Simon Schuster Canada for the ARC copy, this in no way changes or affects my review.
**Thanks to Simon Schuster Canada for the ARC copy, this in no way changes or affects my review.
January 10, 2023
Astute, tender, and nostalgic!
The Other Daughter is a layered, intriguing tale set in Europe during 1976, as well as 2016, that is told from two different perspectives; Jess, a young woman who journeys to Switzerland after her mother’s death to unravel the secrets of her birth, and Sylvia, a writer who after travelling abroad to cover women’s rights not only befriends a wonderful group of courageous women but also unexpectedly delivers her baby girl early resulting in a turn of events that will ultimately have heart-shattering consequences.
The prose is reflective and sweet. The characters are troubled, inquisitive, and endearing. And the plot using a past/present, back-and-forth style, intertwines and unravels effortlessly into a touching tale of life, loss, family, friendship, drama, emotion, secrets, heartbreak, passion, self-discovery, and love.
Overall, The Other Daughter is a heartfelt, sentimental, affecting read by Bishop that does a lovely job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into an insightful, heart-tugging tale that is atmospheric and highly absorbing.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Other Daughter is a layered, intriguing tale set in Europe during 1976, as well as 2016, that is told from two different perspectives; Jess, a young woman who journeys to Switzerland after her mother’s death to unravel the secrets of her birth, and Sylvia, a writer who after travelling abroad to cover women’s rights not only befriends a wonderful group of courageous women but also unexpectedly delivers her baby girl early resulting in a turn of events that will ultimately have heart-shattering consequences.
The prose is reflective and sweet. The characters are troubled, inquisitive, and endearing. And the plot using a past/present, back-and-forth style, intertwines and unravels effortlessly into a touching tale of life, loss, family, friendship, drama, emotion, secrets, heartbreak, passion, self-discovery, and love.
Overall, The Other Daughter is a heartfelt, sentimental, affecting read by Bishop that does a lovely job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into an insightful, heart-tugging tale that is atmospheric and highly absorbing.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
This book is told by Sylvia in the 70s and Jess in the present time and it takes place between London and Switzerland. The book has a really good pace, and it is very easy to read as the chapters are just the right length. It has a lot of facts about the women’s rights in Switzerland and how it compares to the rights in the UK.
I really enjoyed reading about Sylvia finding her way in a man’s world, how she stood up for herself and worked hard to be successful at a time where things where even harder than today. I would have loved more of her back story; I found her fascinating and a really strong character with more to say. However, I wasn’t that invested on Jess’ storyline, she was doing and saying things that made me uncomfortable, especially from a nanny perspective. I understand she had some motivation to do so in order to know about her birth but still...
It was an interesting read, a good debut.
I really enjoyed reading about Sylvia finding her way in a man’s world, how she stood up for herself and worked hard to be successful at a time where things where even harder than today. I would have loved more of her back story; I found her fascinating and a really strong character with more to say. However, I wasn’t that invested on Jess’ storyline, she was doing and saying things that made me uncomfortable, especially from a nanny perspective. I understand she had some motivation to do so in order to know about her birth but still...
It was an interesting read, a good debut.
March 10, 2023
I was attracted to this story because of the Switzerland location. I did enjoy the setting. I thought I was gonna read a story about women’s rights but it turned out more about a woman’s quest for identity.
If you are looking for historical fiction, the references to history are weak. At times, I did not understand Jessica, the main character’s actions.
However, it is a good story, told in dual time, and it kept me entertained.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
If you are looking for historical fiction, the references to history are weak. At times, I did not understand Jessica, the main character’s actions.
However, it is a good story, told in dual time, and it kept me entertained.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 21, 2021
I am a lover of history, but I sometimes find non-fiction too dry and not engaging enough for me to stick with. Stories like this are often a great compromise. With a feminist backdrop and the story being based around the women’s rights movements in both Switzerland and the UK, Jess is seeking answers in the country her mother Sylvia fell in love with as a journalist. Alongside Jess’s journey of discovery, we are also introduced to her mother and her journey to fight for her place in a man’s world, and as her life is unwound, Jess seeks to find the roots to her own existence. Content warnings include mentions of emotional and physical child abuse, TTC, abortion, and family issues.
I can’t really fault this book. I was rooting for both Jess and Sylvia, even though they were far from perfect. Both had a lot of emotional baggage, and I liked that the story focused on the two of them and their respective journeys. As a woman, I could sympathise with the difficulties they faced. Although things are better now than they were, this book proves that while you can change legislation, others’ attitudes may remain unchanged.
It is very easy to romanticise historical fiction, but this book does an excellent job in remaining rooted in its context without taking away from the fiction. Therefore, I would recommend to anyone who would like a fresh perspective on rediscovering a sense of identity later in life, or just a story with a character-focused plot.
[DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Caroline Bishop and Kaleidoscopic tours for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced to write a positive review.]
I can’t really fault this book. I was rooting for both Jess and Sylvia, even though they were far from perfect. Both had a lot of emotional baggage, and I liked that the story focused on the two of them and their respective journeys. As a woman, I could sympathise with the difficulties they faced. Although things are better now than they were, this book proves that while you can change legislation, others’ attitudes may remain unchanged.
It is very easy to romanticise historical fiction, but this book does an excellent job in remaining rooted in its context without taking away from the fiction. Therefore, I would recommend to anyone who would like a fresh perspective on rediscovering a sense of identity later in life, or just a story with a character-focused plot.
[DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Caroline Bishop and Kaleidoscopic tours for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced to write a positive review.]
September 25, 2024
A past with consequences
Something historical, something tragic. All in a moment’s decision and the threads it warps over Jess’ life as she tries to find herself after a divorce, losing a mom, finding her biological mother, loving her father and finding purpose in her career.
All while trying to stay sane (not successfully) and making new friends (and a guy!)
Something historical, something tragic. All in a moment’s decision and the threads it warps over Jess’ life as she tries to find herself after a divorce, losing a mom, finding her biological mother, loving her father and finding purpose in her career.
All while trying to stay sane (not successfully) and making new friends (and a guy!)
February 6, 2023
Historical fiction is one of my of my favourite genres and this was an interesting book set in Switzerland between 1976 and 2016. Always good to learn something new and reading about part of Switzerland’s history was very interesting. A great read.
March 2, 2021
Caroline Bishop’s The Other Daughter is an astute and absorbing family drama that will tug at the heartstrings and hold readers in thrall from start to finish.
When Jessica discovers a shocking secret about her birth, it knocks her for six. Desperate for some answers and determined to put together the missing pieces of this puzzle that threatens to consume her, Jessica travels to Switzerland, a country where she knows her mother had spent some time in forty years earlier. Jessica’s mother had been a journalist who had been sent to Switzerland to write about the Swiss Women’s Liberation movement. However, what really happened to Jessica’s mother once she got to the country remains shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Jessica is adamant that she will not go back to London until she has found the answers to the questions that have haunted her ever since she discovered that she had not been told the entire truth about her birth. But is Jessica ready for what she is about to find in Switzerland? Should she have left the past well and truly alone? Or will Jessica come to regret this decision to untangle the secrets of her family’s past?
Jessica’s journey is going to be fraught with pain and anguish. She needs to muster up every single reserve of courage and strength she possess as she begins to face up to the truth about her family. As Jessica begins to find the answers she had been searching for, she begins to wonder whether her quest for the truth will end up hurting not just herself, but the people around her. But Jessica is in far too deep to give up now and surrender her mission. However, the more she discovers, the more she believes that she will come close to solving more than just the mystery surrounding her birth, but also to finding out the truth about who she really is and where she belongs.
Caroline Bishop’s The Other Daughter is an affecting and emotional read about the adversity faced by women in a man’s world, the desperate choices circumstances often force us to make, the enduring power of love and the struggle to figure out one’s identity in an increasingly fraught world.
Set against a beautifully described backdrop, The Other Daughter is a sensitively told page-turner written with hope and compassion that paints a vivid picture of the bonds that bind families together, the struggle for acceptance and freedom and the sacrifices made for those we love.
In The Other Daughter, Caroline Bishop has penned a cleverly told tale readers will certainly not forget in a hurry.
When Jessica discovers a shocking secret about her birth, it knocks her for six. Desperate for some answers and determined to put together the missing pieces of this puzzle that threatens to consume her, Jessica travels to Switzerland, a country where she knows her mother had spent some time in forty years earlier. Jessica’s mother had been a journalist who had been sent to Switzerland to write about the Swiss Women’s Liberation movement. However, what really happened to Jessica’s mother once she got to the country remains shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Jessica is adamant that she will not go back to London until she has found the answers to the questions that have haunted her ever since she discovered that she had not been told the entire truth about her birth. But is Jessica ready for what she is about to find in Switzerland? Should she have left the past well and truly alone? Or will Jessica come to regret this decision to untangle the secrets of her family’s past?
Jessica’s journey is going to be fraught with pain and anguish. She needs to muster up every single reserve of courage and strength she possess as she begins to face up to the truth about her family. As Jessica begins to find the answers she had been searching for, she begins to wonder whether her quest for the truth will end up hurting not just herself, but the people around her. But Jessica is in far too deep to give up now and surrender her mission. However, the more she discovers, the more she believes that she will come close to solving more than just the mystery surrounding her birth, but also to finding out the truth about who she really is and where she belongs.
Caroline Bishop’s The Other Daughter is an affecting and emotional read about the adversity faced by women in a man’s world, the desperate choices circumstances often force us to make, the enduring power of love and the struggle to figure out one’s identity in an increasingly fraught world.
Set against a beautifully described backdrop, The Other Daughter is a sensitively told page-turner written with hope and compassion that paints a vivid picture of the bonds that bind families together, the struggle for acceptance and freedom and the sacrifices made for those we love.
In The Other Daughter, Caroline Bishop has penned a cleverly told tale readers will certainly not forget in a hurry.
February 14, 2023
The Other Daughter is told in two timelines, following a mother and daughter. Sylvia is an up-and-coming journalist in 1970s England. She is desperate to be taken as seriously as her male colleagues, and dreads what marriage and possibly motherhood may do to her career.
Jess is a bit at sea. She's close to turning 40, and her life is seemingly falling apart. Her marriage has recently ended, and she's having a tough time with some disturbing family news. When we meet her, it's 2016 and she's taking a year's sabbatical and is nannying and teaching English for a small family in Switzerland. We know that she has an ulterior motive for travelling to Switzerland (research on the aforementioned family news), but what sort of issues she's dealing aren't immediately revealed.
This book is a lot about motherhood, and a bit about feminism.
First, the feminism. Sylvia travels to Switzerland to research feminism there, as the Swiss women have recently won the right to vote, and are still campaigning for more equality and rights. By all accounts British women have much more freedom than their Swiss sisters, but still a long way to go when compared with where we are today in 2023 (though in many ways we're slipping backward).
And now the motherhood. Many different facets of motherhood are seen here in this book:
- Sylvia, the career woman who dreads what limitations motherhood may place on her
- Jess, the woman who desperately wants to be a mother and doesn't see that becoming a reality for her
- Julia, the woman who "has it all" with a thriving career and beautiful family (or does she?)
- Maggie, the godmother who never had children of her own but stands in for her goddaughter
- Anna, the scared young mother who risks everything for the child she loves so much
as well as a few others.
I really enjoyed this book, and learned quite a few things from it. Definitely a worthwhile read.
I received an ARC through a goodreads giveaway, and my opinions are my own.
Jess is a bit at sea. She's close to turning 40, and her life is seemingly falling apart. Her marriage has recently ended, and she's having a tough time with some disturbing family news. When we meet her, it's 2016 and she's taking a year's sabbatical and is nannying and teaching English for a small family in Switzerland. We know that she has an ulterior motive for travelling to Switzerland (research on the aforementioned family news), but what sort of issues she's dealing aren't immediately revealed.
This book is a lot about motherhood, and a bit about feminism.
First, the feminism. Sylvia travels to Switzerland to research feminism there, as the Swiss women have recently won the right to vote, and are still campaigning for more equality and rights. By all accounts British women have much more freedom than their Swiss sisters, but still a long way to go when compared with where we are today in 2023 (though in many ways we're slipping backward).
And now the motherhood. Many different facets of motherhood are seen here in this book:
- Sylvia, the career woman who dreads what limitations motherhood may place on her
- Jess, the woman who desperately wants to be a mother and doesn't see that becoming a reality for her
- Julia, the woman who "has it all" with a thriving career and beautiful family (or does she?)
- Maggie, the godmother who never had children of her own but stands in for her goddaughter
- Anna, the scared young mother who risks everything for the child she loves so much
as well as a few others.
I really enjoyed this book, and learned quite a few things from it. Definitely a worthwhile read.
I received an ARC through a goodreads giveaway, and my opinions are my own.
April 24, 2021
When Jessica discovers a shocking secret about her birth, she leaves her London home and travels to Switzerland in search of answers. She knows her journalist mother spent time in the country forty years earlier, reporting on the Swiss women’s liberation movement, but what she doesn’t know is what happened to her while she was there. Can Jess summon the courage to face the truth about her family, or will her search only hurt herself and those around her even more?
.
What a eye opening and refreshing read this was. Told between the two narratives of Sylvia in 1976 and Jess in 2016, the chapters flip back and forth between these two ladies that I started off not knowing the connection between. Around the 100 page mark things start to come to light with the connection between them and really dives into the differences to what society deems the correct way a woman should live her life, 40 years apart.
I found myself enjoying Sylvia’s chapters more as I resonated with her on certain things for instance her feelings on having children. I really sympathised with her at times for wanting it all as we have in current day, but was not seen as acceptable all those years ago. I felt that if Sylvia & Jess’s lives were swapped they would both have what their hearts most desired.
The beautiful Swiss setting and politics throughout captured me more than I’d expected. Overall I found this interesting and very informative to read.
.
Thank you to carolinebishopauthor, simonschusteruk and kaleidoscopictours for my copy of The Other Daughter
.
What a eye opening and refreshing read this was. Told between the two narratives of Sylvia in 1976 and Jess in 2016, the chapters flip back and forth between these two ladies that I started off not knowing the connection between. Around the 100 page mark things start to come to light with the connection between them and really dives into the differences to what society deems the correct way a woman should live her life, 40 years apart.
I found myself enjoying Sylvia’s chapters more as I resonated with her on certain things for instance her feelings on having children. I really sympathised with her at times for wanting it all as we have in current day, but was not seen as acceptable all those years ago. I felt that if Sylvia & Jess’s lives were swapped they would both have what their hearts most desired.
The beautiful Swiss setting and politics throughout captured me more than I’d expected. Overall I found this interesting and very informative to read.
.
Thank you to carolinebishopauthor, simonschusteruk and kaleidoscopictours for my copy of The Other Daughter
February 18, 2021
A fabulous story - families, mysteries and an insight into a country's history I knew nothing about.
Jessica has a lot on her plate; having discovered something about her past which may well affect her future and when she's given the chance to pursue the truth, she embraces it. Heading off to Switzerland for the summer, ostensibly as a Nanny, Jess wants to trace events from almost four decades ago. Will she finally unravel the mystery and make peace with herself?
A beautifully written story about how the past impacts on the present, this debut novel has a very eye-catching cover and I look forward to hearing more about this author. I found it very easy to empathise with Jess and was always considering what I would have done in her position. The revelations about the lack of equality for Swiss women in the seventies - at a time when I was starting my first job - took me by surprise and discovering some of the social practices regarding children really shocked me but it was all a necessary part of history leading to Jess's discoveries. There is never a dull moment in this novel and I found myself egging on Jess at the same time as feeling immense sympathy for her predicament. A lovely, rewarding read; one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
Jessica has a lot on her plate; having discovered something about her past which may well affect her future and when she's given the chance to pursue the truth, she embraces it. Heading off to Switzerland for the summer, ostensibly as a Nanny, Jess wants to trace events from almost four decades ago. Will she finally unravel the mystery and make peace with herself?
A beautifully written story about how the past impacts on the present, this debut novel has a very eye-catching cover and I look forward to hearing more about this author. I found it very easy to empathise with Jess and was always considering what I would have done in her position. The revelations about the lack of equality for Swiss women in the seventies - at a time when I was starting my first job - took me by surprise and discovering some of the social practices regarding children really shocked me but it was all a necessary part of history leading to Jess's discoveries. There is never a dull moment in this novel and I found myself egging on Jess at the same time as feeling immense sympathy for her predicament. A lovely, rewarding read; one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
April 3, 2021
I have had my eye on this book for some time because it sounded really unusual, set in Switzerland with a dual timeline in the 1970's and (almost) current day. It certainly lived up to my expectations, and more, and I just know this book will stay with me for a long time. Dual timelines can be tricky because I often find that I prefer one story-thread to the other, but here the author skilfully achieves capturing the reader's attention both with Sylvia and Jess's stories. I found the history of the treatment of women in Switzerland fascinatingly appalling, all of which had been totally unknown to me. But the most appealing aspect of this story were the characters of Jess and Sylvia, both of whom were superbly well drawn. I was kept guessing until the end about the secret of Jess's birth, thinking I knew what was coming next at each part of the book, only to find I was wrong! Bishop has written a thought-provoking, compelling, brilliantly written debut, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommended!
April 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Other Daughter" by Caroline Bishop. The story follows Leah, a woman who discovers that she was adopted and embarks on a journey to find her birth mother. As she delves into her past and uncovers secrets that have been kept hidden for years, Leah begins to question her identity and the choices she has made in her life.
Bishop does a fantastic job of weaving together different storylines and characters, making for a compelling and intricate plot. The writing is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their lives and struggles.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is Leah's journey of self-discovery. Bishop explores the theme of identity in a nuanced and thought-provoking way, showing the impact that our origins and family history can have on who we are. Leah's journey is emotional and at times difficult, but ultimately rewarding and empowering.
Overall, "The Other Daughter" is a gripping and heartwarming novel that explores the complexities of family relationships and the power of self-discovery. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction and anyone looking for a moving and engaging read. I give it a solid 4/5.
Bishop does a fantastic job of weaving together different storylines and characters, making for a compelling and intricate plot. The writing is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become invested in their lives and struggles.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is Leah's journey of self-discovery. Bishop explores the theme of identity in a nuanced and thought-provoking way, showing the impact that our origins and family history can have on who we are. Leah's journey is emotional and at times difficult, but ultimately rewarding and empowering.
Overall, "The Other Daughter" is a gripping and heartwarming novel that explores the complexities of family relationships and the power of self-discovery. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction and anyone looking for a moving and engaging read. I give it a solid 4/5.
May 4, 2023
***three and a half stars
An emotionally complex story that weaves between two female protagonists in two timeframes, and the dual locations of London, England, and Montreux, Switzerland.
- Jess - a first-person POV voice, is a thirty-nine year old teacher who tells her story in a current day timeline. With her divorce looming, and her career in tatters, Jess escapes to Switzerland for a summer job as a children’s nanny as she works to resolve a deeply painful family issue that is revealed slowly over the course of the book.
- Sylvia, a third-person POV voice, is a twenty-something UK journalist in 1976, who struggles with the misogyny of the times, particularly as it applies to motherhood and careers, and the attitudes of the day concerning women’s roles in both. Sylvia travels to Switzerland on assignment to report on women’s issues, and becomes caught up in the bravery and determination of those fighting for an appropriate Swiss response to these injustices.
As the plot develops, and the stories of the two women intertwine, the secrets and answers that Jess has been seeking are revealed amidst a great deal of upheaval on both counts. The story moves at a slow and thoughtful meandering pace, allowing the reader the space to become immersed in the exotic Swiss setting as key elements of the story unwind.
A great big thank you to @simonschusterCA for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
An emotionally complex story that weaves between two female protagonists in two timeframes, and the dual locations of London, England, and Montreux, Switzerland.
- Jess - a first-person POV voice, is a thirty-nine year old teacher who tells her story in a current day timeline. With her divorce looming, and her career in tatters, Jess escapes to Switzerland for a summer job as a children’s nanny as she works to resolve a deeply painful family issue that is revealed slowly over the course of the book.
- Sylvia, a third-person POV voice, is a twenty-something UK journalist in 1976, who struggles with the misogyny of the times, particularly as it applies to motherhood and careers, and the attitudes of the day concerning women’s roles in both. Sylvia travels to Switzerland on assignment to report on women’s issues, and becomes caught up in the bravery and determination of those fighting for an appropriate Swiss response to these injustices.
As the plot develops, and the stories of the two women intertwine, the secrets and answers that Jess has been seeking are revealed amidst a great deal of upheaval on both counts. The story moves at a slow and thoughtful meandering pace, allowing the reader the space to become immersed in the exotic Swiss setting as key elements of the story unwind.
A great big thank you to @simonschusterCA for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
September 22, 2023
This book set in England and Switzerland piqued my interest because the city of Lausanne was one I wanted to be in in the late 60’s and it did not happen. I can definitely relate to the 60’s portrayed in the book. There are interesting themes in the book including the women’s liberation movement and the right “to choose”. There are two parallel character lines in the book which worked well. There were some things and events that seemed too predictive, however what I guessed for the end of the book was different from what actually was. This book will no doubt generate good conversation for a bookclub I read it for.
November 27, 2024
This book was incredible. I love the back and forth of the eras, the storyline and the factual information incorporated into this exceptionally written piece of work. I am going to read Ms. Bishop's other novel and I look forward to her new one coming out in 2025. Excellent writer. Well done 🖊️
February 20, 2024
Really enjoyed this book which features societal expectations based in present times, different cultures and in the 1970's
August 1, 2023
Good story. Didn't realize the Swiss also scooped up children from families they didn't think could raise their kids properly and then sent them off to be used and abused as free labour.
June 1, 2023
It was a timely book that captivated my interest well in both 1976 and 2016 timelines. This doesn't often happen in historical novels. I liked that they weren't "perfect" protagonists.
March 8, 2021
The Other Daughter by Caroline Bishop is the story of one women’s search for the truth of her past and the acceptance of her present. Written both in the present and alternately with episodes from the past, it is a moving tale about the power of secrets which have shattered her identity and world.
Caroline Bishop has delivered a narrative that is compelling to read, with a fascinating look at Switzerland’s historical treatment of women, their right to vote and control over their own bodies. It also delves into a dark secret that once sat at the heart of the countries vision of motherhood, creating for the reader a perfect fusion of a fictionalised tale, with its roots deep in a reality so many would prefer be forgotten and buried away.
That may all sound ‘heavy’ but it actually forms the backdrop to a well written and often emotional look at the effect that secrets once revealed can have on our perception of who we are and our place in our own narrative. It works so well because Jessica is perfectly ‘flawed’, in that her once stable life, though not without its troubles, is derailed and she acts out character, her mental health affecting her behaviour and driving her need to solve the shocking secret of her birth. Combining a true history with a fictional character gives her story and added emotional depth, so much so, that it is hard at times to remember she is not real, so well written is she, because the tale of her life in wrapped in the reality of so many women. I felt heartbroken for her and so many others in this novel, because her tale has at its heart an intrinsic truth and a pain almost too painful to imagine. Days after finishing it, my mind is still full of her story, because it is so well told and reflects real experiences, adding extra layers of pathos to Jessica’s journey and ours with her.
Caroline Bishop takes both story and character in The Other Daughter and weaves a tale that is all about redemption and every persons need to own their story, however painful the journey to find it might be. By taking back and forward from the present to the past and the origins of Jessica’s birth, she also manages to defy avoid allowing the story to feel trite. She doesn’t reveal the truth to us easily, but rather cleverly, leads us and Jessica down paths that seem at first full of revelations, but actually are a smoke screen designed to fool us and they do. So much so that the truth actually shocked me and left a feeling akin to how Jessica feels, overwhelmed and overcome.
I would recommend to all readers!
Caroline Bishop has delivered a narrative that is compelling to read, with a fascinating look at Switzerland’s historical treatment of women, their right to vote and control over their own bodies. It also delves into a dark secret that once sat at the heart of the countries vision of motherhood, creating for the reader a perfect fusion of a fictionalised tale, with its roots deep in a reality so many would prefer be forgotten and buried away.
That may all sound ‘heavy’ but it actually forms the backdrop to a well written and often emotional look at the effect that secrets once revealed can have on our perception of who we are and our place in our own narrative. It works so well because Jessica is perfectly ‘flawed’, in that her once stable life, though not without its troubles, is derailed and she acts out character, her mental health affecting her behaviour and driving her need to solve the shocking secret of her birth. Combining a true history with a fictional character gives her story and added emotional depth, so much so, that it is hard at times to remember she is not real, so well written is she, because the tale of her life in wrapped in the reality of so many women. I felt heartbroken for her and so many others in this novel, because her tale has at its heart an intrinsic truth and a pain almost too painful to imagine. Days after finishing it, my mind is still full of her story, because it is so well told and reflects real experiences, adding extra layers of pathos to Jessica’s journey and ours with her.
Caroline Bishop takes both story and character in The Other Daughter and weaves a tale that is all about redemption and every persons need to own their story, however painful the journey to find it might be. By taking back and forward from the present to the past and the origins of Jessica’s birth, she also manages to defy avoid allowing the story to feel trite. She doesn’t reveal the truth to us easily, but rather cleverly, leads us and Jessica down paths that seem at first full of revelations, but actually are a smoke screen designed to fool us and they do. So much so that the truth actually shocked me and left a feeling akin to how Jessica feels, overwhelmed and overcome.
I would recommend to all readers!
May 22, 2021
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/conte...
The Other Daughter begins with a prologue that has a fabulous hook. I wanted to know what that decision was! And I was eager to keep reading to find out where it all fit together…
I really enjoyed the format of this story.
Sylvia’s experiences in 1976 as a female journalist, passionate about the big political issues that impact women’s lives and fighting to get something other than a women’s feature, finally gets to journey to Switzerland and write about the feminist movement. It was so easy to feel like I was a part of it all. The author’s knowledge is cleverly woven into the story making this informative as well as ‘entertaining’.
Sylvia’s narration is interspersed with Jess in 2016. Having gone through traumatic experiences, Jess is rootless and doesn’t know who she is anymore. On a sabbatical from her teaching job, she takes a teaching job in Switzerland where she tutors two children and lives in the family home. The levels of her crisis are revealed at just the right pace. There are enough clues to help build her backstory but still gaps in our knowledge – things we don’t know but need to for the full picture. Fabulous psychological suspense woven into Jess’s journey of discovery kept me tense and on edge. I never knew what she would do next! Her outward actions definitely reflect her inner turmoil. Jess is fragile when we first meet her but she finally gains strength in a resolution which changes her outlook.
These two narrations flowed and I loved that a couple of characters were involved in both narrations. I found it easy to identify with both women and unusually for me, didn’t have a favourite.
The Other Daughter is a fabulous debut that tangled me up in all sorts of emotions. It’s a captivating story of dark corners and secrets but also truth, healing and optimism. One for your lists.
The Other Daughter begins with a prologue that has a fabulous hook. I wanted to know what that decision was! And I was eager to keep reading to find out where it all fit together…
I really enjoyed the format of this story.
Sylvia’s experiences in 1976 as a female journalist, passionate about the big political issues that impact women’s lives and fighting to get something other than a women’s feature, finally gets to journey to Switzerland and write about the feminist movement. It was so easy to feel like I was a part of it all. The author’s knowledge is cleverly woven into the story making this informative as well as ‘entertaining’.
Sylvia’s narration is interspersed with Jess in 2016. Having gone through traumatic experiences, Jess is rootless and doesn’t know who she is anymore. On a sabbatical from her teaching job, she takes a teaching job in Switzerland where she tutors two children and lives in the family home. The levels of her crisis are revealed at just the right pace. There are enough clues to help build her backstory but still gaps in our knowledge – things we don’t know but need to for the full picture. Fabulous psychological suspense woven into Jess’s journey of discovery kept me tense and on edge. I never knew what she would do next! Her outward actions definitely reflect her inner turmoil. Jess is fragile when we first meet her but she finally gains strength in a resolution which changes her outlook.
These two narrations flowed and I loved that a couple of characters were involved in both narrations. I found it easy to identify with both women and unusually for me, didn’t have a favourite.
The Other Daughter is a fabulous debut that tangled me up in all sorts of emotions. It’s a captivating story of dark corners and secrets but also truth, healing and optimism. One for your lists.
July 25, 2021
Well, as a young swiss woman I really enjoyed this book! I read it precisely at the eight moment - Switzerland “celebrates” 50 years of womes suffrage this year (1971 being the year women were allowed to vote nationally). I love how Caroline Bishop intertwines fiction with history and I love how the work-mom-life features throughout the book and is not as straight forward even nowadays.
A great book which I definitely think should be translated in German!
A great book which I definitely think should be translated in German!
August 23, 2022
Having throughly enjoyed Caroline Bishop’s The Lost Chapter I am finally catching up with her first book. Another winner! A really original theme of a hospital baby swap & the Swiss setting is very lovely too.
February 19, 2021
Review will be on my YouTube and Instagram (Books and Bargains)
February 21, 2023
The Other Daughter is filled with emotion and heart and will remind you why you read.
This book is breathtaking and just so elegantly written. It ended up being one of those books that I got so absorbed in reading that I lost track of time and ended up reading most of it in one sitting. I had a book hangover afterwards, but it was so worth it. I’m sure by now you all know that I adore historical fiction books. I love finishing a book feeling like I’ve learned something new, and I also love those big emotions historical fiction books bring out in me. The Other Daughter was such a fascinating read. It was fascinating to learn about women’s rights in Switzerland during the 1970s. I couldn’t believe that in the 1970s, women still had little to no basic human rights in Switzerland. In my mind, I always thought they were a more progressive country. I guess I was wrong. One of the many amazing things about this book was that I felt like I was transported back into the 1970s and that I was there with these women as they fought for their rights. It tugs at those heartstrings listening to their stories and why they fight. I also learned about forced adoptions in Switzerland, which completely blew my mind. There were many eye-opening moments in this book for me. Caroline masterfully and compassionately sheds light on these challenging issues, many of which are still relevant today. Even though the topic matter in this book is difficult, the story is still incredibly beautiful and moving.
The Other Daughter is told from two POVs, Sylvia and Jess, who have a mother-daughter relationship. We meet both of these women at defining moments in their lives. Sylvia is trying to get her career as a news reporter off the ground, which is no easy feat in a dominantly male profession. She also just found out she is pregnant, which creates even more challenges in life, both professionally and personally. Jess, whose marriage has ended and has also received some shocking news, decides to work in Switzerland for the summer to learn more about her mom’s time in Switzerland in the 70s. I loved shifting back and forth between these two women’s stories. Both women face these difficult challenges in their lives, and it was interesting and heartbreaking watching them navigate through their situations. Their characters felt real and raw and just so relatable. Their stories went in a direction that I was not expecting. I was so engaged with their stories that I couldn’t put this book down.
The Other Daughter is a must-have for any historical fiction fan.
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://yourbookishlife.com/book-revi...
This book is breathtaking and just so elegantly written. It ended up being one of those books that I got so absorbed in reading that I lost track of time and ended up reading most of it in one sitting. I had a book hangover afterwards, but it was so worth it. I’m sure by now you all know that I adore historical fiction books. I love finishing a book feeling like I’ve learned something new, and I also love those big emotions historical fiction books bring out in me. The Other Daughter was such a fascinating read. It was fascinating to learn about women’s rights in Switzerland during the 1970s. I couldn’t believe that in the 1970s, women still had little to no basic human rights in Switzerland. In my mind, I always thought they were a more progressive country. I guess I was wrong. One of the many amazing things about this book was that I felt like I was transported back into the 1970s and that I was there with these women as they fought for their rights. It tugs at those heartstrings listening to their stories and why they fight. I also learned about forced adoptions in Switzerland, which completely blew my mind. There were many eye-opening moments in this book for me. Caroline masterfully and compassionately sheds light on these challenging issues, many of which are still relevant today. Even though the topic matter in this book is difficult, the story is still incredibly beautiful and moving.
The Other Daughter is told from two POVs, Sylvia and Jess, who have a mother-daughter relationship. We meet both of these women at defining moments in their lives. Sylvia is trying to get her career as a news reporter off the ground, which is no easy feat in a dominantly male profession. She also just found out she is pregnant, which creates even more challenges in life, both professionally and personally. Jess, whose marriage has ended and has also received some shocking news, decides to work in Switzerland for the summer to learn more about her mom’s time in Switzerland in the 70s. I loved shifting back and forth between these two women’s stories. Both women face these difficult challenges in their lives, and it was interesting and heartbreaking watching them navigate through their situations. Their characters felt real and raw and just so relatable. Their stories went in a direction that I was not expecting. I was so engaged with their stories that I couldn’t put this book down.
The Other Daughter is a must-have for any historical fiction fan.
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://yourbookishlife.com/book-revi...
October 29, 2024
Title:
The Other Daughter
Author: Caroline Bishop
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: January 10 2023
I received a complimentary ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Engrossing • Complex • Informative
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jess is at a crossroads in life. In her late thirties, all she has to show for it is a broken marriage and a job teaching a bunch of uninterested kids. But when she discovers a shocking secret about her late mother, Sylvia, Jess begins to question all she’s ever known. Her search for answers leads to a 1970s article about women’s rights in Switzerland that Sylvia wrote when she was a young journalist. But to uncover the real story of what happened all those years ago, Jess will have to go to Switzerland and find someone who knew her mother...
Sylvia’s life is on track. She has a loving fiancé and her dream job as a features writer in a busy London newsroom—if only her editor would give her the chance to write about something important instead of relegating her to fashion, flowers, and celebrities. When Sylvia learns about the growing women’s liberation movement in Switzerland, where women only recently got the right to vote, she knows the story could be her big break. There’s just one wrinkle: she’s pregnant.
Determined to put her career first, Sylvia travels to Switzerland, and as she meets the courageous band of women fighting for their rights, she stumbles across an even bigger scoop, one that would make her male colleagues take her seriously. But telling the story will change her—and her baby’s—life forever.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was super excited to be gifted a physical ARC of The Other Daughter by British-Canadian author Caroline Bishop, however, it did take me longer than I had anticipated to finally pick it up. It had all of the makings to be an engaging and educative historical fiction, which is exactly my cup of tea.
Told in dual POVs across interwoven timelines, Caroline Bishop transports the reader to Switzerland with rich and vivid landscape description, while providing a thorough history of women's rights and liberation in Switzerland, and exploring themes of feminism, motherhood, and privilege. Each of the timelines is well balanced within the narrative and the pacing reveals pieces of the mystery at a steady pace.
Overall, The Other Daughter is an interesting and eye-opening historical fiction novel that taught me about women's rights in Switzerland, a topic I knew nothing about. It's definitely longer than it needs to be, yet offers a satisfying, if not shocking, ending. I would definitely be interested in exploring more of this author's work in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• women's history
• mother/daughter relationships
• Genevieve Graham
⚠️ CW: pregnancy, abortion, infertility, infidelity, death, death of parent
Author: Caroline Bishop
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: January 10 2023
I received a complimentary ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Engrossing • Complex • Informative
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jess is at a crossroads in life. In her late thirties, all she has to show for it is a broken marriage and a job teaching a bunch of uninterested kids. But when she discovers a shocking secret about her late mother, Sylvia, Jess begins to question all she’s ever known. Her search for answers leads to a 1970s article about women’s rights in Switzerland that Sylvia wrote when she was a young journalist. But to uncover the real story of what happened all those years ago, Jess will have to go to Switzerland and find someone who knew her mother...
Sylvia’s life is on track. She has a loving fiancé and her dream job as a features writer in a busy London newsroom—if only her editor would give her the chance to write about something important instead of relegating her to fashion, flowers, and celebrities. When Sylvia learns about the growing women’s liberation movement in Switzerland, where women only recently got the right to vote, she knows the story could be her big break. There’s just one wrinkle: she’s pregnant.
Determined to put her career first, Sylvia travels to Switzerland, and as she meets the courageous band of women fighting for their rights, she stumbles across an even bigger scoop, one that would make her male colleagues take her seriously. But telling the story will change her—and her baby’s—life forever.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was super excited to be gifted a physical ARC of The Other Daughter by British-Canadian author Caroline Bishop, however, it did take me longer than I had anticipated to finally pick it up. It had all of the makings to be an engaging and educative historical fiction, which is exactly my cup of tea.
Told in dual POVs across interwoven timelines, Caroline Bishop transports the reader to Switzerland with rich and vivid landscape description, while providing a thorough history of women's rights and liberation in Switzerland, and exploring themes of feminism, motherhood, and privilege. Each of the timelines is well balanced within the narrative and the pacing reveals pieces of the mystery at a steady pace.
Overall, The Other Daughter is an interesting and eye-opening historical fiction novel that taught me about women's rights in Switzerland, a topic I knew nothing about. It's definitely longer than it needs to be, yet offers a satisfying, if not shocking, ending. I would definitely be interested in exploring more of this author's work in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• women's history
• mother/daughter relationships
• Genevieve Graham
⚠️ CW: pregnancy, abortion, infertility, infidelity, death, death of parent
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews