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5 stars for this full of hope read! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Huge Diane Chamberlain fan checking in! The Dream Daughter is easily vying for top spot in my favorite reads from her.

In the opening scene, Carly, a physical therapist, is introduced to Hunter, a mysterious psychiatric patient doctors think was injured during an attempted suicide. Flash forward several years, and Hunter is married to Carly’s sister, Patti.

In that same time period (the early 1970s), Carly finds out that her unborn baby has a heart defect. There’s no treatment for the defect in 1970, and the baby will likely not survive after birth. Hunter has an idea and offers his plan to Carly.

The Dream Daughter is all about a mother’s love and sacrifice. The ups and downs that Carly experiences once on the journey to save the life of her child are felt viscerally. I read the ending with relish. Not too neat or tidy, but completely fulfilling for the characters in which I was completely invested.

Chamberlain is a master storyteller. Those who love her know we can rely on her for a breathtaking read. The Dream Daughter is about love for family and love for child. Most of all, it is about believing that anything is possible with hope.

On a personal note, my alma mater was referenced in the book, as were several of my favorite places in North Carolina. I always feel like I’m going home when I read a Chamberlain book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the physical copy. All opinions are my own.