Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and Liz Michalski for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! This was a really unique book and perspective on Peter Pan. I enjoyed the originality and seeing a different side of the classic story, but I felt a little underwhelmed by the book because I never fully connected to it or the characters. I feel like Holly was a hard character to root for and the pacing was a bit weird in places. I also didn't like all aspects of the new story and thought that some parts were a bit strange. However, I'm confident that many people would like this one more than me, and I'm really impressed by the story that Michalski created.

3.5 stars, rounded up for originality

I really enjoyed the beginning of this dark Peter Pan-adjacent story, but as it went along, the plot sort of stalled, and the pace felt like it both quickened and slowed at the same time. A lot seemed to happen, but then again, nothing really happened. Lots of phone calls were made. Dinners were had. Many cups of tea were drunk. But that's about it.

Eventually, the story starts to pick up again, but by that point, I was less interested in the outcome, and certainly less invested in the characters. All in all, a fairly quick read with a new and unique twist on the original tale, but in the end, I didn't really connect with any of the characters, so it left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

I've always loved the story of Peter Pan. The idea of being whisked away to another world? Even as someone who doesn't often care for fantasy, I'm enchanted by every production and adaption I've seen. As far as retellings go, I didn't think anything would top the movie 'Hook'. How wrong I was!

I read every word of this book meticulously I was so absorbed. I took my time trying to savor every second while simultaneously having trouble putting it down. The new dynamics presented here have assured that I will never look at this tale the same way again. I'm oddly okay with it. Hearing that Peter Pan was the villain was what made me pick up this book in the first place.

I wasn't sure how I would like Holly at first. While she does so much for her kids, there is a selfish air about her. That bothered me less as the story went on and the character growth feels authentic and genuine. I loved the involvement of Jane as well. Jack and Eden are lovely additions to the Darling family. And Christopher? Oh, I do hope we will get a sequel/prequel with him in the future.

I could gush about so much but for fear of spoilers, I'll end by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There are some loose ends that I would have liked to have been tied up, but perhaps that was intentional...

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger warning: sexual violence

I thought this was a really interesting Peter Pan retelling. It was a lot darker than I anticipated. Pan is painted as more of a villainous, dark predator who terrorized the Darling family for generations. Wendy's granddaughter, Holly, is determined to stop and end Pan once her own daughter goes missing.

It really captured my attention, and kept you engaged the whole story. It was thrilling and had a nice paced. However, there was some repetition that could've been cut out. But I did enjoy the story for the most part, especially the magical realism. Thank you, Netgalley for the eARC!

This was surprisingly my first fairytale retelling and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. It was so fun and interesting to read! It's worth the hype it's getting.

I honestly went into this book fairly blind, knowing only that it was a darker take on the Peter Pan story. I have enjoyed screen adaptations showing Peter as something other than the delightfully mischievous, child-like sprite, so I was excited to dive into a literary version of this. On the whole, I'm glad I didn't have a ton of background on what the plot would be, and I enjoyed figuring it out along the way.

I was drawn in pretty immediately, trying to meld in my mind the traditional Peter Pan story and the protagonist's current reality. I loved how the plot progressed and we learned more about this highly dysfunctional and misunderstood family as we kept reading. There was so much secrecy and deception throughout the entire book (thus, the dysfunctional family aspect), and I found myself wanting to throttle each of the characters at some point in time. Because there were some tragically flawed and morally dubious characters, we also got a good amount of deep character development.

I enjoyed that so many characters from the original story were present and how each of them was represented in a unique way. The tone was dark and suspenseful, and I found myself intrigued enough that I didn't want to put it down! Though the book is pretty dark throughout, there were several enchanting and magical moments! The descriptions of the gardens and homes were beautifully done, and the depictions of magic had both whimsy and a sense of foreboding. There are definitely scenes where the reader will need to suspend belief, but isn't that what the Peter Pan story is all about in the first place?

There are multiple terrible decisions made by a variety of characters, and I wish we'd had a bit more resolution as far as making amends for those. We see a lot of guilt from a few of them, but reconciliation happens so quickly that it felt a bit surface level. Also, be aware that there are a few trigger warnings, including sexual assault, abandonment, abuse, and suicidal ideation.

Overall, I enjoyed this dark reimagining of the classic, whimsical tale!

I typically enjoy fantasy and grew up watching Peter Pan, so I was really excited to be gifted an ARC of Darling Girl in exchange for my honest review. I love dark & twisty, so I thought this would be a sure thing for me. Sadly, it was not. Though I was sucked in by the beautiful writing, and simply wanting to know more about this version of the Darling family, I really had a difficult time staying interested. Once Peter became more of a focal point, my interest was piqued a bit, but it waned as the story started slowing down in places, and with all the triggers throughout the story. I found myself just trying to get through the book, hoping for a redeeming ending, only for it to fall a bit flat.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to review Darling Girl!

Thank you Penguin Dutton Group for this wonderfully imaginative, yet very real, story that expanded and refocused the Peter Pan/Neverland story and world for me. I don't often read fantasy stories, and for me this doesn't fit how many readers think of that genre, but I was all in for a story that took a story many know, made it a thoughtful story about motherhood, women's lives, the complexities of not just growing up from a child's perspective but also the complexity of being a caregiver seeing a child grow up and move on. There is a bittersweetness too that theme as well as a wonderful and welcome feminist theme that asks us to see the presence on women, or female identity and motherhood, in Neverland and how this place, and Peter Pan, must be reconciled in a world that is filled with aging and growing older if not growing up. I have always thought there was a darkness to Peter Pan's story about not wanting to grow up and his relationship with Wendy, and also TinkerBell, and here is a book that gave me what I needed to really think about that darkness that is woven into this fairytale. I am so glad I had the chance to read this one, I can't wait to share it with friends and with my book club. Liz Michalski is definitely an author I am going to follow and support!

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of Darling Girl. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this dark telling of Peter Pan. I always thought that brat was sketchy!

The writing is beautiful in a dark and magical way. The plot is engaging and held my interest throughout. I think this one will be wildly popular with people who love a fairytale reimagined.

This book was selected as a BOTM choice for May 2022.

rounded up from 3.5

cw: this book depicts sexual violence

we all know the story of Peter Pan. but do we really? in this retelling, Peter is a sinister, dark predator who has terrorized the Darling family for generations. Holly is the granddaughter of Wendy, and after her own daughter goes missing, she starts a mission to stop Peter once and for all.

this started out super strong and gripping. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this premise but I ended up liking it more than expected. around 40% it slowed down and got really repetitive, and I didn’t really care for it from there. overall, this is a unique magical realism retelling that I mostly enjoyed.
thank you to @netgalley for this gifted digital copy.

I loved this captivating, romantic, spellbinding retelling of the classic Peter Pan story. Turns out Peter Pan was not some innocent boy who flew in the window to make friends, after all. Who knew? This book is well written, and it hooked me right from the beginning (no pun intended). I loved finding parallels between the original and this modern reimagining. I look forward to more books from this author.

4🌟 Darling Girl is an absolute must read!

I’m usually not a fan of fantasy but I do love Peter Pan and this dark retelling of the classic story was incredible! The beautifully written, darkly magical, modern-day retelling was so engaging and pulled me in right from the start. I couldn’t put this one down!

After reading Darling Girl I’m not sure if I’ll be able to look at Peter Pan the same again. We all know and love Peter Pan from the classic, but in Darling Girl he is not the good guy. I loved that Liz Michalski really took such a different spin on this story and switched up all the character personas.

The story touches on everything from magic to grief, family, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children.

If you’re a fan of Disney or mystical stories definitely check this out! There is magic, but not too much so if you’re not a big fantasy reader like me you’ll still enjoy it! ✨💫

Have you read any classic retellings!?

Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book by NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up, I loved watching the animated Disney version of Peter Pan. I enjoyed seeing how he defeats Captain Hook. Also, he could fly! Since then, I realized that there are many ways to reinterpret the text. In fact, there have been plenty of retellings like the ABC TV show "Once Upon a Time" that explore both popular and obscure aspects of the famed story. Some soar even further like today’s subject "Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan" by Liz Michalski, and it does so with flying colors.

"Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan" is a dark and modern reimagining of the beloved story, which involves a woman who has to confront Peter Pan in order to save her daughter. Holly Darling – the granddaughter of Wendy (yes, that Wendy) – runs a successful skincare business. Her son, Jack, is happy and healthy, and she has moved on from the tragedy of her past. Everything seems to be going good until she gets a call that her daughter, Eden, who has been in a coma for nearly 10 years, has vanished from the estate where she’s been tucked away. Holly knows who did this: Peter Pan, who is not only real, but also more dangerous than anyone expects. Eden’s disappearance is bad for many reasons. Eden has a rare condition that makes her age rapidly (the irony of Peter being her father is not lost), which makes her blood all the more valuable. Holly has kept this a secret from Eden’s half-brother, Jack, who knows nothing about his sister or the essential role she plays in his life. She has no one to turn to. That is except her mother Jane, the only other person who knows that the story of the boy who never grew up is more than real, yet she refuses to accept that he’s anything but a hero. Desperate, Holly enlists a notorious ex-soldier named Christopher Cooke in hopes of rescuing Eden before it’s too late, or she may lose both kids.

There are many things that I love about this book. One of those things is how the characters in the original story are interpreted. Captain Hook is now Christopher Cooke, who is an ex-soldier-turned private investigator probably going through PTSD and has his own methods for getting the answers. He reminded me of "Once Upon a Time"’s portrayal of Captain Hook, just more vengeful. The Lost Boys are boys who are involved with drugs and disappear one by one. Neverland is “a place of shadows and shades,” which has rejected Peter Pan (p. 251).

Tinker Bell is now Tink, a fairy who’s trying to get herself free from Peter Pan’s abuse.

And of course, we do have to talk about the boy who never grew up. Several modern retellings depict him as a, for a lack of a better word, an asshole. This even includes the upcoming movie "Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers," where they have an overweight middle-aged man who’s supposed to be a clone of Peter Pan as the main antagonist (this has its own implications derived from the sad history of the actor who voiced Peter Pan in the Disney version). Of course, a good chunk of these go no farther than saying, “Look! We made Peter Pan into a bad guy!”

In "Darling Girl"’s case, Michalski gives Peter a more menacing portrayal. He’s controlling of others, so he can get what he wants. Tink refuses to go by the name Tinker Bell because that’s the name that Peter gave her. In addition, he’s predatory. He’ll prey on anybody who happens to be lonely. Holly was that way after losing her other son Isaac and her husband Robert in a car crash, and Jack was recovering in the hospital. Peter came by, or should I say let himself in without getting consent from Holly, and Eden was the result. It’s also revealed that he sells drugs to teenage boys in the seedier parts of London. In other words, Peter Pan is powerful and dangerous. To top it all off, Peter has grown up, but that doesn’t mean he’s mature. He still wants to feel his youth again. In order to do that, he has to have Eden’s blood.

The most unique part of the book is how it explores one of the most overlooked aspects of the story – motherhood. After all, the original tale involved Peter taking Wendy to Neverland, so she could be a mother figure to the Lost Boys. In this novel, Holly is a scientist and business woman who tries to control basically every part of her life. Various reviewers didn’t like her at first for that reason, but a lot of them eventually warmed up to her. For me, even though I didn’t agree with all of her actions, I understood where she came from, especially with her traumatic backstory. There were several parts, where I even yelled, “Just tell them about Eden already!”

Holly tries to do everything for her children, and yet, she learns like any other mother that one needs to let them fly in order to explore their own sense of self. Personally, if there was a film version of this, I’d like to see Cate Blanchett play Holly. I think she would do a great job.

Moreover, I have to commend the book for its pacing. It soars through like someone sprinkled with pixie dust at times, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, especially when Holly tries to search for Eden in London. At the same time, it slows down for serious moments when it needs to. This is particularly true when Holly and her mother Jane share their experiences with Peter and how he impacted them.

Furthermore, I love how the book gives little nods to the original story. It mentions stuff like green and silver colors and wings. My favorite was the red feather that was left in Eden’s room in the cottage the night she disappeared. They weren’t in your face per se, yet one could pick them up pretty quickly while moving along with the story.

While the novel is a part of the fantasy genre, those elements are sprinkled in contemporary London. This makes it easier for those who are hard-core fantasy readers, but want to get into that category.

I had certain questions about the story. Some of these were how Neverland works, especially now that not even Peter Pan can get back, and how the disease that Eden has progressed. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are explored more in a sequel.

If I had one nitpick, it would be that I wish Holly was at the final battle against Peter in the clock tower. At the same time, she did so much to protect others that maybe her letting go of the reins was necessary.

Overall, "Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan" by Liz Michalski is a wonderful retelling of the classic tale. It dives deep into a part of the story not explored by other authors. It helps that the protagonist is a flawed individual, but readers are allowed to understand why she does the things she has to do. The reinterpretations, pacing, and nodes to the original book are also well executed. I would recommend it to those who love "Peter Pan" in any of its incarnations, dark fantasy novels like "Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterflied, books that explore motherhood beyond the surface, and retellings of classic stories in general. I loved Darling Girl so much that I’m going to read another Peter Pan reimagining soon. I wonder if that one will deal with another problematic aspect of the tale – the portrayal of the Indigenous people.

This one just wasn’t for me.
The whole plot and characters seemed underdeveloped. None of the characters were described physically so I was unable to picture them. The only magic, plot, and twists weren’t explained well and I felt like there were a lot of plot holes. A majority of the ending occurred off the pages so we were told what happened and not shown. This made the ending lackluster and it felt I complete.
There were also so many trigger warnings associated with this book. At times it felt like the author was just adding in more traumatic topics for the shock factor and not to actually move the plot. It because really hard to read at times.
Overall this was a miss for me and everyone should brace themselves and read the trigger warnings before starting.

Holly Darling, Wendy's granddaughter, runs a successful skincare company. Her son Jack is healthy and her daughter Eden is in a coma, nursed at the family estate. When Eden is missing, it can only be Peter Pan. Eden has a rare disease that ages her rapidly, and her blood is extremely valuable if studied. Jack knows nothing about this or who Eden's biological father truly is. People don't believe that Peter is anything other than a story, so Holly turns to the ex-soldier Christopher Cooke to help her find her daughter.

The story of Holly's children is revealed in bits and pieces, so that all we know at first is that Holly is desperately afraid of Jack getting cut or bloodied if he's sick or injured in some way. She's also a researcher working at a beauty company, and they're launching a new product called Pixie Dust that's meant to make people appear younger and more luminous. She's absolutely banking on the Darling name as much as she hates the notoriety it brings. About two-thirds of the way through the novel we discover how some of those bits of notoriety came to pass. Holly had seen Peter Pan for herself, but her mother Jane never did. Jane desperately wants to meet him, to have an adventure as her mother had, and doesn't seem to care how Peter isn't at all how Barrie's book made him look. On top of that is Cooke, a moody cypher with a hook for a hand that can't be controlled, even with the promise of money.

Everyone here is so damaged. Holly remembers the car accident that killed her husband and one of her sons, as well as the fall that led to Eden's coma. All she had done since is to protect her surviving children, even if that means collecting Eden's blood to at once create a serum to heal Jack and to try to reverse Eden's aging. Of course, her efforts aren't perfect, and keeping everyone in the dark about everything just leaves her isolated and stressed. The few relationships she has with others remained strained as a result of her secrecy, but she also has no idea how to go about searching for a needle in a haystack. Cooke is broody and flippant, a different kind of Captain Hook for a different kind of Peter Pan. We know the two will be at odds as soon as he's introduced in the first half of the book and having the original Peter Pan story in our minds as we read this one adds to our tension as the novel progresses.

Coupled with the story of Peter Pan is the story of family and the connections between them. Holly had to make many impossible choices, none of them very good, and there were consequences she was forced to deal with over the course of this book. Ultimately, it's always been her love for her children that mattered to her more than anything else. As Peter says, she chose her children over him rather than go to Neverland. When it mattered, none of the characters truly had a choice. Children had to be protected from what Peter became, no matter what. I enjoyed reading this, and wish them all (except for Peter!) well.

Reading "Darling Girl" by Liz Michalski has been an AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE!! I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS BOOK SO MUCH, THAT I DIDNT WANT IT TO END!! This story follows Holly Darling, her children Jack and Eden, her Mother Jane, and of course Peter Pan & Tinker Bell!! This Adventure is sooo much more than what you would expect!! Liz weaves magic into these characters and beings them to life in way that their story is ABSOLUTELY UNFORGETTABLE!! The Power of a Mother's Love is the greatest MAGIC of them all! Holly Darling goes to great lengths to protect and keep her children safe and healthy but at what price? When the fairytale is not what you believe you still need Faith, Trust and a little Pixie Dust!! This journey will continue on in the second star to the right!! 🌠


💫THANK YOU to the Author, Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!!

#DarlingGirl
#NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love this book for the gorgeous prose and the authentic character.
A beautifully written, magical book with an amazing storyline.
A creative, dark reimagining of Peter Pan, set in modern day, And you have this utterly addictive read.
I really loved this enchanting book. The characters are vivid and endearing, and Michalski gives them distinct and memorable voices.
I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and the story; the writing is descriptive, flows, and is straight to the point.
Darling Girl which was utterly addicting.
Liz was also able to make me feel every single emotion under the sun, and at times, all of those emotions at once.
The plot was so intriguing.
There's a wonderful balance between action-packed conflict and tender, sweet moments between characters.
This book was more than just a retelling, it truly managed to create an entirely new narrative that is both as beautiful and heartbreaking as its source material.
A captivatingly addictive YA fantasy that I urge everyone to read—it’s just so Amazing!
This was so damn good I read in two sittings. When I say I had a hard time putting this gorgeous book down... I had a rough time doing so.

Dutton, NetGalley and Author,
Thank You for the chance to read this phenomenal story!
I will post and tag to my platforms closer to the pub date.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski is a blend of literary fiction, fantasy, domestic thriller, romance, travel adventure, and dark retellings. The story revolves around Holly Darling, the granddaughter of Wendy Darling. One day, she gets a call that her comatose daughter Eden has disappeared. Could she have been taken by her father Peter Pan? What long-buried secrets will be unearthed as Holly embarks on a journey to find her daughter?. Is Peter Pan or Captain Hook the villain in this story?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from the Prologue:

"In a stone house in the English countryside far below, there is another girl, mirror image to the first. This one also wears green, but it is the green of a hospital gown. In her room, machines beep and chime, make quiet hissing sounds. A nurse sits in the kitchen, drinking tea and listening to classical music. A gardener mows the lawn, and the buzzing noise incorporates itself into the girl’s muzzy, drug-soaked dreaming. She is waiting for something deep inside of her, whether she is aware of it or not.
In the tree far above, the girl perches on her branch, takes a deep breath, lets the wind wash over her. She closes her eyes and jumps.
The girl in the house opens her eyes."

Overall, Darling Girl is a lovely blend of different genres. It will appeal to fans of travel adventures like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children or dark fairy-tale retellings like Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children novella series. One highlight of this book is how it manages to weave many different genres together in an original way. Even though there were parts of this novel that seemed to be in different genres, it never felt jarring. It felt like a cohesive novel. I did take off 1 star, because I wish there had been a bit more fantasy. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of literary fiction with a hint of fantasy, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

Liz Michalski, the author of “Darling Girl” has given a contemporary and captivating twist to the story of “Peter Pan” and the Darling family. The genres for this novel are Magical Realism, Mythology and Folk Tales, and Literary Fiction. There is a dash of Suspense, Romance, and Satire. The timeline of the story is told from the author’s present view and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. In other words, this is a timeless story. “A “Fairy Tale” is usually about “magical” and imaginary beings and lands”(Dictionary) The names of the characters are the same as in the original fairy tale. The author describes her dramatic and colorful characters as complex, complicated, good and evil, dark, quirky, and flawed. Of course, there is a dog also!! I love the way the author vividly describes this adult version, the characters, plot, and scenery.

Holly Darling, (Wendy’s granddaughter) has a doctorate and works with various chemical and some biological elements, and has a profitable company. Every woman and some men want to look younger. Wendy’s true motivation is to keep her son healthy. After a tragic accident with her family, She has watched out for his safety. Wendy also has some dark, deep secrets, that not even her son to mother knows about.

Although the Darling family always has had a fascination with Peter Pan, Wendy knows that he is not what he seems, and he is very dangerous and treacherous. Peter also has some private business with Wendy, and she wants to protect her family from him. Does she know she will have to get outside help but is there, anyone, that she can trust?

I appreciate many of the themes in this story, drug abuse, and use, coming of age, pressures of growing up, and the pressures of staying young. Women seem to be under more pressure from society to look a certain way. The author also discusses the importance of mothers, family, taking responsibility and growing up, and the importance of friends, love, and hope. I enjoyed this thought-provoking novel and highly recommend this for other readers to enjoy!

What I enjoyed

Characters

One of my favorite things about this book was the characters. I love Peter Pan, so I was drawn to this story. The characters in this book were interesting, and it was a mixture of characters, you know, like Jane, Wendy’s daughter, and new ones, like Holly, Jane’s daughter. Holly and her kids are the main characters, and they were the most interesting stories to follow. Holly and her kids also had the most developed personalities and backstories to follow.

Plot

I love the plot of this story. When adapting or reading a story like Peter Pan, one that is known, and one that people look for new, takes on, you need something to keep you interested. Darling Girl includes a new story with interesting elements. The plot was one of my favorite elements of this book.

Writing

I enjoyed the writing of this novel. The lighthearted scenes had a light tone, and they wrote the heavy scenes with a serious edge. Liz Michalski's writing style works well to tell this story.

What didn’t work for me

Pace

Some of the pace in this story was so slow. I felt like they could have talked some things about more, and they could have talked some elements about more.