Could you ever side with a kidnapper? What if the kidnapper was simply rescuing a child from harm or neglect? And what if the kidnapper's own past somehow contributed to deep feelings of abandonment? These are just a few of the questions that come to light in this lovely and insightful novel.
When Sarah first sees Emma and her parents at the airport and watches Amy slapping her for not keeping up, she is horrified at the potential abuse. Later, coincidentally, she sees Emma again and is galvanized by the idea she must help this little girl who is clearly in need of mothering. And so she does.
But what about the consequences? Sarah has her own demons; her mother ran out on her family, her recent relationship ended badly, and she is now drawn to five-year-old Emma. How far can she run and keep secrets hidden?
Poignant and compelling, this novel will draw you in and keep you in its grips until the very end--perhaps a one-sitting read!

Not Her Daughter presents us with two different women- Amy, the biological mother, and Sarah, the kidnapper. As readers, we get the before, during, and after of the abduction of 5 year old Emma from the perspectives of both women. At times, I empathised with one or the other. Other times, I was so disgusted at both women(or the men that surrounded them). Hey, it's normal and it's human. I just know that I want to talk about it.

A good book for me always does 2 things; firstly, I am unable to put it down, snatching reading time at every opportunity throughout the day. Secondly, I can’t get the characters out of my thoughts, whilst reading the book, and for a while after I’ve finished. This book ticked both those boxes. Big time.
We follow the story of Sarah, a successful businesswoman who has recently gone through a painful split from her long term boyfriend and love of her life. I liked Sarah, she is strong, independent and personable. She had a pretty difficult childhood with a neglectful mother, practically brought up as a gypsy by her father. Loved, but harbouring feelings of abandonment. Does that give her reason to do what she done? She is of stable mind, so why when she sees an adorable little girl by chance being treated badly by her mother, does she feel the way she does? Drawn to the girl, unable to get her out of her thoughts, she relates to her instantly, and starts to think irrational thoughts about the girls life. Is this because she sees herself in the girl?
Fate brings them together again at a later date, and this time Sarah cannot leave things alone.
I particularly liked the way the story was also told through the eyes of Amy, Emma’s mother, making us understand her reasons for her behaviour, although shocking, she’s her mother - and even she struggles to understand why she feels the way she does toward her daughter. She seeks therapy in an unusual way, does it give her the answers? It certainly helps her understand her actions .... not that I could relate to her, as a Mother, it was almost as if relief flooded her when the unthinkable happens. She’s desperately unhappy, her family life is dismal and Emma is suffering - but surely she cannot be happier to be without her child.
The story was told so well, it was first and foremost gripping, pulling at the heart strings and left me knowing that the most difficult decisions needed to be made but where would this take Emma? I so desperately wanted her to be happy, with Sarah, however it goes against everything you feel as a mother, to have someone else take your child and raise them as their own. This book draws you in; is in your thoughts all day long; and for a long time after.
I would highly recommend this book. I was shocked that it’s a debut novel and will definitely be looking out for more by this author in future. My only criticism is that I felt the ending was slightly rushed, I would have liked to have known more about their life now, but that’s probably because I didn’t want it to end ....
thank you to netgalley for the arc and the chance to enjoy this novel.

Emotionally charged!!!! Never would have guessed the ending and will not forget this book. To have child suck in a life that would not get better and then a stranger to save her. You don't know if you should mad at the mother or the kidnapper. You must read this book!!!

I'm SO GLAD I didn't give up on this one! I honestly struggled with it at first, just couldn't get into it - but something about it told me to give it a little time and come back to it and after I did I found myself immersed...

How many times have any of us witnessed cruelty to a child and wished we could do something about it? Well, Sarah did - and the tale that follows that decision is moving and unbelievable and touching and really a remarkable read. I did find it, at times, unbelievable - the suspension of disbelief is more than occasionally required here - but it was never any less enjoyable a read for that. Emma is heart-breakingly believable in and of herself - that may be why the book didn't always have to be, if that makes any sense. I have a five year old daughter who is, like Emma, lovely and audacious and smart as a whip; there were definitely times when this book hurt my heart because I can't even imagine a child like mine going through what Emma did. Sarah's impetuosity - and her continued decision to act when most would have walked away - will garner criticism and complain. I get that, I really do - we can't all decide we are The Law or things would go to hell in a handbasket even faster than they are. But I also found it lovely to see someone in this increasingly isolated, me-myself-and-I-focused world care enough about a stranger to actually take action - even if that action was somewhat insane.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The characters were gut-wrenchingly genuine and the tale was well paced and articulated. I will definitely look for more from Rea Frey.

First I would like to give a note of thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

In the first few chapters we are introduced to Sarah. An independent, successful, single business woman in her mid 30's. She owns her own super successful business. She Initially seems grounded and responsible with a great career and life ahead.

On a business trip while in an airport she encounters Emma who is being mistreated by her parents. She later encounters Emma again on another business trip and becomes obsessed with the maltreatment of the child by her parents. She suffers some abandonment and abusive issues of her own from early childhood.

The story from here takes us through Sarah kidnapping the child and taking her on the run. This is where the story plummets. It was just so far fetched. Much too out of character for someone we were just introduced to as a model responsible character. For her to think that she could or should snatch a child from their abusive family and be justified. That she would never go to jail for this crime. That there were no other avenues to follow.

How convenient that she receives an offer to sell her business for ten million dollars while she's on he run. How convenient she can just disappear for months and her family and friends aren't crazy looking for her. How is it the child never asks for her own family? Evan abusers are loved by their children and the abused kids miss their families when away. How convenient that her business can just carry on without her when in the beginning we learn that the success of the business is all because of her.

Then her long lost mother shows back up in the picture. Although upset with her mom, she resigns to the fact that she wants a relationship with her mom after all. Does she really think Emma wouldn't want the same thing?

The story was technically well written, although it took me along time to get through it. Every time I put down the book about these two dysfunctional women, Sarah and Amy, Emma's biological mother, I didn't want to go back to the story. It was so unfathomable especially the ending.

Many people loved the story and seemed to get much more out of it than I did. Get your copy, I'll be curious to see what you think.

Unfortunately I was not a fan of this novel. It was so incredibly far fetched and unbelievable. Not a realistic plot, I mean really. Who would just kidnap a kid like that?

Sarah Walker is a successful business woman, philanthropist, and world traveler, but when she sees a little girl being badly mistreated in the airport it weighs on her. The event calls back memories of her own mother and her own painful childhood. So, when fate brings Sarah and five-year-old Emma together again, Sarah does the unthinkable. Avoiding the system and any legal means of saving Emma, and disregarding potential consequences of her actions, Sarah gives in to her compulsion to save the girl and simply takes her away.
Told from the dual perspectives of five-year-old Emma’s biological mother and her abductor, Not Her Daughter is the thinking reader’s thriller, placing new questions of ethics and the law before them at every twist and turn of the plot.
Frey has done a masterful job with the plot of Not Her Daughter. It kept me up reading past my bedtime on multiple nights. During the days, my mind dwelled on the ethical dilemmas Sarah faced—altogether an engaging and satisfying read.

--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are purely my own and not influenced in any way.--

Well, this book was interesting! We got to follow the perspectives of both the kidnapper and the abusive mother and painting both in a humanistic way. There was a lot going on here: a missing mom, a damaged marriage, several relationship issues, and yet it all gets balanced out in a roofing and fast paced story.

My only issue was the ending: it made sense given the characters but didn't seem realistic in the slightest (even though I saw it coming). Still fun, but kinda feel flat.

Emotionally stirring story of motherhood & childhood.
Spotting a child in an airport triggers childhood abuse memories in Sarah Walker, along with a longing to rescue this little girl named Emma. When a chance meeting reconnects Sarah with Emma, Sarah begins a series of decisions that change both of their lives. The moral dilemma with Sarah's actions provides an underlying tension.
Includes book club discussion questions at the end.

This was an interesting novel that tests your belief that motherhood is an instinct and parents love their children unconditionally, Well written however it was a bit dark for me

Don’t know quite what to say about this book. The first couple of pages I thought I wouldn’t finish it. I turned another page and I was hooked! Emma has had a sad childhood. She comes across a very young abused child and decides she needs to take this child and give her a better life.. they go on the run. The child comes from a disfunctional home. The mother doesn’t want the child because the child is more than she wants to handle. The author makes it difficult for you to decide who to side with.

** spoiler alert ** While I read the book quickly because I couldn't figure out what would happen, I found the whole thing entirely too far-fetched. I didn't like either of the main characters at all and really didn't care what happened to them. I only cared about Emma. I just found the ending so incredibly difficult to believe that I felt like the entire book was a waste of my time.

This book highlighted lots of issues we often see. We see a child being yelled at and smacked in a store, what do we do? Probably nothing. Where is the line at which we would take action? Sarah sees a child being abused physically and she imagines worse. She takes the child, Emma, feeling she is saving her. The mother of Emma, Amy, finds coping with Emma difficult, she feels maybe she is not cut out for motherhood. But her child is missing and she must act like it is the end of the world for her. Emma loves being with Sarah and has done from the beginning. Does that make it all right for Sarah to keep her? Or must she give Emma back? A great story!

"She was safe. She was fed. She had fun. She learned things. She was loved."
This story is about a young woman, Sarah, who never had love from her mother.
Emma, is five and there are too many similarities in Emma's life that Sarah cannot allow.
Sarah makes a split second decision that she must now live with.
What is the right thing?
I read this novel in a day and really enjoyed it. I had mixed emotions as I turned the pages and I am sure anyone who reads this will also experience anger, frustration, and yet love for these two characters.

When a wealthy young woman spirits away a beautiful little girl, was she kidnapped or was she rescued?

I could not put this book down! I seriously sat and read this in one sitting.

"Emma Grace Townsend. Five years old. Gray eyes. Brown hair. Missing since June."

Sarah is still reeling after a painful breakup with her longtime boyfriend, Ethan. She has thrown herself into her work and while traveling for business observes a family in an airport. Immediately she feels for young Emma who is being pushed and pulled through the airport by her Mother. Seeing this young girl, takes Sarah back to her childhood. Sarah's Mother wanted to be an actress. She wasn't the most involved or caring mothers and then one day she was gone with no goodbye or reason for leaving.

Amy is an unhappily married mother of two who does not have any patience for her daughter. She loses her temper frequently and well, I let you read the book to learn the rest.

I enjoyed reading the POV chapters of both Sarah and Amy. We learn their thoughts and emotions during the "before", "during" and "after" sections of the book. I wished there had been a POV chapter of Emma as well. This is a book that deals with some BIG issues such as Child Abuse and kidnapping.

4.5 stars because it sucked me in and I was instantly attached to the characters and their plight. Would the world ever learn just how crappy a Mother Amy was? Would Sarah ever get caught? Why had no one in their community or at Emma's school noticed anything was wrong? Who was Emma safer with? Who was a better "Mother" to her? Who did Emma want to be with?

This was a fast read for me. Everything in this book flowed nicely - nothing felt drawn out or rushed. It was well written and stirs the emotions of the reader. Some parts of the book may be difficult for some to read. It is not easy to read about a child being mistreated. Plus, most readers are going to want to shake both women at different times for their poor judgement. Sarah is obviously much more likable than Amy, but she does make some poor decision along the way. Then there is Amy who was no likable at all.

This is a book which is both heavy and light at the same time. Heavy when dealing with abuse and kidnapping but light when Emma is having fun and being cared for.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was on vacation while reading this and I'm telling you, we had to delay dinner by quite a bit because I had to keep reading til the very end to see what happened to the two lead characters! I absolutely loved this book. Could completely understand each of the characters which were drawn in such fine sensory detail. I felt like I was right there with all of them through the entire story. I love books that raise moral issues and point out that we live in the gray areas so beautifully. If you like books about mothers and daughters, and love between those who relate like mothers and daughters even though they are not related by blood, then this amazing novel is for you.

I was able to read this book for free from NetGalley, and am grateful to the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story grabs you from the beginning. It's impossible to put it down. When someone has lived through the same treatment, they find it impossible to resist trying to improve the conditions a child is living under. It's an emotional roller coaster of a book. Well written and keeps you engaged!

I received this book "Not Her Daughter" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed reading this book. As you are reading you can see both sides of the story and points of view. Emma really needs some help from the life she is living and Sarah feels like something is pulling her towards Emma. Can she help the little girl? Should she help the little girl? Emma's mother Amy is just not cut out to be a mother and struggles all the time with raising her. As you follow the journey you really can't believe what is happening but at the same time you know things like this do take place. Sometimes once you make a choice there is no turning back. Great Book.