Happy Tuesday, all! Today I am super excited to share my review of another book I group-read, and one we unanimously cherished, The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain! Publishing today by St. Martin’s Press, this is Chamberlain’s newest release.
My Thoughts:
Huge Diane Chamberlain fan checking in! The Dream Daughter is easily vying for top spot in my favorite reads from her.
In the opening scene, Carly, a physical therapist, is introduced to Hunter, a mysterious psychiatric patient doctors think was injured during an attempted suicide. Flash forward several years, and Hunter is married to Carly’s sister, Patti.
In that same time period (the early 1970s), Carly finds out that her unborn baby has a heart defect. There’s no treatment for the defect in 1970, and the baby will likely not survive after birth. Hunter has an idea and offers his plan to Carly.
The Dream Daughter is all about a mother’s love and sacrifice. The ups and downs that Carly experiences once on the journey to save the life of her child are felt viscerally. I read the ending with relish. Not too neat or tidy, but completely fulfilling for the characters in which I was completely invested.
Chamberlain is a master storyteller. Those who love her know we can rely on her for a breathtaking read. The Dream Daughter is about love for family and love for child. Most of all, it is about believing that anything is possible with hope.
On a personal note, my alma mater was referenced in the book, as were several of my favorite places in North Carolina. I always feel like I’m going home when I read a Chamberlain book!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the physical copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
From bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes an irresistible new novel.
When Caroline Sears receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970 and there seems to be little that can be done. But her brother-in-law, a physicist, tells her that perhaps there is. Hunter appeared in their lives just a few years before—and his appearance was as mysterious as his past. With no family, no friends, and a background shrouded in secrets, Hunter embraced the Sears family and never looked back.
Now, Hunter is telling her that something can be done about her baby’s heart. Something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Caroline has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage that Caroline never knew existed. Something that will mean a mind-bending leap of faith on Caroline’s part.
And all for the love of her unborn child.
A rich, genre-spanning, breathtaking novel about one mother’s quest to save her child, unite her family, and believe in the unbelievable. Diane Chamberlain pushes the boundaries of faith and science to deliver a novel that you will never forget.
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Holly at Dressed to Read
Kendall at Goodreads
Mackenzie at PhDiva
Melisa at The Book Collective
I never read any Diane Chamberlain books but maybe I would try some!
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She writes wonderful stories, Celine! ♥️
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It’s an engaging read! It was a perfect palate cleanser after a couple of of heavy WW11 reads. It would make a great vacation read or book club selection.
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Thanks, Carol! I agree completely. This was a wonderful one to discuss with friends, and I can see how it would be a great palate cleanser too.
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Definitely going to try Diana Chamberlain. I must tell you your pictures beautiful in this post!
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Thanks so much, Jennifer! ♥️ I hope you enjoy Chamberlain if you are able to read something from her. She’s a beautiful storyteller!
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Beautiful photo and review. This sounds like quite an emotional read. I am yet to read anything by this author but definitely tempted to add this one to my TBR.
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Thanks, Diana! I think you’d enjoy the emotion in this one. I hope you love it if you decide to read it. 💕
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I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED DIANA’S WORK AND THIS LOOKS ANOTHER GEM JENNIFER, CHINA
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A gem is the perfect way to describe it, China! Such a talented author, and I’m happy to know you enjoy her books, too. ♥️
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Excellent (and mysterious) review! I’m looking forward to listening to this.
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Thank you, Jonetta! As always, I’m looking forward to your thoughts on the audio! ♥️
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Wonderful review. I am reading this one and loving it. Happy Tuesday. 💕🌺🗽👣
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Thank you, Virginia! Oh, yay! I hope it’s an emotional read for you, too! 💗 xo
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Beautiful photos and beautiful review, Jennifer!!! I love how you wrote this one. It is truly about a mother above all else, and Carly was such a fantastic character—brave when you thought she’d be meek, filled with love. It’s so great that you had those personal connections to the story! I laughed every time they’d comment on her accent, as though North Carolina is on another planet 💕
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Thanks so much, Mack, for all of that! ♥️ Yeah, I’m not sure where in NC Carly was from, but many of us don’t speak with an accent, or at least not much of one…I lived in PA, and no one ever remarked that I sounded southern, and I thought I sounded local. 😂
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Yeah I have a good friend from North Carolina! I guess she has a very slight accent but nothing that I would think twice about!
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It also depends on where you are from within the state (large city versus anywhere else), the region of NC (accents vary widely here – mountains versus coast and everything in between), and how your family talks/where your parents are from, etc. It’s like I’ve done a little study on this. 😉 Accents fascinate me!
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So interesting!!! I can see what you mean though, sometimes people from southern Illinois have a slight twang that you’ll never really find in people from the Chicago area north in the state!
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Here it has to do with how people settled, where their ancestors were from, and how isolated or insular their communities are. We have places, including where my mom is from, which is actually one of the first settled areas in Virginia, where people speak with an almost British accent. We have some similar communities in coastal NC. I can see how Illinois would be a bit different. Some of these areas have been settled since the 1600s! 😊
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I’ve got some research to do!!!
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Loved reading this one with you! “Unanimously cherished” indeed!💙
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Same! Such a pleasure to read with you, always! 💕
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Great review! I love how you had a personal connection to North Carolina and I’m so glad we were able to buddy read this one. ❤
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Thanks, Holls! I always love reading with you! 💗
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Girls, reading all your reviews I am so J
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Shalini, you definitely can’t miss this one! ♥️
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Wonderful review and pictures Jen!😊 I have this one too and can’t wait to get to it! Happy Tuesday my friend!💕💕
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Thanks so much, Sus! I’m super excited to know what you think of it. I hope it’s a special read for you, too. ♥️ I hope you had a great day! 💗
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Just about ready to give put my eyes and reading time on this one. Glad you ladies enjoyed it.
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Thanks, Marialyce! I hope it’s one you love too!
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Wow, this sounds intense!
Is this a time travel novel?
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It’s definitely an emotional read, but ultimately uplifting. ♥️ There is a time travel element to it, and it won over some non time traveling people in our buddy read!
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I’ll have to check this one out! It sounds really good :). Great review!
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Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it if you are able to fit it in!
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Love your review! Anything is possible with hope love that! And I loved reading this with you! So much love for this book and my girls!💕💕
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😘 Absolutely, Berit! Thank you so, so much! ♥️ Loved reading this one with you!
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Ah, it’s always fun when a book references places you know! Mind you, every book about Glasgow is a crime novel, usually complete with vicious gangsters, so not recommended just before a visit… 😉
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😂 How did I not know that about Glasgow?! I’ll have to cancel my plane ticket now! Just kidding! I still want to come some day!
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Fab review Jennifer! Such an awesome read all of us did together! 🙂
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Thank you, Kendall! I loved reading this one with you, too! Chamberlain has a new fan in you! ♥️
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I wondered if you’d reference UNC or NC in your review, lol. I tried a couple of times to write in mine about Carly going to my alma mater and my living in the Raleigh area but it just didn’t work lol. But the connection just made me love Carly more! I do love your review and this book! 💞❤💞 I hope my comment works now, lol. Xoxo
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You’re too funny! It didn’t work in mine either, so I added it as a footnote (sort of). 😂 Thank you so much, Steph! I loved the compliment our alma mater received in the book. 😉 It makes me love Chamberlain even more! Thanks for coming back to comment. Hopefully the comment woes were just a fluke! ♥️ xoxo
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LOL, I know!! I saw that; I didn’t think of that! You’re welcome! I know! I read it and was like, woohoo!! I love that she writes about NC. NP, I think it must have been me. I really think WP hates me sometimes. Or they WP police thought I was commenting too much in too short a time…who knows!! Enjoy your Wed! ❤ xoxo
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Wonderful review Jenni! I love Diane Chamberlain but have a LOT of her books to catch up on! 😅😂
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Thank you, Beth! ♥️ I do, too! I have many of them saved!!! 😂
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It was through you that I loved this book! Thank you Jennifer for your awesome recommendation and kindness =)
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You’re very welcome, Elena! I’m so happy you enjoyed it too! Makes my day! ♥️
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Can’t wait for this one, I love Chamberlain so much!
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Yay, Annie! Isn’t she the best!? I hope you are able to read it soon! ♥️
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Fantastic review. I love the brightness of your photos and blog in general!
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Thanks for those kind words! I appreciate that! ♥️
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Ah I didn’t realise that Diane Chamberlain has a new book out! I’ve loved her previous books and this one sounds just as fascinating. I completely agree with you that she is a master storyteller. Great review as always!
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Thank you, Darina! Oh, yes, you are in for a treat if have the chance to read it! I’m so happy to have found another fan of her storytelling!
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This is an author I’ve never read, but this story sounds heartbreaking. I love a truly emotional read from time to time. I’ll probably save it for the spring, when I tend to feel a bit more resilient. Wonderful review. 🙂
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I was already intrigued about this book and always wanted to read a book by Diane Chamberlain so now it is a MUST! Great Review! And OMG you take the best pics EVER!
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Thanks, Daniela! I appreciate that! I hope you love this book if you give it a shot. Chamberlain is a wonderful author for reliable storytelling, and the time travel really adds something to this story!
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I loved this one too! It was my first of hers, so I’m so excited to read more!
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Yay, happy you enjoyed it too! I will check out your review! ♥️
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