I think this is the first book that I have read that was set in Switzerland, the descriptions of the country were great. I like a 'family drama' book and was really drawn in from the synopsis of this book.
I really enjoyed the switching of timelines, this flowed really well, the characters were fantastic. Learning of the rights of women in Switzerland was part of the book I really enjoyed. A really thought provoking story with some education woven in (if you don't know the rights of women in Switzerland)

This book deals with woman’s rights in 1970 in Switzerland.
The descriptions of the scenery were amazing.
This book is well researched and very fascinating.

Unfortunately, did not connect with either woman in this dual-narrative tale. Neither proved compelling enough to engage my attention, so this ended up a humdrum read for me. The stakes just didn't seem to be there, and also, the character of Jess was a tad too much of a hot mess to empathize with, to be honest. Sadly, not for me

An interesting story that educated me about the women movement in Switzerland; something I had little to no knowledge of. I didn’t know what to expect or if I would enjoy this read but I found it extremely well written and it is clear that the research has gone into this. The characters are well developed and interesting, the plot works and it is nicely paced and I was engrossed from the start .
A recommended read.

This was a really well written and engaging read that had me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. A fantastic feminist read with very strong characters.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

This didn’t do it for me. I really struggled to get into it and unfortunately didn’t finish it as I struggled so much

Now this has my hooked from the very beginning, what a fantastic read!

Totally gripping, unputdownable and obsessive... I so desperately wanted to whizz through it but on the other hand didn't want it to end.

This is quite a tough one to review without giving anything away (no spoilers here).

Written in the past and present by a mother (Evelyn) and Daughter (Jess), it shows discovery, finding their places in the world, trying to find answers to questions they have and the struggles of womanhood in the present day but more so in the past.

Written beautifully in a beautiful setting this is the perfect all day Sunday book. The author paints the most amazing picture in your mind of each location and breathes life into it amazingly.

I cant believe this is Caroline Bishops debut novel, I will definitely be looking out for the next!

Huge thanks to netgalley and Simon and Shuster UK for the ARC.

Jess the daughter of Sylvia and Jim, 2 journalists, has a happy childhood and her marriage to Patrick is good but a snap decision after the sudden death of her mother leads to a devastating discovery. In a bid to unravel the truth she takes a job in Switzerland where her mother had been working when she was born. A very readable novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Other Daughter begins with a prologue that has a fabulous hook. I wanted to know what that decision was! And I was eager to keep reading to find out where it all fit together…

I really enjoyed the format of this story.

Sylvia’s experiences in 1976 as a female journalist, passionate about the big political issues that impact women’s lives and fighting to get something other than a women’s feature, finally gets to journey to Switzerland and write about the feminist movement. It was so easy to feel like I was a part of it all. The author’s knowledge is cleverly woven into the story making this informative as well as ‘entertaining’.

Sylvia’s narration is interspersed with Jess in 2016. Having gone through traumatic experiences, Jess is rootless and doesn’t know who she is anymore. On a sabbatical from her teaching job, she takes a teaching job in Switzerland where she tutors two children and lives in the family home. The levels of her crisis are revealed at just the right pace. There are enough clues to help build her backstory but still gaps in our knowledge – things we don’t know but need to for the full picture. Fabulous psychological suspense woven into Jess’s journey of discovery kept me tense and on edge. I never knew what she would do next! Her outward actions definitely reflect her inner turmoil. Jess is fragile when we first meet her but she finally gains strength in a resolution which changes her outlook.

These two narrations flowed and I loved that a couple of characters were involved in both narrations. I found it easy to identify with both women and unusually for me, didn’t have a favourite.

The Other Daughter is a fabulous debut that tangled me up in all sorts of emotions. It’s a captivating story of dark corners and secrets but also truth, healing and optimism. One for your lists.

I loved this beautifully written novel containing two themes close to my heart- women's rights and a woman's search for her birth mother . I was completely gripped by Jessica's story and loved the Swiss setting. An emotional and immersive read covering important issues with empathy and passion. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

A cleverly written book written from two perspectives, past and present. About two women’s lives. A good engaging feminist read.

What an amazing book. Dealing with Switzerland when woman’s rights have only changed in the last 40 years.

Woman were treated differently from men then and they couldn’t even have abortion then.

It is a dual timeline where it deals with Sylvia in 1976 who is pregnant and her daughter Jess in 2016 who has learned a few things over the years and has had a shock of the circumstances of her birth.

Sylvia was a journalist and did a article on Woman’s rights in Switzerland in 1976 and goes into labour while she is in Switzerland so she has Jess there.

Forty years later we are dealing with Jess who has a job in Switzerland looking after two children so they can learn English better. This gives the opportunity for Jess to investigate her birth and what happened when she was born.

It certainly kept you guessing will she get to the bottom of it all.

It was a very enjoyable book and I would recommend it.

‘The Other Daughter’ is the latest book by Caroline Bishop.

When Jessica discovers a shocking secret about her birth, she leaves her London home and travels to Switzerland in search of answers. She knows her journalist mother spent time in the country forty years earlier, reporting on the Swiss women’s liberation movement, but what she doesn’t know is what happened to her while she was there. Can Jess summon the courage to face the truth about her family, or will her search only hurt herself and those around her even more?

It’s difficult to go into too much detail about this book, without giving too much away but it’s a beautifully written story about a search for answers.

The story is written in the past and present of mother and daughter Evelyn and Jess. After her mother died, Jess discovered something that left any unanswered questions, taking her to Switzerland looking for answers. Whilst in Switzerland, she works for a professional couple called Julia and Michael, teaching their children Lea and Luca, English. As Jess helps improve the children’s English, she’s determined to find some answers to her past.

The past narrative is seen from Evelyn, who aspires to be a successful journalist writing current affairs and hard hitting stories in the 1970’s, but it’s difficult to be taken seriously as a writer in male dominated industry and she finds herself the butt of jokes. But persistence pays off when she travels to Switzerland to follow a women’s movement looking for equality. But just as her career has taken off, Evelyn becomes pregnant and fears that all her hard work will be for nothing when the baby is born.

This book is a beautifully written story of two women finding their places in life and the struggles they have faced along the way. I loved Evelyn, her passion and determination for equality and for her own right to work made for fascinating reading. It’s was also incredibly reflective of how far society has moved forward. Granted, we’re still along way of from the ideal scenario but, to think of time when a woman couldn’t stand at a bar to order a drink made for astounding reading.

Caroline paints a vivid picture with her writing, whether it was the bustling city of London or the Swiss Alps, she sweeps the reader away in this poignant tale. This book is Caroline’s debut novel and I thought it was a tremendous, story, well paced with relatable characters and never once did my interest waver.

Jess was also an interesting woman who’s faced some struggles, things that should have come naturally to her have been cruelly taken away and she battled emotions with this and this does make for sympathetic and relatable reading.

A fascinating story into the exploration of women’s rights and one woman’s journey into the background of her birth, ‘The Other Daughter’ is an emotional story that really engaged my attention.

You can buy ‘The Other Daughter’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. A debut author and a fantastic first book.

I was transported away through the power of words , set in beautiful Switzerland.

Evocative,atmospheric and descriptive.

Thought provoking and gripping I raced through this eager to know the truth.

Beautifully written and captures the readers imagination.

Published 18th February

The Other Daughter is an emotional story of the overriding power of love and family bonds, compassion and acceptance after secrets come to light that turn Jessica’s life upside down.

An excellent debut novel from Caroline Bishop. The characters are wonderfully depicted, the pace is good and the story flows really well between the dual timelines and narratives. The beautifully-described Swiss setting, along with the mysteries and Jessica’s quest to unravel the truth, made this novel a really compelling read.

I found the story very informative and I certainly feel enlightened about issues that are not well known outside Switzerland. The author has clearly well-researched the historical and political climate of Switzerland in the 1970’s and she has then successfully penned a novel that I would highly recommend.

I am grateful to the publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, via NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fabulous story - families, mysteries and an insight into a country's history I knew nothing about.

Jessica has a lot on her plate; having discovered something about her past which may well affect her future and when she's given the chance to pursue the truth, she embraces it. Heading off to Switzerland for the summer, ostensibly as a Nanny, Jess wants to trace events from almost four decades ago. Will she finally unravel the mystery and make peace with herself?

A beautifully written story about how the past impacts on the present, this debut novel has a very eye-catching cover and I look forward to hearing more about this author. I found it very easy to empathise with Jess and was always considering what I would have done in her position. The revelations about the lack of equality for Swiss women in the seventies - at a time when I was starting my first job - took me by surprise and discovering some of the social practices regarding children really shocked me but it was all a necessary part of history leading to Jess's discoveries. There is never a dull moment in this novel and I found myself egging on Jess at the same time as feeling immense sympathy for her predicament. A lovely, rewarding read; one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.

This is the second book that I’ve read from Simon & Schuster based on women’s liberation. Caroline Bishop’s debut spans Switzerland and London from the present day to that of 1976. As a woman reading about women’s rights is interesting as much as it is liberating. I’ve always believed I must vote as I have that right thanks to women fighting for us. I mean it’s not always an easy decision especially in this country but it’s a waste and it’s also selfish and ungrateful if we don’t.

We’ve come a long way but in certain aspects there is still a way to go for women to feel equal. In reading about Switzerland’s laws in many ways has made me feel grateful for the life I have and has also had me in wonder about the rest of the world.

Now how do I do justice to this truly outstanding debut, there’s so much I want to say and also a lot I shan’t say but this story will pull you in make you smile, cry and love the life you have.

From the off I knew Jess was chasing answers but I don’t even think she realised just how much she would find out. Grief takes it’s toll on us in a number of ways and in doing something truly amazing to honour her mother’s memory she’s given a shock that will change her world. In finding out this nugget of information Jess is tormented and her marriage, her want to become a mother and even her career are stretched to the limit. That is when her godmother tells her to take time out and search for the answers that will hopefully give her the closure she needs to start afresh in life.

In heading to Switzerland Jess becomes a Nanny for two amazing kids in Lea and Luca. It’s a different way of life out there and it has her wondering more and more. She goes through a number of emotions and even finds herself resenting Julia their mother but the turnaround later in the novel is heartwarming. I really enjoyed the women coming to loggerheads and how it changed their relationship for the better.

Sylvia- is a force of nature and I loved her from the off. I studied Journalism and sadly understand how hard a career it is. I loved Sylvia’s passion not only for her own career but for that of women as a whole. She goes through a rollercoaster of emotions and there are a number of times when you find yourself screaming at her or wanting to hug her.

At 8% left my heart literally burst this novel took me through a multitude of emotions, shedding a tear and had me wanting more and more throughout. A beautifully crafted debut I look forward to what Caroline does next.

This was a fascinating book to read and an impressive debut novel. In the background, we have the story about how Switzerland was starting to change, to allow more rights to women, many years after the changes in the UK. Jess is on a voyage of discovery, to find out more about what happened when her mother, a journalist, was covering the story at Swiss women’s rights and gave birth to her in Switzerland.

Jess is also coming to terms with a huge number of changes in her personal life, and is spending the summer teaching English to the children of a successful Swiss couple, which will hopefully help her process the changes – or will it make things worse?

The story covers history, the changes in women’s rights, dealing with the loss of loved ones and the loss of future hopes and dreams. I enjoyed curling up with this book and watching the story unfold, as we moved backwards and forwards in time. The writing brought the characters and the beautiful scenery of Switzerland to life as Jess tried to work out the events that happened when she was born. This is a non spoiler review so I’m having to be very careful not to give any clues to the various mysteries involved in this story.

I found this well written book to be thought provoking about how women’s rights have changed, and also how “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side”. How often are people jealous about other peoples lives without realising that they may not be as happy or fulfilled as you might imagine? Happy to recommend this book – I’ve added a 5 star review to online bookstores and communities. I look forward to reading more from Caroline Bishop in the future.

This is a new author to me. The story is set over two timelines and centred around Jess, who discovers a shock secret about her birth and Sylvia, her mother, a journalist reporting on the Women’s Liberation Movement in Switzerland. The story synopsis sounded interesting, however for the first half of the book I found it slow going and the political content to be very dry. The second half of the book where the two story lines come together was more enjoyable.