This book had its enjoyable moments, but overall, the pacing felt too slow for my taste. While the attention to detail was impressive, at times, it felt excessive—I would have preferred a more streamlined narrative. Though the story had merit, it didn’t quite stand out as a favorite for me this year. However, readers who enjoy richly detailed storytelling and a slower build may appreciate it more.

Struggled to get into this book the middle picked up an the ending was good. It was a short book so read this in just over a day. The storyline was good as I find you can relate to similar stories within the news.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Good Daughter by J.A. Baker due to be published April 5, 2025.

Also recommended by J.A. Baker: Hush Little Baby.

As a teenager, Penny Collins always tried to be a good daughter. Until the night she was brutally attacked as she lay in her bed. The assault, from a man she knew all too well, traumatized Penny and no one believed her. Twenty years later, Penny comes face to face with her attacker and sits on his jury. Can she convince the others of his guilt?
The Good Daughter alternates between two time periods – when Penny was growing up in her hated house left to them by her grandparents, and the present – serving on the jury of the man who had sexually assaulted her as a teenager. It held my interest the entire time as I couldn’t wait to hear the outcome of the trial. There is a huge twist that you will just have to read for yourself!

#NetGalley #JABaker #BoldwoodBooks #TheGoodDaughter

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb of this book really caught my attention and I was pleased at how the story was told. Trigger warning for SA. I liked the change of POV and timelines, that really helped with the understanding and pace of the book. I do wish the ending would of been a little more bang but it ended well. no loose ends. I couldn't stand the mom and how she didn't seem to care about what happened to her daughter. This shows that there are people out there who have to deal with this.

3.5 rounded up.

I was hooked with fear and anticipation from the dark prologue. Such torture and hardships endured by many characters with a story line that alternates between past and present. Seeking revenge and justice, will she get it? No spoilers here! Worth the read!

A harrowing read with a trigger warning for SA. I think I read through in a constant state of anger through Connie's ignorance and oblivious nature towards her teenage daughter and the trial with unsympathetic women.

SA cases are always poorly dealt with in courts and victims barely left with a sense of justice - it's no wonder that so many cases go unreported. This particular story highlights the vulnerability of teenagers but also showed that age doesn't get addressed in such matters. A grown man against a teenage girl is clearly an imbalance but oftentimes it's the perpetrator that has the upper hand.

Penny's journey in this is a tough one but she does get some kind of justice -albeit not the right kind that a civilised society might have. Definitely a tough read but a good story.

3.5 stars

Penny Collins suffered an awful tragedy as a young teenager. Now, as an adult, she is summoned to jury. The trial is for the very man who S-assaulted her and the charge is for an identical crime. Will he receive the justice he deserves this time around?

The writing moves between current time with Penny serving on the jury and the past when her S-assault took place. I liked the dual time line and short chapters. The writing style was a bit juvenile but not enough to lose my interest. It got repetitive in the beginning - the first 40% moved slowly. I did like Penny's character I just wish she had more depth to her. I would categorize the plot more as drama or general fiction and not really mystery/thriller. No major plot twists. Overall entertaining enough, I read through it quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley, J.A. Baker, and Boldwood Books for the ARC and chance to give my honest opinion!

This was a pretty decent enough read. The premise is good and the alternating POV's kept the story interesting though I preferred the current POV's to the ones set in the past. The end of this one was a little anticlimactic for me but overall this is a solid book if a bit forgettable.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sad tale of pain and letdown. Of taking matters into your own hands when nothing else works.
Of needing to have the pain released from your body and not knowing how to go about it.

And finally there is one person who decides to take matters into to her own hands and even though it’s not the right thing to do it still gives you peace.

Such a crazy tale that often happens when people seek justice but the system doesn’t work.

A must read that will keep you turning the pages until the last word.

The premise of this book is all too believable and the author does an amazing job in respectfully bringing it to life. The tragedy behind the main character’s perspective is heart wrenching and it’s fascinating to read how this past informs the plot and the current case. A really well executed thriller.

I really enjoyed this book! It was very well written and kept me engaged. I enjoyed the changing of story telling perspectives and time frames, I found it flowed well.

As a teenager, Penny moved to a farmhouse inherited by her parents where she was met with trauma. Years later, she has an opportunity to bring justice when she is selected as a jury member to determine the fate of a man from her past.

A definite good read!

This is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning pages! Penny has not had an easy life, and when the opportunity arises to make sure that a very bad guy can no longer hurt others, Penny does her best to make sure he pays. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go the way she planned. This story features a dual timeline and really had me cheering for Penny!

Told in alternate timelines of past and present in multiple POV's, this was a twisty psychological thriller around the long lasting trauma of rape and childhood events. (Trigger Warning)

Penny's push and pull of wanting to do the morally right thing as well as wanting justice as an adult was a heartfelt attribute to her character and resilience, and each character had depth and development throughout.
It was a gripping and unputdownable read from start to finish. Will definitely recommend

Warning: some triggering topics throughout story.

Wow! A really good thriller, with multiple twists and turns. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, something else comes swooshing in and making me second guess.

I really enjoyed the story going back and forth between the 'now' and the 'past' to really keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering who the person on trial really is.

I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy an intense, fast-paced thriller.

This book,the latest from J.A.Baker deals with the dark subject of rape and how it has affected,decades later,the life of our main character,Penny and how unbelievably and unknowingly she is about to come face to face with her attacker,in a setting that triggers all kinds of emotions and anger,rightly so but can she hide it as she has to in the situation she finds herself in…..

The story is told in 2 character narrative points of view and it all links together……

Penny’s mum suffering from dementia is a part of the story and handled well and sympathetically,I note with the influx of books,dealing with this subject that a lot more families are trying to deal with a loved one suffering this awful illness and also thankfully we are now more open to discuss it and feature it in everyday life,this is good

As always with this authors book there is suspense and drama and also as always is it a taut well written pyschological thriller,disturbing and dark in content but Penny’s story needed to be told

Another good thriller that will keep you tense until the end

I knew going into this book, that it would speak about harrasment. What I wasn't prepared for was how much it disturbed me.
The author did a great job detailing the inner turmoil of the central character. As a woman, it's very relatable how we blame ourselves for all the wrong inflicted on us. However the very same detailing was too much for me to handle. This has nothing to do with the author.

What didn't work for me was that the central plot of being a juror was not well crafted and felt like an addendum to the story. Also the back and forth was a little tedious. I feel the blurb was a little misleading given that much of that part was well fleshed out.

The climax of the story felt satisfactory given all that the central character had to go through. To all those wanting to read the book, know that it can be very triggering but it is a good book.
I give this book 3 stars for the climax.

I thank NetGalley and Boldwood books for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn't really enjoy this book, but that has nothing to do with the book itself but what it entails. I went into it blindly and that was on me. As a victime, SA can be a very triggering subject, and can ruin the reading experience. So, please make sure to read the trigger warnings before delving into this story.

I enjoyed the plot. Didn't care for some of the characters, but maybe we are not suppose to like them.

Please check TW before reading as deals with a hard subject. This story is told over two different timelines. Many years ago something awful happened to Penny and in present day she is a juror with her attacker on trial. I found this book just OK I thought it would of been more thrilling than it was. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for ARC.

This book wasn't as gripping as I thought it would be, but it was still a good book with a good twist at the end and the epilogue was perfect. I think some decisions by characters were questionable, but it reflects real life as people don't always make the best choices.