The Daughter-in-law Syndrome


Fiction - Womens
132 Pages
Reviewed on 10/14/2015
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Stevie Turner is now a full-time writer of Women's Fiction, focusing on the darker side of relationships but also adding in some humour to sweeten the pill. She is British, lives in the East of England, and is married with 2 sons.

One of her books, 'A House Without Windows' recently won a New Apple Book Award and a Readers' Favorite Gold Award.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

When you first meet that special someone you experience a wide range of emotions from ecstasy to unconditional love. But what happens when the high emotions wear off and reality kicks in? The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner is a surreal account of how in-law relationships can affect a marriage.

Arla’s behavior in dealing with life’s challenges started early in life - like all of us - when she was a child. This behaviour transitioned to her adult life. So it was during Ric’s childhood as well. They both experienced a level of dysfunction, but when it came to Ric’s mother he was in total denial. From the beginning, Edna Deane, Ric’s mom, developed a dislike for Arla. When Arla and Ric decided to get married, they both were in denial about the true element of their relationship. When Arla mentioned to Ric how she was being treated by his mother and his sisters, he in turn dismissed it as untrue. Do you know what can happen when denial enters into a relationship? Disaster. If you want to find out, pick up a copy today of The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner.

The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner is an excellent story because this is the way of the world in how some in-law dysfunction begins. For no apparent reason, in-laws can dislike each other and once this happens disaster follows. We as parents think that there is no one good enough for our child. It is extremely difficult for a marriage to have years of bliss if there is dissension involved.

Maria Beltran

The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner focuses on Arla Deane. In her fifties, she has been married to Ric for almost three decades, yet until now has not resolved her issues with her mother-in-law and her husband’s two sisters. She complains that she has never felt supported by her husband when it came to what she thought was a deliberate rejection and exclusion of her by her husband’s family throughout their married life. And the cherry on top of it all was Ric’s dismissive attitude on the subject – he has never expressed his opinions, and it looks like he’s not about to start any time soon, preferring to avoid confrontation. She decides to go for marriage counselling, convincing a reluctant Ric to cooperate. Amidst all of this, she begins to experience a different kind of stress of being a mother-in-law yet again, this time to her younger son’s wife Ria, whom she seems to dislike.

Although focused on familial relationships with extended members of the family, The Daughter-in-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner highlights the importance of openness and understanding, and how far a compassionate attitude can get you. Time and again, we hear people talk about how one must not judge others because we do not know what they have gone through. The book successfully places this at the forefront without being preachy, using Arla’s character as the main device to open up other characters before us, unfolding complicated emotional landscapes in each story player that lead to understanding. With the aid of counsellor Toni Beecher, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, understanding of others, enlightenment, compassion and forgiveness. Readers can certainly take home a lesson or two, not just in dealing with family, but with other people in general.