This book had me captivated from the start.. In 1970 Carly is newly widowed and finds out she expecting her husbands baby. Unfortunately a scan shows her baby is at danger with a serious heart condition. Carly will do anything to help save her baby even if the methods are unorthodox. The story follows her and her family as she makes the most important decisions of her life. Choosing between her baby and her family on many occasions makes this a spellbinding read.

Thanks to Diane Chamberlain, Netgalley and Pan books for the advanced e book copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As Chamberlain addresses in her acknowledgement, this is not her 'usual' novel. It has the usual elements of families and their relationships. The unusual element is the time travelling. Although I've only read two Chamberlain novels, I would always recommend them as they're just so easy to read. They flow really well. You don't spend half the book trying to remember who everyone is. And for once I managed to figure out the ending before it came, but in all the right ways.

Diane Chamberlain has a way of just drawing you in, her stories so real and truly believable characters you can really relate to. This is one of her best... but doesn't quite beat The Midwifes Confession! I devoured this over a weekend :)

It’s 1970, and Carly Sears receives devastating news - her unborn child has an inoperable heart condition, and will die shortly after birth. Still reeling from the death of her husband in Vietnam, she is heartbroken by the fact that nothing can be done.

Until brother-in-law Hunter says otherwise.

Personally, I’m a huge Diane Chamberlain fan, and so I was really excited to read her latest offering. Sure, I was a bit confused when the synopsis said it was ‘mind-bending’, but how weird could a Diane Chamberlain novel really be?

The answer is: super weird. Completely bizarre, totally unexpected, and yet somehow still brilliant.

I don’t want to ruin any of the fantastic twists and turns, so I won’t say too much in terms of plot. As normal, the writing is amazing - beautiful turns of phrase that made me dream of North Carolina.

The characters are so realistic and well written, and even seemingly minor background characters were really well fleshed out. Carly completely captured my heart, and the difficulties she faced made me ache for her!

At the start I did struggle a bit with a few elements of the story - it felt so far removed from her other novels, but give it time and it feels just like vintage Chamberlain with a modern twist.

All in all - weird, wacky, and wonderful, and definitely one I’d recommend.


Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not influenced this review, and all opinions are honest and my own.

I absolutely loved this book, I whizzed through it over one weekend, could not put it down. I loved everything about it.

I'm a huge fan of Diane books so knew I'd be in for a treat when I read this. I loved the story which was perfectly written, it was slightly different to her previous books but I still loved it. I literally could not put the book now, there were emotional moments, shocking moments, wow moments and there was even a couple of twists in this story that I totally wasn't expecting. The characters were all wonderful and flawlessly written and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them all.

If you haven't discovered this authors books yet, then please do not delay anymore as I can highly recommend her books as truly wonderful heartwarming and emotional reads.

Diane Chamberlain's books are really "feel-good" books. Just nice stories, with a human touch and that leaves you with a sense of being human again.
Highly recommended.

Loved this story. Such a beautiful yet at times heart breaking tale.
It's definitely one to read to uplift your spirit.

This was perhaps one of the most bizarre books I’d ever read, and because of the author I had not read any details of the story.
I actually laughed out loud when the concept of time travel was introduced and I considered not reading til the end. However I’m glad I did as it was a thoroughly good read!! I loved the concept and the ideas and was both overjoyed and then felt bereft as the story unfolded.
The character of Carly was so well written (from the point of view of a mother) and I loved how Hunter and Myra were woven in to her life.
I loved the ending as well and was so glad to hear of a happy ever after!

A bit of a departure from Chamberlain's usual themes. but still hugely enjoyable. Need to suspend your disbeliefs (or engage them depending on your point of view) as this involves several journeys through time and space in order to try and save the life of Carly Sears' unborn daughter. Ripples in time caused by unexpected events mean Carly's daughter is left in the future without her mother, so when Carly finds her, she has to make a heartbreaking decision over the best thing for them both.

Time travel explanations were kept vague enough that it doesn't completely baffle the reader or trigger too much of a sci-fi outcry! A great read that I'm sure I will be returning to soon.

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

I love Diane Chamberlain’s book, and love Time Travel books so how could this be anything but perfect. It had me gripped from the start and I couldn’t bear to put it down.

When Carly met Hunter in the hospital where she worked, he acted like he knew her, and she was able to get through to the man who had apparently tried to commit suicide where no one else could. Carly introduced him to her sister, and soon became his sister in law. Hunter and Carly’s husband Joe became best friend’s and life was perfect. Then Joe died in Vietnam and his baby growing inside her had a heart defect. Carly is told that there is nothing they can do. Hunter isn’t so sure.

A fabulous feel good book highlighting that most parents will do anything for their children.

The Dream Daughter, Diane Chamberlain

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction,

Ah no, not another “women's fiction” classification - why assume men won't read this?

Anyway, that aside, what a fabulous read. Enthralling, making me wonder “what if” ? Make me think about the temptation to change things in situations like this. Really though, the act itself must have repercussions and certainly Hunter is knowingly breaking the Golden rule when he helps Caroline, but then, how could he not help?

I loved the way little things were included so that the puzzle of Hunter not talking to anyone in the hospital and then seeing Caroline and getting her to help me – thus setting in motion the whole chain of events – ties up later in the novel where we find out just why Hunter talked to her while refusing help from anyone else.

The whole novel is so full of emotion, and light spots I didn't expect, but was so glad to find. Then there's the angst over Vietnam in 1970 to how its almost a passing historical note later. Its full of “what if” questions, what should one do if one has the knowledge, is the risk worth the benefit, how far would you go for your child's life? It gave me lots to think about.
I enjoyed the way it was formatted too, seeing both sides of the story concurrently. I'm old enough to recall the seventies as a teen and though I'm UK not US so much felt the same, life was so much simpler then even if it did mean that technology wasn't there to save babies like Caroline's. My grand-kids find it incredible we had no mobiles ( well apart from the ones hanging above cots!), no computers, games consoles, only three or four TV channels....it really is a different world now. I remember thinking my grandfather must see cars and aeroplanes as strange, growing up without them. Now I'm in the other side of progress.
I understood a bit why Patti ( Caroline's sister and Hunter's wife)was kept in the dark about the plans, but would have felt as she did, betrayed, devastated. Seeing how the decision affected their marriage and later, her relationship with Caroline was hard, I felt so much for both sides.
I've tried not to give too much away but it really is an incredible read, very believable and wraps up perfectly.

Stars: Five, a perfect read, full of terrific characters, real tough sacrifices and questions about how far we will go for loved ones.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

Beautiful story. Diane Chamberlain really knows how to write a story that pulls at your heart strings and keeps you captivated the whole way through. Forget about whether or not you believe time travel is possible. This story is about love that transcends all time barriers to prevail. It is about loving completely and doing what is right for someone no matter how much it will hurt you.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I really really do not like time travel books I find them unrealistic and boring

Then along comes Diane Chamberlain

Diane is one of my favourite authors for emotional well written fiction and with this book she steps away from her usual style

I don’t want to give too much away so I will be brief

Cariy’s baby has a heart defect and she has to time travel into the future to get life saving surgery for her baby

It sounds really corny but it really isn’t it’s well written and heartfelt and I would recommend this to anyone

I have enjoyed this book so much.i can usually know what will happen at the rand of books but with this one I couldn’t.no one believes in time travel until hunter comes along and explains it.i don’t know how Carly has the courage to jump of a bridge when pregnant,or even not when pregnant I kept expecting her to get hurt when she “stepped off “Diane chamberlain is one of my favourites,I try to read her books as soon as they published.excellent reading five stars xx

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Having read loads of this author's books iam never disappointed she is such a amazing story teller can highly recommend this book

This is my first read by this author.
Caroline Sears is told her baby has a heart defect. It is 1970 and little seems to be available medically to help. Then Caroline is given a lifeline by her brother in law Hunter to save the baby involving time travel.
I did not want to put this book down. I really enjoyed the characters and the story.
It does stretch the imagination a bit with the time travel but I would recommend it and will certainly read another book by this author

This book was absolutely not what I expected from Diane Chamberlain. While it initially starts like one of her other novels it takes on an unexpected sci fi twist. Long before fetal surgery is a thing, Carly discovers that her baby has a heart defect and isn't going to survive. Her brother in law comes up with an unusual plan to save her baby. I read this book really quickly and found it quite gripping. It's a really different type of novel and I really enjoyed it.

When I first reading this book I wasn't sure I was completely onboard with the time traveling premise, however the story was so compelling and Carly's story so poignant that I began to get drawn in. I really enjoyed it and found it a very touching and well written story. Thank you.