I absolutely love the remix that authors do on some of our most famous fairy tales. For me, this one did not disappoint. The twist on the peter pan story is fabulous! ( )

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski is the fairytale retelling of Peter Pan and it’s definitely my favorite retelling I’ve ever read without question!

This is classified as a dark retelling due to a contrast of characters…however, there is still magical pixie dust ( )

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Darling Girl by Liz Michalski expands on the universe J.M. Barrie created with his classic 1904 work Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. Ms. Michalski is a former reporter, editor, and a published author.

Holly Darling, granddaughter of Wendy (from Peter Pan’s fame) is now a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. However, the family’s fame/curse of being associate with Peter Pan is coming back to haunt her and her family.

Eden, Holly’s comatose daughter has mysteriously disappeared, and Jack, her son is about to discover family secrets which she had tried to hide from him all his life. Her mother, Jane, still lives in a world where Peter Pan is the hero she dreams about, refusing to face what she sees and knows to be true.

My daughter bought this book from the Book of the Month club, but it wasn’t up her alley. I’ve enjoyed several retellings and expansions of the Peter Pan story previously, many of them turn the story upside down and figured I’ll read this one as well. Unlike many of the previous books, this one has a different take on how the Darling family coped with their fame, after Barrie published his book. Everyone assumed it was a work of fiction, but it was a verbal history dictated by Wendy.

To be honest, I almost put it down at first also. Wendy’s granddaughter uses some kind of Neverland magic powder to create successful skincare products, as well as taking blood from her comatose daughter to cure her sick son. It’s really well written though, so I kept reading to see where the story takes me. I also enjoyed the little winks to the original story.

I was surprise to learn that the author was an editor. Darling Girl by Liz Michalski dragged at many places, and was often dull, with several loose ends and a somewhat convoluted plot. I also had to re-read several pages because whatever happened simply didn’t make any sense.

Nevertheless, I finished the book and I can see why some people absolutely loved it, while others did not. It’s not for everyone (I guess you can say that about almost any other work), but it is imaginative, taking a different take on a famous story. ( )

2.5 Stars- Meh.
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From the get go, this book was iffy for me. It’s about the heir of Wendy (yes, that Wendy) who uses some kind of Neverland magic to create skin care products. She also has a comatose daughter that she takes blood from to give to her son to cure him of his ailments (this is also the Neverland magic used in her products ( )

"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it."
Life is looking up for Holly Darling, granddaughter of Wendy-yes, that Wendy. That is, until she gets a call that her daughter, Eden, who has been in a coma for nearly a decade, has gone missing from the estate where she's been long tucked away. And, worst of all, Holly knows who must be responsible: Peter Pan, who is not only very real, but very dangerous. Holly is desperate to find Eden and protect her son, Jack, from a terrible web of family secrets before she loses both her children. And yet she has no one to turn to-her mother, Jane, is the only other person in the world who knows that Peter is more than a story, but she refuses to accept that he is not the hero she's always imagined.
Okay so I am in love with Peter Pan retellings and this one has quickly become one of my favorites. I loved the idea behind this one. Peter Pan is the villain of this piece. This book takes place outside of Neverland and thus presents a different look at Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the Darlings. This was a story of family, love and a mother's devotion to her children. Even when faced with unimaginable odds.
Holly is a successful woman with a son who she adores and a wealth of secrets that could damage that relationship. Eden is perhaps her biggest and most important secret. A secret that has life changing consequences for Jack and Holly both. A trip to London soon unravels the life Holly has created and she has to confront her secrets and the fallout that comes with them. And she finds she must also face Peter again.
This book was hard for me to put down. It felt like every page was a new bit of information to the story and unraveling the mystery that was Holly's biggest secret. I adored the way the author made this a story about a mother's love for her children. One she showcases in various ways. I think this is now my favorite Pan retelling. It was so well written and engaging I honestly don't know what else to say besides go read it.
"The stars are not only above us, they are in us. May we shine brightly, dream deeply, and fly high all on our own." ( )