Only for My Daughter

by Emma Robinson

It is a day that starts like any other day. But when Samantha is called by the hospital to say her fifteen-year-old daughter Keira has been hurt and is in a coma, and Julia’s daughter Grace comes home covered in blood, refusing to speak, two mothers’ lives come crashing down.

More than ten years ago – when their daughters first started at pre-school and formed an instant bond – sweet-natured single mum Julia and PTA queen bee Samantha had become unlikely friends.

For years, the two families’ lives were intertwined. Barbecues, dinner parties, sleepovers for the children. But then the girls drifted apart, with Keira falling in with the popular crowd, and Grace becoming quieter, more introverted, pursuing her dream of being an artist; and their mothers’ lives drifted apart too.

But now their lives have collided again. And Grace won’t tell Julia anything about what happened. But as Samantha’s daughter fights for her life– Julia is forced to ask herself: what is her own child hiding?

She can’t believe her gentle-natured girl could have done something terrible. But Grace is keeping a secret. And if it’s what Julia fears it might be, she could lose her daughter forever. Could she lie to protect the child she loves with her whole heart?

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2022

About the author

Emma Robinson is a USA Today Bestseller with a passion for stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming.

Emma currently lives in Essex, England with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

Reviews

[Linda Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motherhood put to the test

Emma Robinson does it again. Would you lie to keep your daughter safe? That's the question this book makes you ask yourself. Thought provoking and touching this story tugs at the heartstrings. Highly recommend.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why oh why have I never read a book by Emma Robinson? An author who writes with empathy, emotion and delivers a heart-wrenchingly tale is a rare breed indeed. Two mums, Julia and Samantha. Two daughters, Grace and Keira. One daughter is a victim of crime, the other one is the keeper of secrets, is she a victim? Or the perpetrator? With themes of family dynamics, friendship, a mother’s love for their child, and the difficulties faced by teenage girls in today’s society, Only For My Daughter is a beautifully written story that will pull at the most hardened heart strings.

The crimes described by the author are much too common and real, but Robinson treats a difficult subject with empathy and understanding, whilst delving into the depths of human behaviour. Robinson has created living characters that you really care about. You experience the pain, confusion, desperation and fear felt by Julia, Samantha, and their daughters. The author is so convincing it feels like you're living their story alongside them.

I didn’t always agree with the choices Julia made, but there’s nothing stronger than a mother’s maternal instincts and Julia proves she will do anything to keep her daughter safe.one thing I loved about this book was the way the author turned a contemporary family drama into a book brimming with untold mystery and suspense. Only For My Daughter made for a brilliant, interesting read with well-drawn characters and a plot that’s perfectly structured it’s a MUST read for those who enjoy an emotive drama. Highly recommended.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 2nd book by Emma Robinson and I remember loving her last one “His First Wife’s Secret”. This one starts off with a bang. Keira has been badly hurt and her bf Grace is hiding a secret. The 2 families have grown up together and now does this come between them? I really could feel what these families were going through. Another great book!! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 2022

[KimmiAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novel had me hooked from the first few chapters. Emma Robinson has a way of writing that pulls at the heartstrings, and makes you dive deep into the characters and their relationships with one another. In this story, we follow two friendships, one between two girls and their mothers, spanning from about age 5 to 15. I enjoyed the dual timelines in the story. This novel dips into some pretty sensitive topics like self harm, bullying, date rape and depression. It is also about how hard two mothers will fight for, and how far they will go to protect their children. This was such a refreshing novel to read after having read mainly thrillers for the past few months. I highly recommend this book to any one who loves women's fiction centered on friendship. 4 stars!

[Sam Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Stars!!!! This is my first book that I’ve read by this author, and I must say that I’m hooked. It is excellent! This book was a combination of women’s fiction/mystery/crime and what’s wrong in our societies. This author reminds me of the writings of Jodi Picoult, in that she delves deeply into current issues and thus enacts change.

I experienced every emotion that exists while ruminating through the pages of this book. I felt like I was right there with these young girls who were physically taken advantage of and the parents that strove to protect them.

As if the assault wasn’t bad enough, the girls often went on to experience fear, anxiety, depression, bullying by peers, falsehoods in the school rumor mills, loss of their friends, and isolation.

This novel may be a book of fiction. However, the crimes described by the author are much too common and real in our societies today. I know how these parents feel, as a similar act occurred against my own child. The scars are deep and last a lifetime.

With strong convictions, the girls in this book fought back and sought justice against their attacker.

I congratulate Emma Robinson for pulling back the curtain and exposing these heinous acts. This is the perfect book for teenaged girls, parents, counselors, teachers, doctors, and countless others. We need to bring this issue out into the open so it can be discussed. That is the only way to stop these crimes against our children.

I received this advanced reader’s copy for free from Author Emma Robinson, Bookouture Publisher, and NetGalley. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Only For My Daughter' by Emma Robinson.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Emma Robinson, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 27th April 2022

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'My Husband's Daughter', 'To Save My Child' and 'His First Wife's Secret' which I highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This totally unmissable, heartbreaking, grab-your-tissues story is perfect for fans of Kate Hewitt, Diane Chamberlain and Jodi Picoult. ' I am a huge fan of all three authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Emma and if this is half as good as 'My Husband's Daughter', 'To Save My Child' and 'His First Wife's Secret' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 46 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited England on many occasions including this year so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Julia and Samantha. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'Only For My Daughter' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Emma discusses/includes bullying, violence and sexual assault.

Wow!!! Where to even begin?? Mind you it's hard enough to write this with blurry eyes through tears!! Oh yes, that emotional even I shed tears!!!

I start by saying that Emma Robinson is a very talented author and I cannot wait to dig into more of her books. She is definitely on par with several of my favourite authors including Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks which is why she is also one of my favourite authors!!!

The book itself is written so well that it reads so smoothly from chapter to chapter with brilliant descriptions and settings perfect for the scene. It really dragged me deep into the story and I became completely invested until I came out the other end with tears streaming down my face. The title and synopsis fitted the storyline perfectly.

The storyline is absolutely heartbreaking and a real tear jerker. It is also an absolutely beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, secrets and family!! It is filled with love, family, friendship, abuse, regrets, selflessness, heartbreak and much much more. It was an absolute roller-coaster ride of emotions. This story is definitely a mother's worst nightmare and you will definitely not only need to clear your schedules when you start this as you will not be able to put it down but you need to make sure you have tissues at the ready!!! I cried, screamed, smiled, my heart broke, I seen evil and then a hero. I can't say too much as I don't want to give too much a way. Needless to say it is a beautiful book and an absolute page turner!!! I WAS completely invested in this book and read it in one sitting as I do with all of Emma's books. It is a complete rollercoaster ride of emotions and Emma has weaved so many "hard" subjects perfectly into a gorgeous yet heartbreaking storyline. The subjects of bullying, sexual assault, knife crime and violence are so important ones to talk about as there are so many victims of either or all of them that are too frightened to come forward and whose lives are destroyed because of them. If this book brings one person forward then Emma has helped change a life and should be extremely proud of that. It is extremely scary how common knife crime has become, especially for parents such as myself. The fact that Emma has done her research definitely shines through this storyline so another congratulations to Emma.

Do not start this until you have cleared your schedules as you won't be able to put it down!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters are all realistic and described so well I really felt that I got to know them all. I became completely invested in not only Julia and Samantha but also Grace and Keira too. It tore me apart watching Grace and Keira's life's being destroyed although the behaviour of both Keira to Grace and Samantha to Julia really annoyed me as I've seen it happen so much myself. However, it needed to happen for the storyline to be the way it was and hopefully someone who is acting in that way can see what they are doing after reading this fantastic novel. I can't say anymore as I really don't want to spoil it for others. I think if I did say anything else I will spoil things but just trust me you need to read this book and you will know what I mean and feel!!! I loved that they were a mix of personalities and I enjoyed watching the relationships between each grow and develop. I admired Grace's strength and Julia's dedication and loyalty as a Mum and honestly just everything about them and the storyline was perfect. I would LOVE to see this turned into a movie!!!!

Congratulations Emma on yet another page turner!! Here is to your next success 🥂!!!

Overall an absolute page turning, tear jerking and emotional roller coaster, beautiful story of friendship, secrets, and family.

Genres covered in this novel include Literary Fiction, Literary Saga, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary Fiction, Women's saga, Emotional Drama and Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Nicholas Sparks, Kate Hewitt, Diane Chamberlain Jojo Moyes, Jodi Picoult, 'My Sisters Keeper' and just anyone looking for a beautiful read.


314 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites attract they say, and that is true.

You do have to have some things in common. That’s the first step towards friendship, but when both people want to be in the limelight, I doubt the friendship will last. You need balance in any relationship.

The shy one will be able to lean on the confidence of the outgoing one and the loud one will be tempered by the quiet one. The practical one needs the spontaneous one, …

Sometime friends don’t have the same background or don’t move in the same circles and that’s when problems start appearing. When you want to become part of the popular group, it’s easier to deny your friendship to someone less popular, because you are afraid they won’t accept you anymore either.

Dealing with this is always a bit easier for an adult, but children and certainly teenagers can be so cruel. They don’t realise the damage they are creating and how hurtful it can be.

True friends should always stick together, but when something devasting happens friends can turn into enemies …

Old friends, new friends… But which are the ones you can count on in the end?

A very beautiful story that focusses on some ugly themes. I loved it. 5 stars

Thank you, Emma Robinson and Bookouture

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and emotional page turner!

[freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Robinson really slayed with this one!!! literally could not stop reading it and the amount of cliff hangers had me screaming!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can always Rely on Emma Robinson to write a book on contemporary issues. Only For My Daughter is a reading maze. I went down one path, thinking it was the correct one, only to be stymied and have to retrace my steps and go down another path. It’s a mind twister, sorting out what really happened. Two friends, estranged, who,e the mothers are also distanced. I identified with Grace. I know what it feels like to be iced out of a friendship and be made fun of. Adult friendships are not any easier.
The ending was tidy and hopeful. I still, recommend just having guy friends; it’s a lot easier.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace and Keira have been friends since they started preschool, and their mum's Julia and Samantha formed an unlikely friendship too. For many years the two families were unbreakable, but then the girls ended up at separate senior schools, Keira made new friends and Grace retreated into herself a little, losing the confidence that having a friend like Keira had given her and, inevitably, the mum's drifted apart too, that is until their lives became entwined again, Grace moved to the same school and Julia, who runs a gardening business started looking after Samantha's garden. When Samantha receives a visit from the police saying that Keira has been attacked and is in hospital, and Grace comes home covered in blood, the nightmare begins for the two mums. Grace is hiding something and Keira is fighting for her life, but how is Julia going to get her daughter to tell her what happened when she won't even talk to her?

Only for My Daughter explores some sensitive topics that are very real in today's mixed up society and shows how teenagers and parents, rightly or wrongly, deal with those situations. The story is told from the perspectives of the four main, all very likeable, characters, mainly set in the present day but with chapters that give a background story every year as the girls grow up. It's a tale of friendships, secrets and lies. As Robinson's previous books it is told with compassion and integrity, the premise is authentic and believable and I was invested in this story from beginning to end, consuming it in less than a day. This talented author knows how to draw the reader in, bringing us fiction that is current and relateable and gets you every time! This is a poignant and, at times, heartwrenching read and I highly recommend it.

I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Wow, wow, wow - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have read it in less than a day. That’s how good i thought it was. The story follows two mums Samantha and Julia and their two daughters Kiera and Grace. I loved that the story was told through Samantha and Julia’s perspectives. I found this to be a very thought provoking read and it asks the questions how far would you go to protect your daughter, would you lie for them, and actually how well do you know your child? I was drawn into the story immediately, and the author captured and held my interest from beginning to end. This is such a beautifully written, captivating book that flowed so well and I loved the parts going back to when the girls were younger and how strong their friendship was. The author has created two strong but very different characters in Samantha and Julia, and I really liked them both and was rooting for them even though they were on different sides here. Kiera and Grace were equally likeable and the author touches on real issues such a self harm, teenage angst, the pressure to fit in, bullying and peer pressure from others to be ‘someone’, and how it feels if you’re just that little bit different as a person.
At times, this is a sad, poignant and heart wrenching read that just gets to you. It really does. I loved this book all the way through, and thought it had the best ending and I will certainly be looking at the authors other books if this one is anything to go by. Can’t fault this read or recommend it highly enough.

[Courtney (caffeinereadrepeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fluffin' Buffin' Cotton Tails! 😯😳🥺🤧

Wooow! This book was a true palate cleanser inbetween my thriller genre reads. Right from the beginning it starts off with a bang, flips you around & the emotions build & fly! It makes you feel for each character and makes you question what you would do if in any of their shoes. So beautifully, heart-wrenchingly explored & written.
Samantha & Julia are both mother's to their teenage daughters, Keira & Grace. The girls have been friends since elementary school. However, over the past few years the girls have drifted apart, as have the mothers. One evening, Samantha's world is shaken when the cops come to her door to let her know Kiera is in the hospital & has been hurt and currently in a coma. When Julia gets home, she finds Grace's clothes soaked in blood with no rhyme or reason for it. Grace is obviously keeping a secret, & Kiera remains in a coma. What could have happened? Is there any connection? How well do the mother's really know their daughters?
The ending to this amazing book, was needless to say, very satisfying. I felt such a pull to each character, to their situations & all along the story feeling close to them. I can't even imagine how each mother could be feeling. This was touching, heart pulverizing, sympathetic & yearning. Just wonderful!

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this DARC.
Release Date: April 27, 2022

I give this 4.5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐

[Maria Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!!! This is the second Emma Robinson book I’ve read (“My Favourite Child” was my first read). My coworker told me about this great author she just started reading and how she was flying through her books - they were all so good. I must say I’ve enjoyed both books I’ve read so far and Emma has quickly risen to the top of my favorite authors’ list! I’m eager to pick up the next one.

As for this story … I loved the characters. It felt like you knew them and could relate to them on some level. It’s almost as if Emma pulls you right into the story to experience what is happening as if you’re in the thick of it.

I don’t want to give away any of the story, but give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed and maybe Emma Robinson will become one of your favorite authors as well.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel full of suspense. But that's not all! It has family, friendship, love, fear, trauma and resilience!
The story is written is such detail that I actually felt the emotions of the characters in the book.
I highly recommend this story! You will not be disappointed!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC and provide my review.
It is just so good!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Robinson’s Only for My Daughter is a chilling, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking domestic drama that explores how far a mother would go to protect her child.

Her daughter Grace is the centre of Julia’s world. As an adorable little girl, Grace had been the apple of her mother’s eye, but the sweet child who had loved nothing more than cuddling up with her mum has now become a surly teenager who prefers to keep herself to herself rather than spend time with her family. Although Grace prefers to keep her mum at arm’s length, Julia is sure that her little girl is still in there – until she comes home from school one day, covered in blood and refusing to speak or explain what happened. What has her daughter done? And will Julia be able to save her from whatever predicament she has got herself into?

Grace’s former best friend – with whom she had fallen out with – is in hospital in a coma. Could Grace possibly be responsible? The relationship between the two friends might have been strained lately, but surely Grace would never harm her friend…would she? Julia is convinced Grace is hiding something from her. But whatever it is, it surely cannot be something so horrific or terrible…can it?

Julia wants to know what Grace is keeping from her – even if it means losing her precious daughter forever. But as another mother’s daughter fights for her life, Julia vows to do whatever it takes to protect Grace from harm – even if it means facing up to harsh truths and even harsher realities…

Emma Robinson’s Only for My Daughter is a powerful, poignant and intensely emotional tale that will make every single hair on the back of readers’ necks stand on end. Only for My Daughter is a shocking, arresting and at times disturbing tale about a mother’s love, the ties that bind families together and women’s inner strength and resilience when it comes to keeping loved ones safe.

A book readers will certainly not forget in a hurry, Emma Robinson’s Only for My Daughter is recommended reading for Jodi Picoult fans.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ellie]

It’s no secret that Emma Robinson is one of my favourite authors. I know when I pick up one of her books that I am going to have my heartstrings tugged and her latest book is no exception. The thing is, when there is a dilemma between two characters, Emma has a way of making sure that we, the readers, are caught up in that dilemma right alongside the characters and it feels impossible to choose a side. In this book it is Samantha and Julia who are on opposite sides. Samantha’s daughter is fighting for her life having been seriously injured and Julia’s daughter seems to be involved – but to what extent and why?
I went back and forth between the two mothers, feeling Samantha’s panic and fear as she sat next to her unconscious daughter, not knowing if she would wake up. And feeling Julia’s growing panic and fear as she fought an inner battle between her sense of what needed to be done and her instinct to protect her emotionally fragile daughter. Even when Julia made some poor decisions I could feel the desperation behind her choices.
I really liked the family dynamics – Samantha’s close family unit, and divorced single mum Julia but with a supportive ex husband. The characters and the way they relate to each other all feels natural and unforced. And I really loved the strong themes of friendship and how it can change.
I had one quibble which I strongly doubt anyone outside the medical profession would pick up on so I won’t elaborate on that and risk spoilers, and it didn’t affect or detract from the story itself anyway. The book does have some sensitive subjects but they are dealt with compassion and empathy.
Another winner that makes me wonder what I would do if I was a Samantha or Julia🤔

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to protect your child?
Friends since they met a nursery school Keira and Grace are complete opposites as are their mum’s Samantha and Julie.
Despite their differences the 4 strike up a friendship that spans 10 years. As the girls go to separate secondary schools they start to drift apart. Julie and Samantha still meet occasionally as Julie is the gardener, who maintains Samantha’s lovely gardens and those of her posh school mum friends.

One day Samantha gets a visit from the police to inform her that her daughternKeiranhas been attacked and rushed to hospital. Julie is with her when the police arrive and helps to sort things out to get Samantha to the hospital, she then heads home worried about how she is going to tell Grace her friend is seriously ill? What Julie finds when she arrives home shocks her to the core. What has happened and why won’t Grace tell her what has been going on?
Who can she turn to for advice?

This is a lovely story about friendship and how it can span years, generations and different lifestyles. It’s a story about the struggles faced by teenagers, their parents and their friends and how hard each can find life.

Emma tells a great tale and her characters are so lifelike, you instantly feel a bond with them.
I once again thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

[Melissa Suslowicz Bartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:
Loved, loved, and really loved!!!!! Warning, a box of tissues was needed to get through this entire book. My tears were never ending and it pulled on every heart string in my body. For me this book was about friendships and truly finding out who are there for you no matter what. It is very rare that you find a friendship like these characters had in real life. I have to admit I only have one friend that has been through thick and thin with me for the past 18 years. I’m lucky to even have found that. This book also had a bit of mystery to be solved. Who was behind the attack? I had no clue who did and why but I was shocked as ever when I found out the whole story. Bits and pieces of the story were given throughout the book but when you got to the end you found out that there was more to the story than what was being told. This was my first book by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. I enjoyed every minute of this book and can’t wait to read more of this authors books.

In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[TMClark · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Book Review 📚

Title: Only For My Daughter
Author: Emma Robinson
Publisher: Kindle Edition
Edition: Kindle
Date(s) read: April 30 - May 1, 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I’ll just put this out there. I’m a sucker for Emma Robinson. As soon as she releases a book, I’m grabbing it. While they aren’t particularly challenging reads, they grab me from page one and don’t stop until the end. Because of this, I can, and usually do, read them in a day. This one was no exception, except for the fact that work got in the way and I had to put it down one night.

Only For My Daughter tells the story of Julia and her daughter Grace and Samantha and her daughter Kiera. The girls are polar opposites drawn to each other at a young age, which also brings their moms together. But life gets in the way and tries it’s hardest to break their bonds.

Will Kiera’s tragic accident or the lies of a protective mother break them apart for good? Robinson takes you on this emotional journey where you truly ask yourself, ‘how far would I go to protect my child?’

#KindleTBR #EndlessTBR #EndlessReadingWishlists #Goodreads #OverflowingBookshelves #BookLover #AllTheBooksAllTheTime #Bookstagram #Booksta #ReadingTime #ILoveBooks

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Would you lie to protect your only daughter?”…

I think its fair to say that most parents would agree that the teenage years are some of the most confusing and challenging times of being a parent. But for Julia, whats happening to her beautiful daughter Grace seems far beyond the usual teenage angst. Parents say they will go to any lengths to protect and defend their child, but how far is Julia willing to go.

This story really got under my skin and still plays around in my mind long after reading it. It is very emotive and pulls on the heartstrings. It deals with sensitive themes that are very relevant in today’s society for teens and gives the reader a raw and honest account on how these can effect them. It also makes you think of how you would handle the situation that Julia and Grace find themselves in.

I absolutely loved this beautifully written and must read compelling tale that had me completely captivated and left me feeling so bewildered that I have never read a book from Emma Robinson before! I have definitely been missing out and I’m so pleased that I have now rectified this. Such a talented author that I look forward to reading more from.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm often not quite sure how to classify this kind of book. It's not quite a thriller, but also not quite not. The story is told from the point of view of two mothers, both of whom would do anything to protect their daughters. The girls were once best of friends, but something has happened to push them apart and now, things come to a violent and dangerous head.

This book deals with many of the issues that young women have to face, bullying, friendships slipping away and unwanted male attention. It's done in a sensitive way, but this is still a somewhat confronting book. It's easy to feel for both Samantha and Julia as they juggle their own emotions with keeping their daughters protected. I'm not sure that I could entirely relate to either of the women entirely, there are ways that I would have dealt with things differently, but it's hard not to empathise with their situations.

Only for my daughter is a gripping read and one that I would highly recommend.

[Mindy Peltier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books by Emma Robinson because she always surprises me, no matter how many of her books I read. This book was no exception.

The character of Julia was so wonderfully developed, I felt constantly worried for her as she faced uncomfortable situations. I kept rooting that she'd find her strength and see her value. I appreciate relatable characters that aren't perfect and show insecurities.

Both moms faced hardships. As a mom on my 22nd and final year of parenting teenagers, I found the struggles so real. We can think we're totally attuned, yet our kids do stupid things and get caught over their heads. Robinson did a great job of showing how teens falter, and moms remain steadfast.

I loved all the varied relationships, two moms, two daughters, two marriages, with their blessings and challenges.

And I'm a sucker for happy endings because my life is so hard. So, I was happily surprised.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only for My Daughter is another fantastic story by the extremely talented Emma Robinson. I have read quite a few of her books and they have all been emotional stories that made me cry. Only for My Daughter is slightly different. It still has all the fantastic elements of previous books with well written characters that as a reader you actually care about but this one has elements of a psychological thriller with so much tension building throughout the book. Although it did not make me cry, Only for My Daughter is still an emotional rollercoaster of a story but with a dark edge compared to previous books.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I cannot recommend it enough. I'm looking forward to the next book already.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absorbing must-read from the powerhouse that is Emma Robinson. This one was a little bit different from the others - there's a crime and a mystery - but 'Only for My Daughter' retains the same sympathetic characterisations, focus on relationships - the good and the bad - and the heart-breaking/heart-warming journey which is Emma Robinson's signature style.
All the time I was reading it, I was wondering - what would I do in this scenario? - how would I react? - you really put yourself in the characters shoes. I liked Samantha ;) and found Julia a bit wet - but both of them were very real to me, as was Southcliff - the whole thing depicted modern British life/concerns/school-mum-friendships/parenting brilliantly.
Looking forward to the next one!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve somehow not read this author before and, although I found the novel satisfying, I’m not compelled to visit her others. I can’t put my finger on what that is!

Anyone who has raised a teenage daughter will recognize parts of herself in both Julia and Samantha and parts of her daughter in Grace and Keira. All four are trying their best to function in a challenging world. The topics touched upon … quest for popularity, isolation, self harm, and sexual assault, are dark and difficult. But the rise, fall and pull of friendship is the true theme here.

The author does a wonderful job of dropping breadcrumbs that lead the reader to the next discovery. Her pacing is flawless and never flags. Truly, the only weakness I found is how easily the failures in these friendships are overcome.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you see a book with the name 'Emma Robinson' printed on it, you would be forgiven for assuming a tissue box is needed. But hold your horses on this one.

'Only For My Daughter' is an outstanding novel written by the author that is so different to her usual publications. But don't fret, there is the usual highlight on female friendships, mother and daughter bonds and just out-right feel good stuff.

This felt like a twisty psychological thriller at points with the lies and secrets and just outright wanting to know what had happened.

Absolutely loved this new direction from Emma and cannot wait to see if she carries on with this writing style!

[Julia Burk-dunahoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Robinson; In my top 20 favourite authors for certain! When I read that she had a new book coming out, I set it for preorder and requested an ARC. As is her typical fashion, this author has a gift of writing about the human condition and resulting emotions in such a sensitive and thought-provoking way. Rather than keeping them tucked away, she tackles relevant and relatable topics head on, taking you along for the ride. This one kept me reading, thoroughly engaged and I would highly recommend it.

I was thankful to receive an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Emma Robinson who tackles issues in society with empathy and tugs on your heartstrings.
In this novel we meet Kiera and Grace friends since primary school and their mums Samantha and Julia. Kiera is hospitalised after an attack and Grace knows more than she's saying but can Julia find out what appears to be destroying her daughters life.
A story of the power of friendship which was a real page turner, as with all of Emma's books I've read I loved it
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, I am under no obligation to leave my review

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional read which was interesting and dealt with very topical issues such as bullying, self harming and teenage angst.
I struggled a bit with the characters of Julia and her daughter Grace at the beginning, not sure about how credible they were. Being fully aware that a mother’s love has no boundaries, I just felt Julia’s parenting was not what I would have expected in the circumstances. Obviously the moral dilemmas the story raised, were sensitive topics. The author dealt with these very well.
So with some mixed feelings this book rates a 3.5 stars from me. But I am pleased I had the opportunity to read this ARC.