Review: The Daughter She Used to Be

The Daughter She Used to Be by Rosalind Noonan

Summary: The daughter of a career cop, Bernadette Sullivan grew up with blue uniforms hanging in the laundry room and cops laughing around the dinner table. Her brothers joined New York’s finest, her sister married a cop, and Bernie is an assistant District Attorney. Collaring criminals, putting them away – it’s what they do. And though lately Bernie feels a growing desire for a family of her own, she’s never questioned her choices. Then a shooter targets a local coffee shop, and tragedy strikes the Sullivan family. Anger follows grief – and Bernie realizes that her father’s idea of retribution is very different from her own. All her life, she’s inhabited a clear-cut world of right and wrong, of morality and corruption. As Bernie struggles to protect the people she loves, she must also decide what it means to see justice served. And in her darkest hour, she will find out just what it means to be her father’s daughter.

My Thoughts: As I started reading, I was reminded of Every Last One by Anna Quindlen. We start with seeing Bernie and her family’s day-to-day life before – BAM! – tragedy strikes. Unlike Quindlen’s book, I wasn’t blindsided by the violence in this one – it’s told pretty clearly in every synopsis I’ve found. Still, it is highly emotional and packs quite the punch. And the aftermath is no less emotional. Watching Bernie evolve from the daughter she used to be to the woman she was meant to be is fulfilling. She is worried about the repercussions to letting her father down, but doesn’t let that sway her from doing what she feels is right.

Always told in third-person, we get varying points of view. We see Sarah, Mary Kate, and Sully’s perspective, but it’s clear that Bernie is the primary focus. I found that many things were a bit predictable, but there were many unforeseen (at least by me) events. The conclusion is quite dramatic, but not over-the-top. And the epilogue is perfect.

I recommend The Daughter She Used to Be to those who don’t mind a dramatic, emotional read. Make sure to have tissues nearby! I look forward to reading more books by Rosalind Noonan.

Source: Received through Crazy Book Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit the tour post HERE.

Challenges: Counts for the 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge.

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FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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