This is My Daughter: A Novel (Paperback)

The book follows the journey of a couple, Peter and Emma, as they try to make a "family" when no one else seems to want it. The exes are hostile to say the least. Reading passages about how Peter's ex-wife acted reminded me of posts on the second wives club website. In addition, his daughter was truly PAS'd and harbored enough anger and resentment for three children. Though Emma's ex-husband was also difficult, he faded in and out of the picture, like many ex-husbands do.

I realized partially through the book that this couple really doesn't communicate, doesn't understand each other, and really isn't happy. When a tragedy threatens the relationship, I had a hard time understanding how they had stayed together as long as they did. Then I realized something very important...the entire book could be excerpts from the website. I am so blessed to be in a great relationship with a wonderful stepson. My big issue is the ex-wife. Many of those who are second wives are not nearly as lucky. Many have problems with almost every facet of their lives. The feeling must be overwhelming, like it was to Peter and Emma.

Though I couldn't directly relate to the book, I couldn't put it down (just like I can't log off sometimes). It was the "can't stop looking at the car accident" syndrome. If nothing else, it might make second wives feel like they are not alone. They can see how these fictional characters made choices, good or bad, and then had to live with them.

I would definitely take a chance on this book. It's a quick read and you can probably finish it in a few sessions. The only thing I really didn't like was the detail that the author would sometimes inject in the middle of an important part of the book. I could not care less what the trees and buildings looked like, I wanted to see what happened in the relationship. Luckily, she didn't do that too often and I could go back to watching Peter and Emma struggle through their days.

MommyQ - SWC.COM Member

The author has no ear for language. Overall, the prose is flat and lifeless. The characters are heartless and entirely unsympathetic-- to the point of charicature. There is a ridiculously long description of a nanny brushing a child's hair that went on longer than my marriage. It's unclear to me what the publisher saw in this book. I was truly disappointed.

Where do loyalties lie when a man and woman bring children to a new marriage? According to this story, the woman loves her daughter and expects her new husband to do the same. But she also expects him to keep his life with his daughter seperate from theirs.

Peter's daughter, Amanda, is deeply affected by her parents' divorce. She despises both her mother and father and resents her new step-mother, Emma. But resentment barely describes her feelings for Emma's daughter, Tess, who now lives full-time with Amanda's father.

For her part, Emma makes attempts to bring Amanda in to the family circle, but they are attempts on her terms. For example, she decorates a room for Amanda, but it's decorated to Emma's tastes.

The main failing of this book is the weak characters. I know nothing of what brought Peter and Emma together. Why did they feel a second marriage could work? Why did they feel their children would adjust and they could build a happy life together?

I also found the writing weak. Each time a character was introduced, it was a programmed description of height, hair, clothes, etc. "Emma's mother, Aline, was also tall, but slightly stooped...Her eyes were blue, her cheeks full and pink. She had a small bow-shaped mouth and fine light straying hair. They [Emma's parents] were in their mid-sixties; both wore khaki pants, blue sneakers, sweaters." Boring!