I’m psyched! Here’s the 3½-star (out of 4) review of Not My Daughter that just appeared in PEOPLE magazine.
“Calling to mind an ’08 news story about 17 girls thought to have made a pregnancy “pact,” this novel features three Maine teens who blithely orchestrate getting pregnant together. Refusing to name the fathers or to consider abortion or adoption, they are at once perplexing and heartbreaking – especially to their own mothers, who become primary characters. As the town erupts in outrage, the girls’ moms grapple with anger, sorrow and the nagging question: Where did I fail my daughter? It’s a topical tale that resonates with timeless emotion.”
Nice, huh? And filling the whole lower third of the page, including a view of the cover? Thank you, PEOPLE Magazine. A writer can’t ask for more.
But we do. Every writer wants to be reviewed. Why? Three reasons. First, publicity. Readers see the title, see your name, see that someone thinks your book is important enough to review – or good enough to review, which leads me to the second reason. Sales. One way to get new readers is to give them a short sketch of your story, along with words of recommendation from a reputable source, which leads to the third reason. Ego. Every writer wants to see praise of his work.
Here, truly though, is a case of being careful what you wish for. What if you get reviews, and they’re bad? That can be demoralizing. I know. I’ve been there. Forget trying to write for the rest of the day after you’ve read a bad review of your work. The worst reviews are the ones that just don’t make sense – and make no mistake about it. There are plenty of grudging reviewers out there who are forced to read your book when they want to be reading something else and resent the subject matter, the setting, even your success.
Publishing one book a year, I don’t get as many reviews as I’d like. Reviewers are more likely to flock to a first-time writer who may be on the cusp of stardom, or a veteran author who has just published his first book in four years.
The irony, of course, is that some of the best-reviewed books never do hit any bestseller lists. How bittersweet must that be?
By and large, I try to keep my review hopes in check. But Not My Daughter has now gotten four quotable reviews (click here to read the other three) from four solid sources. That’s cause for celebration, don’t you think?
But wait. What I really want now is reader reviews on this site. Want to be one of the first to post one?
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Read the book last night…good writing…interesting topic…relevant…
Love the book and your writing, Got your autograph in Sarasota when you where here
As someone who has read your books from the very beginning of your career I have loved all of them. Some are very hard for me to take especially While My Sister Sleeps. Your new book Not My Daughter hits home also. I am 58 years old. My first son was born with cancer of the bladder. It was a very rare disease and couldn’t be cured. He passed on at the age of 7. I have 1 child and have always wanted a family. I was a single child and my Dad passed on at age 45 so I know what it is like to want a family and to lose a child. We tried to adopt but the system at the time in the 70’s was “if you have 1 heathy child you can only adopt a child with multiple handicaps”. I couldn’t do it after taking care of my son and slowly watching him suffer. So I was unable to adopt. Now there really isn’t much adoption mostly abortion which I do don’t see as an option. The system is so messed up. Kids are running wild and parents don’t have control, not because they don’t want to but the laws are so messed up. The kids abuse the system by calling the police and mostly lying saying my mother or father hit me knowing they will be arrested and investigated. I have seen this alot in the past 5 years. Well, your book is wonderful and I hope young girls will read it and learn. Thank you for letting me vent. Kc
Barbara this is your best book yet. I read till after 3 am to finish it.Love your books been a fan for years,like I told you at the cancer dinner book signing I seen you at.Can`t wait for your next one. Linda Wilson
Thank you for the signed bookplate for my lovely book. My blogger friend (From Diane Chamberlain’s blog) is reading your THE SUMMER I DARED–she is loving it as much as I do…for those of you who have missed that one-get it…Barbara’s books are ones we buy to reread and revisit yearly…
Hello! The description of your book has made me want to read it. I guess it’s true that just a few choice words can sell a work of fiction.
I’m sure I’ll be back to tell you what I thought when I’m done.
Maybe when I grow up I can be like you. So far I’m on the brink of twenty-six, and have almost as many rejection e-mails for my first novel. Maybe I’ll just live vicariously through your success.
A friend just finished SUMMER I DARED…loved loved loved it as did I. I reread it each year-that among others.
Watched a movie this weekend about a pregnancy pact-your book so so much better than the movie.
I stayed up all night to finish reading it. I liked the fact that Susan and her mother had a better relationship at the end. I was also happy that Lily’s baby was healthy.
I just loved this book! So many relationships were explored: mothers, daughters, friends of mothers, friends of daughters, school board members, faculty, husbands and wives, etc. I also loved the way three generations were represented. It was interesting to see the various conflicts and problems arise, get dealt with, and finally, be resolved. It was like knitting a garment, putting it together, and, lastly , weaving in the ends!
This was the first book I read that you authored. I have become a huge fan! The way you write sucks you in immediately and I have a very hard time putting them down. I have finished four others since I read “Not my Daughter” and now my mom is hooked. Hurry and write another! I don’t want to catch up!