jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
This companion to Liars and Saints neatly turns the first one on its head. Like the first one, it manages to encompass vast periods of time in a few pages, and it delivers on the emotion without feeling like an over-the-top saga. I enjoyed revisiting the characters, and seeing how things could be different. I couldn't help but wonder if people had speculated about any autobiographical elements in Liars and Saints, and if that prompted her to write this one. Which is funny because whether or not it was autobiographical never crossed my mind until Abby dealt with the same issue in this one. I think this one would be best appreciated if you've read Liars and Saints first.
pepper1133's review against another edition
4.0
Finishes off the story began in "Liars and Saints" in a very interesting places. Between this and the first book, you find yourself seriously questioning reality.
scarletbegonias's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paulahatsumi's review against another edition
4.0
When I started the book, I did not realize it involved the same characters as in "Liars and Saints" It was an interesting twist on the previous book. It felt like I was reading an alternate storyline or maybe the book was the book?
ramonamead's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to wrap my brain around this novel. I recently read Liars & Saints, which I absolutely loved. A Family Daughter is not a sequel or even quite a follow up to the first novel. It features the same characters, however it's a totally different timeline. The themes are all there: Catholicism, family secrets, guilt, lies, family obligation, and it's the same family, same characters, only in different circumstances. It's a beautiful novel and the writing is engrossing, but my enjoyment of it was affected because I was distracted by comparing this story to the previous novel.
helenace13's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
vwojtowicz's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
jdukuray's review against another edition
2.0
I actually gave up on this half way through. I thought that it was a sequel to Meloy’s previous novel, Liars and Saints, which I enjoyed. But I was disappointed to discover that, rather than a normal sequel, A Family Daughter takes some of the same characters, adds some new ones, some of whom have the same names as characters from the earlier novel, shuffles them, keeping some details and relations, completely changing others, and retells the story. I will grant that Meloy is clever and a good writer, but this manœuvre does not pass the « what for? » test and actually ruined the first book for me. It had the effect of invalidating the earlier story and my attachment to the first-version characters. As another reviewer wrote, the second story is very « meta » (I think it may be that one character turns out to have written the first book about her family), but I lost the will to follow this convoluted path. Neither the writing nor the story seem hefty enough or deep enough to support the authorial shenanigans.
sensible_reader's review
4.0
I found this sequal to Liars and Saints to be fresh and stimulating. It has a very rapid pace. I look forwad to reading another book by Maile Meloy.