As a parent, book like these really pull me in. I want to know what happened and what is coming. This was a one sitting read for me. It was so good and well written.

Family and trauma is usually so hard to overcome but this family is different. This book made me cry and cheer for them. It was heart wrenching at times but I couldn’t put it down!

To Save My Daughters was an emotional page-turner of a story which I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

To Save My Daughters by Louise Guy is a deeply moving and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of family, trauma, and redemption. The story centers on June Marlow, who, after enduring years of domestic abuse, is convicted of her husband’s murder—a crime she claims was committed in self-defense. Now, nearly 30 years later, as her release from prison approaches, June hopes to reunite with her daughters, Lu and Cole. However, the path to reconciliation is fraught with pain and unresolved emotions, especially for Cole, who was present the night of the incident and has never forgiven her mother. The author masterfully tells a story that explores the enduring impact of past traumas and the challenges of rebuilding trust. The characters are richly developed, and their emotional journeys resonate deeply. This novel is an important reminder of the strength of family bonds and the possibility of healing, even after years of separation and silence. It’s a compelling story that stays with you long after the final page. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to the next.

OH. MY. HEART. I devoured To Save My Daughters in one sitting, completely captivated. If you're a fan of family dramas that delve into family secrets and the dysfunction it can create, I highly recommend reading this!

In this book, we meet June Marlow, a woman who has spent nearly thirty years in prison for the murder of her husband—a crime she claims was committed in self-defense to protect her daughters from his abuse.

As her release date approaches, June is filled with hope and apprehension about reuniting with her daughters, Lu and Cole. Lu, the younger daughter who is an artist, is eager to welcome her mother back, longing for the connection they once shared. In contrast, Cole, a trauma counselor, who was ten years old at the time of the incident, harbors deep resentment and unresolved trauma, having never forgiven June for what happened.

The story unfolds as a television crew becomes interested in documenting June's return, bringing long-buried secrets to light and forcing each family member to confront their past. One daughter is very much in favor of this idea; the other is dead-set against it.

To Save My Daughters stays with you long after the final page. It speaks to the enduring power of love and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley, Louise Guy, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this FIVE-STAR, "everything is not always as it seems" book in exchange for a review!

This book is available to read for free if you're a Kindle Unlimited member.

To save my Daughters by Louise guy investigates June Marlow who was arrested for the murder of her husband nearly 30 years ago.

Despite being married and having kids this was not a happy marriage. June was terrorized by the man who claimed to love her. Ashamed to admit the years of abuse, she finally lost it and took matters into her own hands. She was found guilty despite the claims of self defense.

Now years later, June's release date nears, she is apprehensive about re entering society, but excited to reunite with her girls. But the girls that were little when she went away are all grown up now.

Lu is desperate for June's homecoming but her sister Cole feels differently. Cole was 10, and there that night it all went down, she remembers things differently and hasn't forgiven her mother for what she did.

Thank you Louise for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

A real age turner. A reunion of a Mom, released from prison and the 2 daughters she went to prison to protect.. Very different feelings from both daughters. Thought provoking and heartbreaking!

To Save My Daughters is a heartbreaking story of a family torn about by abuse and murder.

A mother is sentenced to years in prison for killing tee abusive husband. Her daughters are devastated but in different ways. They don’t seem to agree the mother got what she deserved or didn’t get what she deserved.

Almost 30 years later and their mom is going to be released. There are mixed emotions with all the family and friends. They come together to welcome her home but with only a couple days of being out there is another bomb shell and now the mom has to convince the daughter who didn’t believe in her self defense plea that the choice she made was the right one.

June Marlow killed her abusive husband in self defence but was still sent to prison. Her biggest fear was that she would never see her daughters again. A great read

I loved him… but I loved my daughters more. I knew what I had to do. I had to protect them.

To Save My Daughters is an emotional thriller that examines family, trauma, and the possibility of redemption. The novel’s protagonist, June Marlow, was found guilty of killing her abusive husband nearly 30 years earlier. As her release date nears, she longs to be with Lu, her daughter who’s excitedly awaiting her, and Cole, who’s still traumatized by the past and unforgiving.

Louise Guy’s novel masterfully blends past and present, creating a suspenseful story filled with poignant revelations and long-hidden secrets. June is shown as a vulnerable character, fighting the stigma of her past while holding onto hope for a future with her children. Lu and Cole’s alternating points of view illuminate how trauma affects memory, loyalty, and love, thus deepening the novel’s psychological impact.

As the Marlow family confronts their haunting past, the suspense ratchets up, creating a captivating read. The story examines survival, the effects of domestic abuse, and the challenging path to forgiveness. The novel explores the unsettling idea of whether it is possible to truly break free from the past.

To Save My Daughters offers a powerful and moving story that will appeal to readers who appreciate psychological dramas and domestic thrillers. This novel’s complex narrative and powerful themes leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Wow. This is a very emotional, exciting and page turning book. I couldn't put it down. The story of a mother and what she will do to protect her children it is heavy, emotional and an all in great read. But even more so this is how a family deals with the aftermath of family violence, how each person in a family sees and remembers things and how things are not always as they seem.

A book that may not be for everyone as it is quite intense but it is a great, well written and heartfelt story. The author did it justice and brought many questions to the fore. I highly recommend this book if you like an emotional, heavy, at times dark and in tense read.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A book about things aren’t always what we think they are. When the brain changes our perceptions it changes our ways we move in life and the way the author unravels this was great!

This book was heavy - I read the authors note, and went in pretty open about what I was expecting. However, the depth of the emotion felt? That was far heavier than I ever thought possible.

June spent so long feeling shame - holding onto the shame of being a woman abused by. her husband. She never told anyone, she never spoke up - because of that shame. That shame and fear kept her silent until one night she felt her daughters were in danger and she defended all 3 of them - because of the lingering shame of abuse and the fact that she never had spoken up, she was convicted of murder and sent to jail - leaving her 2 young daughters to be raised by their grandmother.

Elena, her mother, has done her best - trying to keep the girls going following the violence, and never quite knowing exactly how bad it was. Lu visited. her mom often in prison, and so there was nothing but excitement from her to see her mom released from prison. Cole however, was 10 when her father was killed, and she remembers and feels things very differently than her sister. She has never visited her mom in prison, nor has she ever felt like she could forgive her mom.

For 28 years secrets remained locked up with June in prison. The truth of that night never really was correctly explained or shown, but through it all - the secrets unraveling, the re-introduction of Juneto society and to her daughters, the fact remains very clear - June LOVES her daughters and would do anything possible to keep them safe, no matter the cost.

This was just so heavy and yet so, so good. It's so easy to judge someone by their outward appearance, but the truth is you never know what is going on behind closed doors. Domestic Violence is very prevalent and I believe that this story is just truly needed to be shared.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review

To Save My Daughters by Louise Guy kept my interest the entire time even though there were several different stories going on at the same time. Louise Guy wraps them up quite well. There is a warning of the triggers at the beginning of the book. I really enjoyed the story and all of the characters as they all came together. The title of the book is very appropriate as the mother really did save her daughters, even if they weren’t aware of it. I liked that therapy was handled in such a positive manner.

Thanks to Louise Guy, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

A real page turner and like other reviewers I couldn't put it down. A fabulous story which had me gripped right away. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Wow! Louise guy has an absolute hit on her hands with this book. It's absolutely brilliant and a real page turner. Fantastic ending as well.

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This story was very insightful and interesting to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. I am very happy to say that this is my first 5 Star Reading of 2025!!!

Cole & Lu were just kids when Cole was a witness to seeing her mom stabbing her father. After being found guilty her mom has been incarcerated for the last 28 years. Now there is a parole hearing coming up and there is a good chance that June will be released and will be coming home. Lu has kept up a relationship with her mom throughout her incarceration but Cole cannot bring herself to forgive her mom and has never kept in contact. Tori is a local journalist and is doing a cover story on June's case. As we delve into this case and Tori interviews June and Lu, we start to learn what happened that terrible night and why it happened. Tori will learn all the details about this case and maybe even some details that she was not expecting.......great story, great writing and the final twist was well done....Enjoy!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of To Save My Daughters by Louise Guy. This was a very heavy and emotional read. It is about feelings, emotions, domestic violence, and adoption. This story was well written with a couple of unexpected twists. The story really made you think. It is a very powerful story written with great care and compassion. I would highly recommend this book to others. It was a 4 star read for me. Well done!!

3.5 stars
This is an interesting story that I did find immediately engaging. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and they have both been well written.
There were definitely parts that were very predictable - though that wasn’t enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story.

For some reason I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Even the ones that were supposed to be sympathetic I didn’t always like and so in ways this story just didn’t reach me the way I would have expected and it meant I could put the book down easily. I wasn’t riveted to turning the pages.

There are hard topics covered in this story. In particular domestic violence is a main topic so if that is a trigger for you then you shouldn’t pick this one up.

Despite it lacking an emotional connection for me at times the story is an interesting one. If you are a fan of contemporary/women’s fiction then you should give this well written story a try.