Good Daughtering (Dey Street Books)
As a little girl, I dreamed of one-day being a writer. Okay, so I thought it would be something more like historical romance novels (aka Bridgerton) but dreams do tend to shift and transform as we grow up.
About 10 years ago, I was struck by the idea of adult women doing A LOT in their families that gets overshadowed or brushed under the rug. As I began to explore this topic in my doctoral research, an lightbulb came on. It became my mission to learn as much I could about how and why women do daughtering in their families, what they get out of it, and what it costs them. And, of course I decided that I needed to tell everyone about it in the book that I’ve dreamt of writing for decades.
I’m in the writing phase now and my process includes a lot of coffee drinking, Taylor Swift song-singing, and watching birds in the feeder outside my kitchen window. The combo of energizing and meditative acts stimulates my writing and the words are flowing onto the page.
This book paints a vivid picture of how daughtering isn’t just about fulfilling duties but is a complex, nuanced form of participation that demands acknowledgment. The book also poses critical questions about societal expectations: What makes a “good daughter,” and who decides this? It encourages readers to think beyond traditional roles and to appreciate the unheralded work that daughters do to keep their families connected and thriving.
This book dives deep into what it really means to be a “good daughter” today, especially for those of us balancing family expectations with our own lives. It’s all about the invisible labor that adult daughters do—things like managing emotions, caregiving, and keeping everyone connected.
Combining my research with personal stories with cultural insights, the goal is to get us all rethinking how much daughters contribute (sans recognition!). If you’ve ever felt the weight of family duty or wondered why it often falls on the daughters, this book is for you. It’s a fresh take on redefining what it means to be a good daughter, and it’ll leave you thinking about the unspoken work we do in our families.
You’ll have to stay buckled in for a couple years yet, as the anticipated release date isn’t until Spring 2026. Until then, you can connect with me on socials and by reading my Substack. And please write to me! I want to hear your stories (and maybe they’ll even appear on the pages of the book). 😉 I’ll keep you updated on the release and any tour dates around the world. Come along on this journey with me!
