A strong debut from an author new to me, The Good Daughter is a compelling family drama filled with secrets, tension, and emotional depth. I enjoyed how Baker developed complex, believable characters and explored themes of loyalty and forgiveness with care.

The story unfolds steadily, drawing you into the characters’ struggles and past wounds. I look forward to seeing more from J.A. Baker.

I really appreciated how this book addressed SA and the lasting impact it can have, especially when it happens at such a young age. Baker did a powerful job telling Penny’s story through dual timelines, showing how her traumatic past continued to shape her future and how determined she was to seek justice on her own terms.
I also loved how the ending brought everything full circle, with the haunting past catching up to the perpetrator in more than one way. It’s a compelling mystery woven with themes of revenge, healing, and ultimately justice.

*Thank you to J.A. Baker, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

The Good Daughter was an OK read. It was a bit darker than y normal sort of book and the subject matter would not be something I would normally pick but it was well written and it seemed to have been well researched.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

t.w: sexual assault, ptsd, trauma

firstly, thank you to netgalley, the publisher and j.a. baker for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. all opinions are mine.

i really enjoyed this so much. the start of this book was graphic, painful to sit through and brought tears to my eyes. it was jarring, and it will be something i remember for a long time. it's an opening that will stay with me.

as a main character, penny is amazing. the way her trauma affects her is very well written and the vulnerability contrasts with her strength. the layers in this character are awesomely approached. i really love revenge arcs, especially when women take control over their lives and this book delivered that well. penny's emotional turmoil that no one will believe her, and the storyline with her mother was such a beautiful portrayal. the core of the story is that, yes, she needs to get justice but she also needs to share it with someone so close to her. someone who was meant to protect her.

another thing i really loved about this story was how the rapist's fate is in penny's hands now, just like hers was in his hands many years ago. and she didn't even have a choice.

i knocked off a star because at times, i felt the narrative could've been more crisp and it felt slightly too long and over detailed. apart from that, this was glorious.

🧠 Thoughts:
This was a slow-building, emotional thriller that definitely kept me on edge. The way the past and present came together gave me chills. I gave it four stars because it really pulled me in and made me feel everything the main character was going through.

📝 Summary:
Penny Collins was attacked in her home twenty years ago, and she’s always known who did it. Now, as a juror in a trial for another assault, she realizes the man being accused is the same one from her past. Penny has to decide whether to stay quiet or finally speak up. At the same time, she’s caring for her mom, who has dementia, which makes everything even harder. This book is full of emotion, tough choices, and one woman’s fight to take back control of her life.

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, J.A. Baker, and Boldwood Books for the chance to read and review this gripping thriller.

J.A. Baker's 'The Good Daughter' is a gripping and emotionally intense psychological thriller that hooks you from page one. Penny Collins's traumatic past, a vicious assault twenty years ago that her family downplayed, is the core of this engaging tale. Now that she is looking after her sick mother, the past catches up with her, driving Penny to confrontation.

The story really comes alive when Penny is seated on the jury of the man who supposedly did exactly what was done to her. This masterful premise sets up an instant, gut-wrenching tension. Baker skillfully probes ideas of justice, repressed pain, and the tangled ties of family. Penny's internal conflict to persuade the other jurors, despite fighting her own agony, keeps the reader riveted. Fans of Claire Douglas, Freida McFadden, and Lisa Jewell will enjoy the slow-burning suspense and the rewarding, if grueling, ride to truth. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a richly psychological and twisty thriller.

A true thriller, a little bit more on the darker side. I liked it but sometimes my interest in it weakened, especially when the plot slowed down. The twists are good!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

An intensely dark thriller, The Good Daughter definitely has triggers, but is well-written and seemingly well-researched. I enjoyed the court procedural feel while still feeling deeply invested in the characters. Again, just check the triggers.

Trigger warning: physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

The good daughter jumps between present day and the past.

Penny has been chosen for jury duty and gets the shock of a lifetime when her abuser is the one on trial. She conceals the fact that she knows him and sets about trying to convince her peers that he is guilty and wants to see the book thrown at him.

This was a little bit of a hard read in certain spots but still a really good thriller.

This book starts off with a rape. It is a uniquely written story. Great character development. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A good read
Slow at first
But got into it and really enjoyed it
With some twists in it as well
Thanks Netgalley

This one was a rough read. It didn't hold my attention but I was interested enough to want to finish it. 3 stars.

The start to this book was perfect.
It set the right tone and mood while gripping me in.

Mother Daughter flop in the story was stellar.

This book truly opens your eyes to more about the court system.

It’s definitely an emotional read between the past and present.

Highly recommend.

A well written drama which, although a bit slow to get into, it did pick up and I couldn't wait to see how it all panned out. Definitely a one to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Good Daughter by JA Baker is a gripping and emotional journey that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and I loved how the author brought out the complexities of their relationships and struggles.

While the pacing was a little uneven at times, the twists and revelations were totally worth it. If you enjoy family dramas with mystery and a lot of emotional depth, this one is definitely worth checking out!

Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Penny Collins has tried to forget the rape she endured as a teenager. Now as an adult, she is called for jury duty and the accused is her attacker...
The Good Daughter is a psychological thriller with an added layer of courtroom drama.
TRIGGER WARNING: this book begins with a rape and the court case also concerns another rape.
The book is written in two timelines: the present day to show Penny's experience of the being a juror and dealing with her mum's dementia, and the past where her mum Connie is unhappy about their living conditons and an unpleasant neighbour.
Penny is called up for jury service and recognises the defendant straight away as the man who attacked her years ago. She is determined to see justice even though her presence jeopardises the case itself. Can she convince the other jurors of his guilt so he is convicted at last?
The tone of this book is very dark and foreboding as events in both timelines progress. There are some big emotional issues which are sensitively but overtly depicted and the author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the plot. However, this does slow down the pace of the book whilst giving us insight into the characters.
The Good Daughter is a tense yet slow burning novel about revenge and being haunted by the past.

Fans of Frieda McFadden should be flocking to JA Baker. Her writing style seems to be pretty similar, and she seems to have a hefty backlist of thrillers (may or may not be adding them to my TBR as we speak). This book was giving *Runaway Jury* which I honestly loved. I liked the premise and plot, but I failed to connect with this book in a meaningful way.

I thought there were a lot of plot holes that the reader (me, at least) had to set aside in order to advance the plot (ex. the Plaintiff didn't recognize his victim...?). And in general, something about the pacing didn't hit for me. I kept finding myself being bored, and felt like this should have had me on the edge of my seat.

Content warning: SA. Takes place on page, early on in the book, but the book really centers on this event. Survivors, stay strong and protect yourself.

I liked this book but I can't say I loved it. It was repetitive in places, and I found it hard to connect to Penny. It was a really slow burner, but please give it a try this is my opinion, and you may very well like it.

This was entertaining and the ending was good. I had a hard time putting this down! Although this is fast paced, the characters are really well developed. If you enjoy thrillers, I would recommend this! Special Thank You to JA Baker, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.

I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping for the most part and I found myself cheering for the main character at the end. A difficult read as it deals with issues like sexual abuse and death and house fires but felt certain bits dragged on.

Would recommend.

A full review has been left on Goodreads