Daughter is a compelling family drama centred around Mona, a twenty-something playwright, and her tumultuous relationship with her father, Paul. The emotional core of the novel resides in the complex and toxic bond between Mona and Paul, a narcissistic figure with seemingly no redeeming qualities. The narrative unfolds as Mona, a successful playwright and actress, receives a letter from her teenaged half-sister, Eva, born from Paul’s second marriage to Cherry, cutting off all contact and declaring her as untrustworthy and unworthy of connection.
The story opens with Mona’s initial success in her career, her stable relationship with Wes, her partner and fellow actor, and the semblance of a content life. However, Eva’s letter serves as a catalyst for a series of flashbacks, revealing the events leading up to this estrangement.
Paul, a successful writer, is the elusive and emotionally distant father who had little involvement in Mona’s life since he left her mother, Natasha, for Cherry. Their infrequent meetings at restaurants follow a repetitive pattern, with Paul undermining Mona’s self-esteem while simultaneously motivating her to succeed. Mona’s older sister, Julie, distances herself from Paul, deeming him destabilising, and criticises Cherry for her controlling and unkind nature. Despite the emotional hardships, Mona has always sought approval and connection within her father’s life and has made efforts to get closer to Eva.
During a period of temporary intimacy, Paul confides in Mona about his affair with Lee, his assistant on a book tour, and contemplates leaving Cherry. Mona keeps this affair secret and shares her frustrations with Cherry’s coldness and her own struggles in drama school, her love for Wes, and other personal challenges. Paul ultimately chooses to reveal the affair with Lee instead of leaving Cherry, betraying Mona by exposing her secrets to regain Cherry’s trust. Eva’s letter of estrangement solidifies Mona’s exclusion from their lives.
Mona attempts to reach out to Eva, apologise, and explain, but Eva remains unresponsive. Meanwhile, Paul returns to life with Cherry, leaving Mona once again at the periphery. Juliet empathises with her sister but can offer limited support due to her own family obligations. Mona seeks solace with Wes, her supportive boyfriend, who advises her to sever ties with Paul, Cherry, and Eva. However, Mona continues to long for her father’s approval.
Eva experiences a pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage, followed by severe complications. Wes intervenes to save her life, and Juliet provides support. Natasha, Paul’s first wife, steps in to help Mona recover, but her highly strung presence proves overwhelming for Mona.
Mona reconnects with Ani, her best friend from drama school, who previously dated Wes and caused some pain by revealing a secret about Mona’s past – her rape by a drama teacher named Magnus Beck. Ani’s betrayal is forgiven as the truth about the assault comes to light, and Wes confronts Magnus Beck, leading to a viral incident and a surge in Wes’s acting career.
Mona and Wes visit Paul and Cherry on an island inherited from Cherry’s first husband. There, Mona faces isolation and Cherry’s undermining behaviour, but she stands up for herself and vows never to return, with Wes supporting her in this decision.
Several years pass, and Mona’s interactions with Paul become infrequent. Paul summons Mona to attend Eva’s wedding, where he will give her away, but Juliet and Mona are not invited to the ceremony. Mona declines the invitation, citing her commitment to work on a film adaptation of her play and the inconvenience of the island wedding. Paul, secretly involved with a new mistress named Sigrid, feels threatened by Mona’s success and continues to deride her appearance.
Paul’s life takes a downward spiral when Cherry and Eva discover his affair with Sigrid and cast him out. He ends up in a storage facility where he keeps possessions from his marriage to Natasha. Mona visits her father in the storage facility, and he gives her three unfinished manuscripts, which she passes on to Judd, Paul’s publisher.
Wes, during an audition for a major film role, encounters Magnus Beck as the director, assaulting him in response to Mona’s rape. The incident goes viral, leading to numerous women accusing Magnus Beck of rape and harassment. Wes’s acting career experiences a sudden boost.
Mona later meets Paul again, knowing she is pregnant. He criticises her appearance, and they exchange grievances. Paul reveals that he has returned to Cherry, leaving Eva as the only one still estranged from him. Mona has come to terms with Eva’s decision and looks forward to raising her child.
In an epilogue, Mona has given birth to a baby girl. The manuscripts Paul gave her are published with little acclaim, highlighting the influence of Natasha’s editing on Paul’s past success. Wes achieves success in his acting career, and Mona proudly informs her father that she has written a novel to be published.
This is a family drama that delves into the toxic relationship between Mona and her narcissistic father, Paul. The novel explores the ways in which the women in the story, particularly Mona, navigate their complicated relationships with Paul. Despite the challenges they face, the resilience of the female characters is evident, as they confront issues such as abandonment, betrayal, and personal trauma. The narrative also highlights the consequences of Paul’s actions and the ultimate unraveling of his loveless marriage with Cherry.