Book Review: Three Juliets by Minnie Darke
THREE DRESSES . . . THREE DAUGHTERS . . . ONE SEARCH . . .
In 1980, designer Claudie Miller is a household name. Girls are begging their mothers to make them her famous dress, the ‘Juliet’.
But there’s a big hole in Claudie’s life – sixteen years ago she was forced to give up her baby for adoption. Now she’s in a race to track her daughter down before it’s too late.
In 1980, Roisin, Miranda and Bindi are turning sixteen on the same day. Raised in different families, in different parts of the country, they know nothing about each other . . . or their connection to the dress every teenager is talking about.
But the Juliet was designed with one of them in mind – and its threads are slowly pulling them closer to the truth.
Published by Penguin Books Australia
Released April 2025
My Thoughts:I absolutely adored Three Juliets, the latest release by Minnie Darke, who is a firm favourite of mine. Three Juliets is about the forced adoptions that were commonplace in Australia during the 1960s through to the mid-1970s. Given the tens of thousands of babies that were adopted within those years, many Australians of my generation and older have a personal link to this sad portion of our country’s history. I found this to be a profoundly moving novel that stirred up a range of emotions within me.
I’ve read a few novels about the forced adoptions, and all of them have been very good, but what I liked most about this one was the focus on the children who were adopted. Specifically, as they reached adulthood, the impact of learning that not only were they adopted, but that their mothers were forced into giving them up. There was a great deal of social history woven into this story, which I devoured.
A special shout out to Roisin, who was my favourite Juliet and whose own story made my heart ache. I think Roisin’s experiences may mirror the experiences of many others.
Three Juliets is quite a long novel, but I never felt the length of it. I powered through the pages, devouring it over two days. Minnie Darke has carved out a place for herself as a queen when it comes to writing fiction that plays on the heartstrings like a harp in an orchestra. I adore her writing and, at this point, would probably even five-star her shopping list.
But to finish, I just want to say thanks to Minnie for writing this story. For all the people who were separated from their families, who never got to meet them or met them, and it didn’t work out. For all those who connected, only to lose that person again. This novel is for you.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for the review copy.
