Daddy's Little Girl

by Julia Latchem-Smith

To the outside world Julia's family was a picture of respectability; middle-class, decent, loving. But between the ages of eight and thirteen Julia's father sexually abused her. While Julia's mother's obsessive domestic tendencies occupied her elsewhere, Julia's father concentrated his attentions on his daughter. When, eventually, Julia twice found the courage to reveal what was happening to her, her mother encouraged her to retract her allegations. Years later, after Julia had married and had two daughters, her father confessed - and Julia was able to record their conversation and press charges. Her father is currently serving eight years in prison. Julia no longer has a relationship with her mother and brother, but she has successfully rebuilt a new life for herself. This the dramatic story of how, by confronting her painful past, Julia has begun to build herself a successful future.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, True Crime, Ebooks, True Story, Biography Memoir

283 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, Julia Latchem-Smith, recounts her life living in an abusive household.

*Book #56/72 of my 2019 coffee table to-read challenge, cont. 2020

[Jasmin Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Daddy's Little Girl is a novel, authored by Julia Latchem-Smith, about both the emotional and sexual abuse she suffered as a young child at the hands of her father coupled with the very obvious distaste her mother displayed toward her children. While the beginning of the book is focused on what conspired between her and her father, the larger amount of it is about the emotional turmoil she suffers throughout her life as well as the effect it has on her relationship with her now-husband, Jonathan. While the overarching story is decently gripping, the writing was underdeveloped and at parts, bulky with completely unnecessary information and dialogue. One particularly bad instance is the 26 page, purely dialogue interaction which was so lengthy that it had to be written in play format, with the person speaking's name denoted and their dialogue simply shoved in after. I found that by the end I didn't really care much for the main character nor literally any of the other characters in the book, as most interactions felt just unrealistic and unreasonable. To me, it felt less like a survivors story and more like a poorly written wattpad book. The only redeeming part was that the ending was happy, though it was an unlikely truth for most of the people in the system - as most people would not have been able to submit the tape as evidence and as such probably would not have gotten a guilty verdict against their childhood abuser. All in all, while inspiring for many victims of abuse, the book's shoddy writing and poor character development should not be excused purely because it is a novel based on a survivor of abuse. I would not recommend reading this book unless you are reading purely for Julia Latchem-Smith's story as it is hard to sit through.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Latchem-Smith has a very easy way about her and that flows directly into her writing. As hard as it is to read about the life of a child who was abused, in any manner at all, she makes it a lot easier for her readers.
Luckily for Julia, her father has some type of control, granted it wasn't very much, and that makes this book slightly easier to read I think, especially for people unaccustomed to the mis-lit genre.
That out there, it's still very hard because even though the author was never actually raped, the abuse she did take should never, ever happen to anyone, much less a child.
Latchem-Smith's writing is above average I think, especially for a first time writer writing about something so personal as this. She outlines her childhood, her mothers' very extreme OCD, her fathers relationship with her when she was very little and how perfect it was, then she goes on to let readers know how the abuse started when she was around the age of 8.
We get to see how she dealt with everything, how her family managed to deny pretty much everything that was done to her for her entire life, and so much in between.
If someone asked me what book they should start reading in this genre, this would be the one I refered them to. It's not easy by any means, but it'd well written and a little easier to stomach than a lot of others I've read.
I'm not going to go into the outcome because I don't like to use the spoiler feature if I don't have to but we do find out the end result in the book and Latchem-Smith also quickly goes into the volunteer work she got involved in once she started to heal.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about Julia's experiences I was reminded of something that happened to a friend of mine while I was in middle school. The way Julia's revelation of sexual abuse was handled was very much the same way my friends was handled.
I always knew my friends dad and grandma were on the strange side. Her dad had even told me once that I had a nice ass, I was only 12. I knew something was up and for years had asked my friend to tell me. One day as I was walking in the school hall on my way to class when she stopped me and handed me a letter.
As soon as I got the chance I got another close friend of mine and we all met up in the bathroom to talk to our friend who was crying out for someone to save her.
She agreed to go to the office with us, but told me that she wouldn't be strong enough to tell the truth if I couldn't be by her side. I promised her that I would be right by her side. I thought since she was a victim she could have whoever she needed there to support her. They called a social worker into the school and told her that the social worker would talk to her as soon as her dad got there. Even at 12 I knew that was a mistake. Why would they leave her to be confronted by her abuser at such a vulnerable time.
As her father walked in he gave her look that said more than words could ever say. There was a terrifying darkness behind his cold blue eyes. I grabbed my friends hand and gave it a squeeze as I watched her visibly shrinking under her fathers glare.
Everything felt wrong the minute her father was there. It felt like we were going to be in trouble instead of my friend getting help. They called my friend into the room with the social worker once her dad was inside. My friend not once letting go of my hand pulled me along with her. One of the office workers of the school stopped us from entering and told me that I would have to wait outside. My friend looked at me with tears rolling down her cheeks and said that she couldn't do it without me. I told the office worker that she needed me, but since we were kids our wishes were not taken into account. I had to let her go.
I knew what would happen the minute she walked into that room without me and had to tell the social worker about her dad right in front of the monster. I knew she wouldn't be able to go through with telling the truth.Hell she had tried to tell them she needed by her side in order to go through with it, but they wouldn't listen to us "kids". Needless to say my friend went home with her dad.
Reading this book brought that all back to me. Not that I forgot it, I just don't think about it a lot anymore becuase it just makes me angry. Julia went through her ordeal at around the same time my friend was going throught hers, and I seriously hope that things have changed since then.
People need to respect the victims and let them tell their accounts of abuse at a safe distance from their abuser even when the victim is a child.

[Sudha Sunder · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I think of the fact that the incidents and events in this book had happened in real life, it gave me shivers. There are a few events mentioned in the book because of which I felt really sad for Julia and the way she was harrased by her own father (that was both saddening and disgusting to hear at the same time).
Though the book deviated from the main theme at places, it wasn't disappointing.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was as always good to hear someone’s personal story and struggle. However there were times at which I just didn’t connect or much like ‘Julia’ I think mainly though through frustration, that she was blind to see what seemed so apparent to us (as readers) However I recognise that she was taking us through stages in her life and as she felt at those moments and I’m glad there was a resolve for her I just wasn’t connected to this particular story as I have of similar others.

[Simi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the first book of it's kind I have read and it never gets any easier to read about sexual abuse anyone has been through regardless of age.

It is shocking to read how the case itself was handled previously but I am glad her father finally got what he deserved and I am so glad she finally found herself again.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what Julia went through as a child and then to be brave and have the strength to speak up is powerful, very good read I was in tears a few times as I can’t get my head around how any parent could do that to their own flesh and blood.

[Semz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, which was very disturbing and hard to read how a mother could treat her own child the way she did. This was a book I read during my psychology course to try and understand and learn what some one with tremor and distress went through

[Linda Tilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking true story from an Author and a survivor who took things to the edge to get justice, and continues to do so for all those who are afraid to speak up.

[Lynne Foster-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Not too graphic which was good

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG not for the faint hearted. Had me in tears. But good on you Julia!

[Kira Charleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read and surprisingly well written. An inspiring story of a 'little' girl (at heart) emerging out of a harrowing childhood. Would recommend.

[Femke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prima boek

[Linda Moens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wat een verhaal! Duidelijk beschreven weergave van het kinder-, tiener- en volwassenleven van Julia. Of hoe kindermisbruik een blijvend trauma teweeg brengt.

[Rebekah]

***not rating due to content of book.

[Gavriella Mizrachi-Lazarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in less then a day. I could not put it down. I cried for her and the little girl inside me who faced the same

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this, obviously not what the story was about as not a nice experience for anyone, well written and wanted to know the outcome.

[Sarah Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not rating due to content

[Julia Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a true story it should have had me gripped but just ended the book without any reaction to it. Can't quite put my finger on why as these true stories usually stick with me.

[Amber Maes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meeslepend verhaal dat je van begin tot het einde meeneemt in de gedachten van de schrijfster. Leest enorm vlot weg.

[Madison Gubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really had me wincing at certain parts. It was a very confronting read but incredible regardless. What a brave woman/girl to have endured what she did (alone), suffer in silence and then survive the way she did. Honestly inspiring.
Massive TW with this one so please proceed with caution if you do pick it up. There are some really heavy topics being discussed and it goes into quite a lot of detail too.
We love a good success story!

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Autobiografisch verhaal over Julia die als kind door haar vader verkracht en misbruikt is. Haar strijd voor erkenning want de vader ontkent en de moeder gelooft haar niet. Het eerste deel is heftig, het tweede deel is veel monologue intérieur en overwegingen zodat het saai wordt, dus half-half.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest with everyone, I read this book in the Dutch translation. And I thought some stuff was translated very badly. I think I should have read it in English to like it better.
It's a thin book, which is already great cause I can take it with me to work and school. It's a very easy read.

the following parts can contain spoilers.

And I think everyone should read it. But I feel like it could have been written better. (I don't know if it's the translated version I read or the original version as well) But I thought some parts were a little boring. she could have described things better. But then again maybe she couldn't because things like this really hurt.
I can't judge on the story itself because it's a non-fictional story. Which i think is very shocking. And it could happen to anyone. She did get me to hate her father. But also feel the regret she kinda had towards him. And I think it's very important for a writer (even if it's non-fictional ) to know how to get feelings like that towards their readers.
The ending even brought tears to my eyes, I was so happy for her that she kind of got her happy ending, like in he did get arrested etc.

I did find his letter at the end very wierd. I hated him for not admitting everything. Did he really love her if he keeps thinking about the consequences he will get for admitting something that is so true? For the shame he would have had to go through, but still has to go through at this moment. (karma) I'm glad he got what he deserved.

The book however didn't really grab my full attention. I expected so much of it. I normally read books like this in a week or maybe even less. But it took me a good 2 weeks to get through, because I didn't feel motivated to start reading. And when I did read it made me tired and I quit reading it.
I am glad that I read this book because it was so fascinating. It really shocked me that people can do stuff like this. I highly recommend this book to everyone, cause I feel that everyone has to know the story of someone who got sexually abused by her own father as a child. They should know it, recognize it and help to prevent it.

I felt like this book was worth 2.5 stars, which is probably because of the translated Dutch version and the parts that were kinda boring. But since you can't give half stars, i'll give it 3. Cause it's a fascinating and shocking story that I think everyone should read. And I feel like the English version would have been way better.

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik lees altijd graag waargebeurde verhalen. Ik wil weten wat er in de wereld gebeurt en wat het met mensen doet. Het zijn boeken, die iets met mij doen. Vaak ben ik perplex na het lezen van zo'n boek. Zo ook dit boek... Ik vind het echt zo onbegrijpelijk, dat een vader dit zijn bloedeigen kind aan kan doen. Bij bepaalde hoofdstukken, waarin precies beschreven werd hoe hij haar misbruikte en wat hij met haar deed, liepen de rillingen over mijn lijf en één keer heb ik het boek ook echt naast me moeten leggen. Ik werd er helemaal naar van en heb er een vieze nasmaak van... Wel jammer vind ik, dat er op de flaptekst al onthuld word, dat de vader voor het gerecht verschijnd en hoeveel jaar hiervoor gekregen heeft. Ik denk, dat als dit achterwege gelaten werd, dat het nog sneller leest. Een tipje dus om niet de flaptekst te lezen ;-)

[Sammeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read like this,and there is something quite chilling about reading about something that someone has actual had to go through. It's another when you know it is just a story, but to know this was real was something else. Some parts I found extremely difficult to read, simply because of the nature and what this poor women went through as a child. So I did find myself simply skimming those parts, so I got the picture but didn't dwell on the actions for too long. It is an amazing book, and I think it very nicely tells the story. You get to hear all about Julia's feelings as a child and how growing up was, and how these actions impacted her adult life. It was simply heart breaking.

[Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not overly impressed by her writing style.I really got into the first half of the book, but just had a hard time getting through the second half. I feel so sorry for her to have to have been put through what her father had put her through. I do think once she got out of the house she should not under any situation have gone back. Maybe she was confused but she was also old enough to know it was wrong at that point. This was not ages ago when everyone ignored thingss such as this. She did turn her life around which can be hard to do..I think it was a great thing her meeting her husband to help her deal with this terrible injustice.

[Anthony Etherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and moving account of a young girl's sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Using simple, straightforward language, Julia Latchem-Smith describes the abuse inflicted and conveys, powerfully, the emotional turmoil and guilt suffered by her younger self as a result. It is a harrowing tale, compounded by her family's willingness to side with her father when, on two occasions, Julia reports what is happening to her. After years of feeling guilty and, at times, doubting her own sanity, her subsequent determination to be heard - and what happened as a result - is both inspiring and instructive.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't your usual sad story of a novel, but it will bring a tear to your eye. Authour Julia Latchem, shares a sad but inspring biography of her life, Growing up with a rapist father and a strict mother who wouldn't listen to a word she says, this little girl feels alone. Instead of ending it with the usual run away free ending, Julia takes it to the next level talking about growing up and taking back her dignity.

[Whatsername · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bellissimo non per l'argomento ma per la forza che Julia ha avuto nel tirare fuori tutta la verità e di accusare suo padre nonostante la sua famiglia non la credesse...scritto benissimo e scorrevole e alla fine lascia la speranza di potercela fare a superare certe cose solo con la forza di volontà...ecco che mi ha lasciato:SPERANZA!