I didn't reread the book blurb before I started this book, so I went into it cold. When I got to the last 10% of the story, I still had no idea where it was going. That's a testament to the good writing. I really didn't know what was actually going on. Was this going to end up being a women's fiction book and mainly about the friendship and the individual journey of the main character? Was it going to end in lots of violence and with something truly awful happening to "poor little Daisy"?

The story has lots of things going for it. There is the divorce that is heartbreaking for Tasha, her addiction (unknown type of addiction through most of the book), her having to rely on her ex and his new woman for childcare, the strange and dangerous things that keep happening to her daughter, and the possibly violent child of the other woman. It really kept me flipping the pages in eagerness to try to figure it all out.

This was my first book by Sheila Norton, but I am now eager to go back and read some of her other works.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

This one kept me reading, with its twist and turns, while two families are navigating, the way life is now. I am kind of speechless of what to write, because the story unfolded so well, but there was mystery and intrigue, and the ending that was nothing I ever expected. It was amazing with so many emotions felt, and never sure what was going to happen next.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

This was an emotional and heartfelt read that deals well with family break ups and trauma. I really enjoyed it and felt the characters were realistic and believable.

In the aftermath of a challenging breakup, Tasha navigates the complexities of single motherhood as her six-year-old daughter, Daisy, adjusts to a life divided between two households. Daisy spends time going between Tasha’s household and that of her father’s (Craig). Craig has a glamorous new partner, Kirsty and her daughters, Ameila and Freya. Things are not going well when Daisy is at her father’s house, as she is treated poorly by Amelia; often experiencing physical injuries. Tasha must depend on Craig and Kirsty to care for Daisy while she works, but she begins to fear for Daisy’s safety due to the bullying and “accidents.” This is a story that examines the challenges of blended families, divorce, and the impact on the children. Tasha’s journey illuminates the harsh realities faced by parents who must make difficult choices for their children’s welfare in order to provide for them. At times, the pacing seemed slow, nevertheless, the depth of the character development maintained my engagement. The revelation of secrets amid the family dynamics was surprising at the end. This is a gripping family thriller. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I have enjoyed previous books by this author, and 'My Daughter's Keeper' did not disappoint. I was invested in Tasha and Daisy's story throughout, and I felt that Norton dealt with the issue of gambling addiction subtly and sensitively, creating real compassion for Tasha. Although the title doesn't seem to really relate to the content of the book, this was a minor niggle. Ultimately, this was an engaging family drama, with unpredictable twists. Although not all likeable, the characters were believable and interesting, and I enjoyed seeing their relationships develop throughout the book.

I truly enjoyed this story!
It has suspense, sadness, and a lot of psychological turmoil!
Daisy's mom and dad split and her dad moves in with another family. This new family appears to have everything and Daisy would like to have it too!
How does six year old Daisy cope?
She is now splitting her time in a new, beautiful home with her newest family.
This is creating some anxiety, insecurities and fear.
Why?
There are many twists and turns within the pages of this wonderful book and I was absorbed, especially as we discover the reason for the fears of Daisy.

It is a good summer read and one that will surely have you turning the pages!
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Boldwood Books for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

My Daughter’s Keeper is a what I would call a domestic mystery, exploring children’s struggles and the roles their parents play as their protectors and as individuals. Daisy is a little kid processing her parent’s divorce as she spends time with her dad, Craig, at the home of his new partner Kristy and her daughters. Daisy makes fast friends with Freya, one of the daughters, but she reveals to her mother, Tasha, that older daughter Amelia is a bully who may be trying to hurt Daisy. Between Daisy adjusting to new environments and schedules with her step family and a new school, and reports that she’s not speaking, this little girl is going through a lot and by extension Tasha wants to try to help her as much as possible, especially with putting the kibosh on Amelia’s antics. Through this, Tasha has her own struggles both with money and her conflicting feelings about Kristy and realizations about Craig.

The majority of this book is really well done, teasing the mysteries of why Tasha is struggling so much with money and what Amelia is up to while also addressing the very real life emotions that come with family changes post divorce, new partners, and the heartbreak of watching your child struggle and not knowing what’s best to do (or being able to do it). The last part, however, introduced a jarring twist that wasn’t needed and felt rushed and not befitting the larger story. Besides that, the book has plenty of heart and the balance of drama and mystery that was well done.

I received a free copy of, My Daughter's Keeper, by Sheila Norton, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Tasha has divorced her cheating husband Craig. Their daughter Daisy shuffles between both houses, Craig's mistress also has children, but they take after there mother. When Daisy says she is being hurt , Tasha does not know what to do. All the adults in this book are horrible people, this was such a depressing read.

I really enjoyed this "edge of your seat" read. Very tense at times and extremely suspenseful. It was a great story and I really loved it. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I enjoy all of Sheila's books and this was no exception. I like the family dynamics that she often writes about and her characters are real and investable. This one was very readable and the tension was built throughout the story. The only thing I didn't particularly like is it felt quite repetitive at times and felt almost like that was to pad the story out for a couple more chapters. Other than that another cracking read.

Thank you for the advance copy and I cannot wait until the next one.

My Daughter's Keeper was a quick read that gave you a sense of "something just isn't right" throughout the book.

You are essentially reading about a mother who is trying to keep her life together and do what's best for her daughter after her long term boyfriend leaves her. When she has to start working more, she has to rely on her ex and his new family for childcare and while it starts off fine, things start to take a turn after awhile. Daisy is experiencing bullying and "accidents" from the older child in the new home. Tasha has to decide whether to keep sending her daughter to the "big house" with her new family or keep her safe at home but not be able to work and take care of finances.

You get a glimpse into what it is like to be a parent. Having to weigh your options and accept the fact that sometimes, there just really isn't a good choice. You sometimes have to do what you have to do and just go with the lesser of two evils. That doesn't mean it's easy though and as a parent, that guilt can weigh heavily. There are some thriller-esque vibes throughout the book and there were some hints dropped early on that led me to figure things out fairly quickly but that didn't change my enjoyment of the book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

An emotional story of relationship break-ups and their consequences. Child bullying with malicious intentions, child unhappiness, and addiction. So well written , the reader feels helpless, just having to wait to see the outcome. excellent reading.

"My Daughters Keeper" is a book about Tasha, her long term boyfriend Craig and their daughter Daisy. The morning after her 40th birthday Craig tells her that he's leaving her, not for a younger model but for his wealthy boss, Kirsty. Tasha navigates the whole process with dignity and does everything so that her daughter can have the best life. But what secret is Tasha hiding? And what is really going on in Kirstys big house? I can tell you one thing, you will not figure it out until the near end of the book. It's written with such suspense that it keeps you hanging on and it has me reading long into the night! Highly recommend!

My Daughter’s Keeper by Sheila Norton is a compelling family thriller that delves deep into the emotional bonds and buried secrets of a fractured family. With well-developed characters and heartfelt storytelling, Norton pulls you into the lives of her protagonists, making you genuinely care about their struggles and triumphs. The character development is a standout, leaving you invested in their outcomes and eager for the truth to finally come to light. It’s a relatively quick read, ideal for readers looking for a story that balances suspense with emotional depth. That said, the pacing does lag in a few spots, but the tension and stakes build steadily, pulling you back in just when things begin to slow.

What would you do if your child told you they were been hurt by someone you trusted.
When Craig Tash's partner tells her he leaving her and their daughter Daisy for another woman the day after her birthday, she has no idea especially as it's his boss Kirsty.
His promise is to always be a part of his daughters life and wants to spend as much time with her as he can. He's got it all worked out.
With Tash having to move house to be near him and her job.
But trusting Kirstys family felt right till her daughter Daisy begs her not too.
This book is very emotional and upturning.
The blaim lies with so many characters playing the part that makes it such a harrowing read.
I enjoyed every chapter to the very end that was so good.

Review of ‘My Daughter’s Keeper’ by Sheila Norton, due to be published on 21 August 2025 by Boldwood Books.

Tasha’s world is rocked on her 40th birthday by the revelation by her partner Craig, that he is leaving her for his boss, Kirsty, and moving in with her and her children, 12 year old Ameila and 7 year old Freya.

With no choice but to accept their new blended family life, Tasha is forced to take on more work to pay the bills, and rely on Craig’s new partner Kirsty for free childcare.

When Tasha’s daughter Daisy starts having little ‘accidents’ when over at Kirsty’s house, Tasha is anxious to get to the root of the problem and protect her little girl.

The story leads you in a certain direction and you feel sure you know what the outcome will be, however there are many twists and turns along the way that raises more questions about what is happening behind closed doors.

A great family thriller, with good character development that leaves you invested in the outcomes for the family, and urging the truth to be discovered.

I really enjoyed this family drama, a story of wanting to protect your child against another older child, even if that child is now part of your daughters blended family. Tasha was trying the best she could after her lover left her, but welcomed the childcare from his new partner Kirsty, until her daughter Daisy announced that Kirsty's oldest daughter Amelia could be cruel in her actions.
I found Craig's character slightly annoying, his actions and weak behaviour left a lot to be desired, especially where the care of Daisy was involved.
This was a gripping read, fairly fast paced with a few shocking moments.

3⭐️: This story follows Tasha after a breakup with her long term boyfriend and father of her child, Craig. Craig’s glamours new girlfriend Kirsty has daughters of her own—Amelia (12) and Freya (7). Their lavish lifestyle could not be more different than Tashas who struggles to make ends meet and resorts to online Bingo to find a solution, leading to a gambling addiction and severe debt. Tasha finds a solution to one problem and asks Kirsty to watch Daisy after school to avoid paying for childcare. After Daisy settles in to life between two homes, she begrudgingly confesses Amelia isn’t kind and can be violent at times. Tasha can’t shake the feeling her daughter is not safe around her new step sister, but she cannot afford to find childcare for Daisy. When secrets are revealed and lies are uncovered, Tasha begins to think things may be worse than she imagined.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be MOTHERHOOD. The writing allowed me to feel the emotional hardships, compassion, and tension through the pages. Though the story felt slow at times, I still enjoyed uncovering the truth of what was happening at Whitegate House. A heartfelt psychological family drama that will grasp your attention from the beginning.
I would recommend to those who enjoy suspense, family drama, and Jojo Moyes.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the digital arc!

This book was a relatively quick read, though it did drag in places. That said, I was compelled to keep reading to uncover what was really going on with Kirsty. I truly felt for Tasha—Craig leaving her for Kirsty made my blood boil, and to be honest, I wanted to shake some sense into him for most of the story. While the pacing was uneven, I did appreciate how everything wrapped up in the end. Still, I’m on the fence about recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I was so emotionally invested in this family drama. Recommend!