The Oldest Daughter
Maggie had always dreamed of freedom—the kind that came with leaving her dusty Australian hometown behind for the big city lights, university life, and a new story that felt like reinvention. She meets Tom, whose world couldn’t be more different from her own. But in the shadows of her new life lingers Liam—the boy who once held her heart, and the only one who knew the version of her that wasn’t trying to become someone else.
Just as Maggie begins to map out her future, a devastating phone call pulls her home. She finds herself standing in the stifling heat of the church, clutching the hand of her baby sister and facing the unimaginable—six younger siblings now looking to her to fill a role she never thought she’d have to play.
Torn between the girl who longed to escape, and the woman now tethered to tragedy, Maggie must navigate grief, unravel buried family secrets, and confront the chilling presence of a man with ties to her father’s past. In the wreckage of two worlds colliding—city dreams and country obligations—she learns that sometimes the life you run from is the one that defines you most.
The Oldest Daughter is a sweeping, emotionally charged story of identity, sacrifice, and the quiet strength it takes to hold a broken family together when your own heart is breaking.
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Claudia’s writing style throughout her first three books is nothing short of enchanting—so vivid and imaginative that you can truly feel yourself living inside every scene, every heartbeat, every breath of the story. Her newest novel, The Oldest Daughter, carries this same magic. We’re drawn into Maggie’s world and the lives of those around her, watching relationships take shape, shift, and grow in ways that feel both authentic and deeply moving. There’s a special kind of warmth in recognising the places Claudia brings to life on the page—a sense of homegrown familiarity that wraps around you like a comforting blanket. The second half of the book swept me away completely—I was utterly captivated, turning each page with eager anticipation, unable to set it down until I knew how it would all unfold. And the ending? Simply beautiful. It leaves just the right touch of openness, allowing Maggie’s journey to continue blossoming in the reader’s imagination. I adored every moment.
This beautifully written love story captured me from the very beginning. Claudia Harrison’s writing is elegant and skilfully crafted, making it a joy to read. It is the kind of book you can easily lose yourself in, staying up late to turn just one more page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt and captivating story.
I just want t say I have finished it! All I can say was this book was captivating from start to finish. Beautifully written and it left a big impression on me. One of the best books I have read!
