Her Daughter’s Mother

by Daniela Petrova

G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Publication Date : June 18, 2019

Pages : 320

Synopsis From Publisher:

Lana Stone has never considered herself a stalker--until the night she impulsively follows a familiar face through the streets of New York's Upper West Side. Her target? The "anonymous" egg donor she'd selected through an agency, the one who's making motherhood possible for her. Hungry to learn more about her, Lana plans only to watch her from a distance. But when circumstances bring them face-to-face, an unexpected friendship is born.

Katya, a student at Columbia, is the yin to Lana's yang, an impulsive free spirit who lives life at the edge. And for pragmatic Lana, she's a breath of fresh air and a welcome distraction from her painful breakup with her baby's father. Then, just as suddenly as Katya entered Lana's life, she disappears--and Lana might have been the last person to see her before she went missing. Determined to find out what became of the woman to whom she owes so much, Lana digs into Katya's past, even as the police grow suspicious of her motives. But she's unprepared for the secrets she unearths, and their power to change everything she thought she knew about those she loves best...

Entertainment is just one of the reasons why I love reading. Reading also offers the opportunity to learn and explore. For me there is nothing better than a book which opens my eyes to the lives of others. In Her Daughter’s Mother we meet a couple struggling to have a child. I am aware some couples battle with infertility, however I did not know about the potential solutions. The key word being potential. What I found extremely heartbreaking is a couple could go through several fertility treatments and still not conceive. To deal with the cost, the painful procedures, injections without conceiving is unimaginable to me. Her Daughter’s Mother is not only a suspenseful and captivating read, it is also thought provoking and eye opening.

Meet Lana Stone; an Art Curator in New York City for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lana and her partner Tyler have longed for a baby. The fertility treatments have become all consuming and are taking a heavy toll on their relationship. Just as Lana’s and Tyler’s dreams of parenthood become reality, their relationship ends leaving Lana lonely and heartbroken. 

While on the subway Lana encounters the woman who’s eggs are giving her the chance to be a mother. Curiosity gets the better of Lana and she follows her egg donor. Lana and her egg donor, Katya meet and become friends. Then suddenly Katya disappears. Lana is devastated and begins to search for Katya on her own. Realizing she may have been the last person to see Katya alive her investigation intensifies, placing Lana in an extremely complicated and dangerous situation. 

Her Daughter’s Mother takes place in New York City. Petrova expertly captures the vibrant energy of the city. The hustle and bustle, the diversity, the noises all play out in the background of Her Daughter’s Mother. I have been lucky to visit New York City several times this last year. Petrova’s depiction of the famous city is the most accurate I have ever read. I enjoyed reading about Lana’s daily commute and being able to picture the locations in my mind as I read.  

I have read a few books about couples who struggle to conceive. I found it very hard to connect with the characters. Mostly because the characters were rich and able to afford countless treatments. Lana and Tyler make a good living but are by no means rich. The fertility treatments are chipping away at their savings. This difference made Lana relatable. What made Lana even more relatable and admirable was her strength. After her break up with Tyler, Lana continues the journey alone as a single parent. Unwilling to give up her dream of motherhood just because she is without a boyfriend or husband. 

Her Daughter’s Mother is told from three perspectives; Lana’s, Katya’s and Tyler’s. These multiple perspectives give the story depth as Lana, Katya, and Tyler are all harboring secrets. Petrova also uses alternate times lines. Katya’s perspective is told in the past leading up to her disappearance while Lana’s and Tyler’s story takes place in the present. Multiple perspectives and alternating timelines may seem like a lot, but Petrova expertly wove each story and timeline linking them together into a gripping and enthralling read. 

Katya is a very complex and interesting character. I wish I could dive more into her story but I do not want to give too much of the story away. However readers will love, hate, and pity Katya. I love characters that stir up multiple emotions. The way I saw Katya at the beginning of the book is entirely different from how I felt after I finished.

Her Daughter’s Mother is on track to be one of the most buzzed about books of the summer. Her Daughter’s Mother has been named by O Magazine and Publishers Weekly as a must read and I whole heartedly agree. Her Daughter’s Mother has set the bar high for this year’s summer releases.  

**Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my free review copy of Her Daughter’s Mother**

Murder and Moore Rating : 

5 out of 5 Stars