The Dream Daughter

(Diane Chamberlain)

While the premise of a mother travelling through time to save her unborn daughter has undeniable emotional pull, The Dream Daughter struggles under the weight of its own ambition.

The time-travel mechanics feel inconsistent, and a key plot twist relies on a character’s forgetfulness in the aftermath of 9/11 that strains credibility. The protagonist’s voice also wavers. At times she’s naïvely innocent, at others stoically resilient, and the shifts are disorienting rather than deep. Even the resolution, though wrapped up “sweetly,” feels predictable and neat in a story that was otherwise messy and thought-provoking.

Ultimately, for readers seeking tight science-fiction logic or emotionally complex character arcs, this one may disappoint.