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Such a Good Mom
Bestselling author Julia Spiro's Such a Good Mom is a brilliant standalone mystery that's the perfect beach read. In the heat of summer, a murder on Martha's Vineyard rocks one new mom to the core, leaving her to search for answers.
With a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, a successful career, and a busy life on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But Brynn is struggling. Her husband, Ross, grows more distant by the day, and the challenges and exhaustion of postpartum make Brynn feel like she’s slowly losing pieces of herself to motherhood. Pieces that she might never get back.
But it’s summer on the Vineyard, a beacon for wealthy visitors, and a place so beautiful that it seems immune to tragedy and crime. Except for locals, like Brynn, who know all too well that tragedy can strike at any point. And this time, it hits close to home when a friend of the family is found washed ashore. Dead. And Brynn’s already hectic life is turned upside down when Ross is arrested for the crime.
Left reeling with more questions than answers, Brynn’s only path forward is to find out who really killed Cecelia Buckley, even if it means it was her husband. She’s not sure who she’s able to trust anymore. And with dizzying, endless cycle of sleepless nights, diapers, and bottles, Brynn’s not even sure she can trust herself. She’s not sure of anything anymore, but she won’t stop until she finds the truth.
Bestselling author Julia Spiro is known for writing characters readers instantly connect to. With Such a Good Mom, Spiro brings the real and layered Martha’s Vineyard to life through the eyes of a new mom trying to get her family out of the eye of the storm that is a murder investigation.
With a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, a successful career, and a busy life on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But Brynn is struggling. Her husband, Ross, grows more distant by the day, and the challenges and exhaustion of postpartum make Brynn feel like she’s slowly losing pieces of herself to motherhood. Pieces that she might never get back.
But it’s summer on the Vineyard, a beacon for wealthy visitors, and a place so beautiful that it seems immune to tragedy and crime. Except for locals, like Brynn, who know all too well that tragedy can strike at any point. And this time, it hits close to home when a friend of the family is found washed ashore. Dead. And Brynn’s already hectic life is turned upside down when Ross is arrested for the crime.
Left reeling with more questions than answers, Brynn’s only path forward is to find out who really killed Cecelia Buckley, even if it means it was her husband. She’s not sure who she’s able to trust anymore. And with dizzying, endless cycle of sleepless nights, diapers, and bottles, Brynn’s not even sure she can trust herself. She’s not sure of anything anymore, but she won’t stop until she finds the truth.
Bestselling author Julia Spiro is known for writing characters readers instantly connect to. With Such a Good Mom, Spiro brings the real and layered Martha’s Vineyard to life through the eyes of a new mom trying to get her family out of the eye of the storm that is a murder investigation.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
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19002 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
April 29, 2025
Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro
I knew this story dealt with a mother suffering from the exhaustion and everything else that comes after childbirth. Brynn was so looking forward to being a mother but somewhere during her very long and difficult labor Brynn's thoughts and feelings about this motherhood thing changed and she never got back the excitement she had felt before labor started. This could have been a complete story just by focusing on Brynn, her postpartum depression, and how she saw and felt about the people and world around her. But I was there more for the murder part of the story than the motherhood part of the story. My mistake, the story is called Such a Good "Mom" after all, not Such a Good "Murder".
I've never been a mother and I was massively overwhelmed by all the breastfeeding, temperature taking, miseries of motherhood focus of the story. Brynn watches all her friends with babies/toddlers (more than one even!) handling life so much better than she is handling life. They seem to be able to function, they seem to like their babies and be glad they had them, they seem to be living the life she thought she'd be living once her baby arrived. Instead Brynn wishes she had her old life back, the one before a husband and a baby. Or at least the one before the baby. Oh, and then there is the fact that her husband has been arrested for murder but her anger at him seems to be anger that was already there before the arrest, the entire murder thing spends a lot of time on the back shelf because of the depression thing. That's what depression can do, overwhelm all of life. I do think this story portrays depression realistically but I would have liked more emphasis on the murder part of the story.
Publication April 29, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I knew this story dealt with a mother suffering from the exhaustion and everything else that comes after childbirth. Brynn was so looking forward to being a mother but somewhere during her very long and difficult labor Brynn's thoughts and feelings about this motherhood thing changed and she never got back the excitement she had felt before labor started. This could have been a complete story just by focusing on Brynn, her postpartum depression, and how she saw and felt about the people and world around her. But I was there more for the murder part of the story than the motherhood part of the story. My mistake, the story is called Such a Good "Mom" after all, not Such a Good "Murder".
I've never been a mother and I was massively overwhelmed by all the breastfeeding, temperature taking, miseries of motherhood focus of the story. Brynn watches all her friends with babies/toddlers (more than one even!) handling life so much better than she is handling life. They seem to be able to function, they seem to like their babies and be glad they had them, they seem to be living the life she thought she'd be living once her baby arrived. Instead Brynn wishes she had her old life back, the one before a husband and a baby. Or at least the one before the baby. Oh, and then there is the fact that her husband has been arrested for murder but her anger at him seems to be anger that was already there before the arrest, the entire murder thing spends a lot of time on the back shelf because of the depression thing. That's what depression can do, overwhelm all of life. I do think this story portrays depression realistically but I would have liked more emphasis on the murder part of the story.
Publication April 29, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 21, 2025
Poignant and gripping, Such a Good Mom not only delivered a satisfying murder mystery but it also gave a vivid description of the difficulties of postpartum. From the doubts and lack of sleep to the loss of identity, I’m sure plenty of mothers will be able to see themselves in Brynn. That wasn’t, however, the only strength of this mashup of light domestic suspense and women’s fiction. Claustrophobic and compelling, the emotionally charged prose kept me on tenterhooks throughout. You see, there was no end to the growing dread or palpable tension.
As for the characters, they were all impeccably crafted, but Brynn in particular. An unreliable narrator who felt utterly real, the raw, candid vibe surrounding her infected every scene. You see, from the doubts she had in herself to those about her husband, I couldn’t figure out who or what to trust as the plot built up steam. But it was her fully fleshed out background that made her come alive in a relatable, thought-provoking way. After all, thanks to a solid backstory, Brynn’s thoughts, motivations, and flaws made her feel easy to understand, accessible, and authentic.
The only small fly in the ointment was both a plus and a minus. You see, as much as I loved the examination of postpartum depression, it became a bit repetitive in the grand scheme of things. Part of this could have been due to the fact that it wasn’t a topic I could personally connect to all that much, but I also felt that it dragged the pace of the book down just a bit. Despite this, however, I found myself swept up in this quick, easy read and happily finished it in well under twenty-four hours.
All in all, with a character-driven plot, straightforward premise, and a small-town, island setting, this novel was the epitome of a perfect beach read. It also would make for a great book club pick due to the serious topic matters at hand. So despite the fact that I foresaw part of the reveal, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this novel. After all, instead of feeling let down by my correct guess, I was over the moon with a smug sense of self-satisfaction. All told, I truly enjoyed this one and as long as you’re expecting a slower-paced, light mystery, you likely will as well. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
With a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, a successful career, and a busy life on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But Brynn is struggling. Her husband, Ross, grows more distant by the day, and the challenges and exhaustion of postpartum make Brynn feel like she’s slowly losing pieces of herself to motherhood. Pieces that she might never get back.
But it’s summer on the Vineyard, a beacon for wealthy visitors, and a place so beautiful that it seems immune to tragedy and crime. Except for locals, like Brynn, who know all too well that tragedy can strike at any point. And this time, it hits close to home when a friend of the family is found washed ashore. Dead. And Brynn’s already hectic life is turned upside down when Ross is arrested for the crime.
Left reeling with more questions than answers, Brynn’s only path forward is to find out who really killed Cecelia Buckley, even if it means it was her husband. She’s not sure who she’s able to trust anymore. And with the dizzying, endless cycle of sleepless nights, diapers, and bottles, Brynn’s not even sure she can trust herself. She’s not sure of anything anymore, but she won’t stop until she finds the truth.
Thank you to Julia Spiro and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 29, 2025
Content warning: postpartum depression, infidelity, labor, mention of: miscarriage, abortion
As for the characters, they were all impeccably crafted, but Brynn in particular. An unreliable narrator who felt utterly real, the raw, candid vibe surrounding her infected every scene. You see, from the doubts she had in herself to those about her husband, I couldn’t figure out who or what to trust as the plot built up steam. But it was her fully fleshed out background that made her come alive in a relatable, thought-provoking way. After all, thanks to a solid backstory, Brynn’s thoughts, motivations, and flaws made her feel easy to understand, accessible, and authentic.
The only small fly in the ointment was both a plus and a minus. You see, as much as I loved the examination of postpartum depression, it became a bit repetitive in the grand scheme of things. Part of this could have been due to the fact that it wasn’t a topic I could personally connect to all that much, but I also felt that it dragged the pace of the book down just a bit. Despite this, however, I found myself swept up in this quick, easy read and happily finished it in well under twenty-four hours.
All in all, with a character-driven plot, straightforward premise, and a small-town, island setting, this novel was the epitome of a perfect beach read. It also would make for a great book club pick due to the serious topic matters at hand. So despite the fact that I foresaw part of the reveal, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this novel. After all, instead of feeling let down by my correct guess, I was over the moon with a smug sense of self-satisfaction. All told, I truly enjoyed this one and as long as you’re expecting a slower-paced, light mystery, you likely will as well. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
With a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, a successful career, and a busy life on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But Brynn is struggling. Her husband, Ross, grows more distant by the day, and the challenges and exhaustion of postpartum make Brynn feel like she’s slowly losing pieces of herself to motherhood. Pieces that she might never get back.
But it’s summer on the Vineyard, a beacon for wealthy visitors, and a place so beautiful that it seems immune to tragedy and crime. Except for locals, like Brynn, who know all too well that tragedy can strike at any point. And this time, it hits close to home when a friend of the family is found washed ashore. Dead. And Brynn’s already hectic life is turned upside down when Ross is arrested for the crime.
Left reeling with more questions than answers, Brynn’s only path forward is to find out who really killed Cecelia Buckley, even if it means it was her husband. She’s not sure who she’s able to trust anymore. And with the dizzying, endless cycle of sleepless nights, diapers, and bottles, Brynn’s not even sure she can trust herself. She’s not sure of anything anymore, but she won’t stop until she finds the truth.
Thank you to Julia Spiro and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 29, 2025
Content warning: postpartum depression, infidelity, labor, mention of: miscarriage, abortion
June 2, 2025
Finished Reading
Pre-Read notes
This book isn't exactly what I thought it would be, but so far it's got great character development and the mood is just so gray and heavy, it makes a big impact on the story. Sort of like how ppd can cast a gray pall over a new mom's entire existence.
Final Review
It didn’t make sense that Ross was right there with her and yet he wasn’t there at all. He didn’t share even a shred of Brynn’s suffering. The only disappointment he ever seemed to show was in her disappointment with everything. And Brynn had started to hate him for it. p13
Review summary and recommendations
This wasn't what I was expecting (domestic thriller or suspense) but I had fun with it and didn't have any quibbles. Recommend this one for fans of women's fiction, light suspense, mom stories, or unreliable narrator. For more of Spiro's fiction, try FULL. If you like a good domestic suspense, RABBIT MOON(my review!) is a huge favorite of mine. For some goose-bump-y women's fiction, I love CACKLE(my review!). Happy reading!
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. The setup for this book is excellent. Spiro's descriptions of the fmc, an unhappy new mom with likely ppd, are so compelling and relatable that I immediately sympathized and supported the fmc. It was a really nice way to start a domestic suspense novel!
2. Spiro gives her readers serious respect in this book and I *love* it. She once heard Henry tell someone that Ross’s wife wrote “chick lit,” and even though she’d used the term herself before, proudly, with the self-awareness that her mostly female readers were the most voracious and discerning readers in the world, she knew that Henry hadn’t been using the term positively. p38
3. And the two of them had kept talking and talking and talking. Right up until Lucas was born. And then they had stopped. p83 I love Spiro's phrasing, a little edgy, and it always hits me in this amazing emotional spot!
4. As much as motherhood challenged her, she inexplicably wanted the burden of it to be hers and hers alone, as though she could find some solace in wearing her suffering as a badge. Help was something she couldn’t naturally accept. If she wasn’t struggling, she didn’t feel like she was being a good mom . p125 I do like that the narrator digs deep into the fmc, and shows us all sides of her. An unlikable narrator that earns reader empathy is a valuable element, and hard to write!
Rating: 👶🏻🤰🏾👶🏻🫄 /5 good moms
Recommend? yep!
Finished: Apr 6 '25
Format: accessible advance digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💄 women's fiction
👠 scandalous suspense
🔪 (lite) domestic thrillers
👥️ unreliable narrator
Thank you to the author Julia Spiro, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of SUCH A GOOD MOM. All views are mine.
---------------
Pre-Read notes
This book isn't exactly what I thought it would be, but so far it's got great character development and the mood is just so gray and heavy, it makes a big impact on the story. Sort of like how ppd can cast a gray pall over a new mom's entire existence.
Final Review
It didn’t make sense that Ross was right there with her and yet he wasn’t there at all. He didn’t share even a shred of Brynn’s suffering. The only disappointment he ever seemed to show was in her disappointment with everything. And Brynn had started to hate him for it. p13
Review summary and recommendations
This wasn't what I was expecting (domestic thriller or suspense) but I had fun with it and didn't have any quibbles. Recommend this one for fans of women's fiction, light suspense, mom stories, or unreliable narrator. For more of Spiro's fiction, try FULL. If you like a good domestic suspense, RABBIT MOON(my review!) is a huge favorite of mine. For some goose-bump-y women's fiction, I love CACKLE(my review!). Happy reading!
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. The setup for this book is excellent. Spiro's descriptions of the fmc, an unhappy new mom with likely ppd, are so compelling and relatable that I immediately sympathized and supported the fmc. It was a really nice way to start a domestic suspense novel!
2. Spiro gives her readers serious respect in this book and I *love* it. She once heard Henry tell someone that Ross’s wife wrote “chick lit,” and even though she’d used the term herself before, proudly, with the self-awareness that her mostly female readers were the most voracious and discerning readers in the world, she knew that Henry hadn’t been using the term positively. p38
3. And the two of them had kept talking and talking and talking. Right up until Lucas was born. And then they had stopped. p83 I love Spiro's phrasing, a little edgy, and it always hits me in this amazing emotional spot!
4. As much as motherhood challenged her, she inexplicably wanted the burden of it to be hers and hers alone, as though she could find some solace in wearing her suffering as a badge. Help was something she couldn’t naturally accept. If she wasn’t struggling, she didn’t feel like she was being a good mom . p125 I do like that the narrator digs deep into the fmc, and shows us all sides of her. An unlikable narrator that earns reader empathy is a valuable element, and hard to write!
Rating: 👶🏻🤰🏾👶🏻🫄 /5 good moms
Recommend? yep!
Finished: Apr 6 '25
Format: accessible advance digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💄 women's fiction
👠 scandalous suspense
🔪 (lite) domestic thrillers
👥️ unreliable narrator
Thank you to the author Julia Spiro, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of SUCH A GOOD MOM. All views are mine.
---------------
October 28, 2024
Trigger Warning: this book deals with the realities of postpartum depression & may be hard to read for some. The FMC has a newborn and at times feels like she does not even want to be a mother & basically wishes she never had him.
A murder happens and someone close to her (won’t spoil who) is accused, but she doesn’t believe they did it. She starts investigating while dealing with postpartum depression.
I felt the parts about her postpartum became very repetitive and I felt like the book should have been condensed a lot. The plot itself was good, but wasn’t super shocking. I would say overall this is good, but nothing mind blowing. I think women who have been through postpartum depression will really enjoy this as it is a major theme.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A murder happens and someone close to her (won’t spoil who) is accused, but she doesn’t believe they did it. She starts investigating while dealing with postpartum depression.
I felt the parts about her postpartum became very repetitive and I felt like the book should have been condensed a lot. The plot itself was good, but wasn’t super shocking. I would say overall this is good, but nothing mind blowing. I think women who have been through postpartum depression will really enjoy this as it is a major theme.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2025
Brynn Nelson is suffering from postpartum depression with no help from her husband.
She is totally exhausted and then finds out her husband is accused of murder.
He wouldn’t do something like that? How can that be?
Brynn doesn’t need anything else added to her stressful life, but she has to decide if she will look for the murderer or let her husband be accused since she found out some things he may have done.
We follow Brynn at the beginning of the book as it leads up to her husband’s arrest and all she went through with the baby.
Will she find out who the murderer is when she can’t keep track of her own day and never get her next book written?
She doesn't know who to trust, especially since her husband tells Brynn from his jail cell to not trust his father.
Lots of tension and a good read even though it got bogged down at times with information from the past.
The secondary plot about postpartum depression was very well done and made women aware of it.
Mystery fans will be turning the pages to find out what happens. Will you figure out who the murderer is? 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
She is totally exhausted and then finds out her husband is accused of murder.
He wouldn’t do something like that? How can that be?
Brynn doesn’t need anything else added to her stressful life, but she has to decide if she will look for the murderer or let her husband be accused since she found out some things he may have done.
We follow Brynn at the beginning of the book as it leads up to her husband’s arrest and all she went through with the baby.
Will she find out who the murderer is when she can’t keep track of her own day and never get her next book written?
She doesn't know who to trust, especially since her husband tells Brynn from his jail cell to not trust his father.
Lots of tension and a good read even though it got bogged down at times with information from the past.
The secondary plot about postpartum depression was very well done and made women aware of it.
Mystery fans will be turning the pages to find out what happens. Will you figure out who the murderer is? 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2024
I received a free copy of, Winter Magic In Port Berry, by K.T. Dady, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Brynn should be so happy, living in Martha's Vineyard, having a loving husband, and a new baby, but then someone is dead, and her husband is the prime suspect. This book had a lot going on. Murder, postpartum, and more, it was a good read.
July 15, 2024
I feel like this could have used more editing. (For example, in one paragraph the narrator laments that she can't be mistaken for the nanny because her baby has her eyes, skin, and hair...and then two paragraphs later says that the baby is "the spitting image" of his father.)
I did want to know what had happened, and the ending was a surprise. Decent domestic suspense.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I did want to know what had happened, and the ending was a surprise. Decent domestic suspense.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
Such a Good Mom (audio) 3.5⭐️
As a mother of two, and someone with a history of post partum depression, the realness of early motherhood was beautifully captured. For Brynn, the sleepless nights, the changes in her relationship, losing her identity, and struggling to keep up with the daily basics is a enough to bury her, but then add in the fact that her husband has just been arrested for the murder of a young woman…how is she supposed to get through this? This explores the importance of support systems, friends, and admitting when we need help. The focus is on Brynn and what she is going through mentally and emotionally during this time of her life. The murder is obviously significant, but the story leans more strongly as women’s fiction novel vs mystery/thriller. I do wish there was more depth regarding the other mothers in the book and their relationship to Brynn throughout the book. Some of that seemed rushed at the end. It would have been a great through line/mirror/juxtaposition.
The narrator did a fabulous job! Especially for the emotional acting required.
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Apr 29 2025
As a mother of two, and someone with a history of post partum depression, the realness of early motherhood was beautifully captured. For Brynn, the sleepless nights, the changes in her relationship, losing her identity, and struggling to keep up with the daily basics is a enough to bury her, but then add in the fact that her husband has just been arrested for the murder of a young woman…how is she supposed to get through this? This explores the importance of support systems, friends, and admitting when we need help. The focus is on Brynn and what she is going through mentally and emotionally during this time of her life. The murder is obviously significant, but the story leans more strongly as women’s fiction novel vs mystery/thriller. I do wish there was more depth regarding the other mothers in the book and their relationship to Brynn throughout the book. Some of that seemed rushed at the end. It would have been a great through line/mirror/juxtaposition.
The narrator did a fabulous job! Especially for the emotional acting required.
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Apr 29 2025
March 19, 2025
•Such a Good Mom was raw, emotional, and riveting. Julia Spiro’s juxtaposition of the beautiful Martha’s Vineyard and the deep secrets and detailed postpartum struggles was written so well.
•On the outside, Brynn has the perfect life. She has a handsome husband from a well respected family, a stunning home, and now a precious newborn baby. Yet, Brynn cannot seem to catch her breath. She seems to be in a fog, constantly thinking she didn’t know motherhood would be like this. When one of her family’s friends is found dead and Brynn’s husband is arrested for her murder, her world collapses.
•At a glance, this seems like your average murder mystery, but it is so much more than that. It’s more so a book about the challenges and intricacies of motherhood, with a murder mystery mixed in.
•Such a Good Mom will be available on April 29, 2025. Thank you Macmillan Audio, Julia Spiro, and Minotaur Books for this ARC.
•On the outside, Brynn has the perfect life. She has a handsome husband from a well respected family, a stunning home, and now a precious newborn baby. Yet, Brynn cannot seem to catch her breath. She seems to be in a fog, constantly thinking she didn’t know motherhood would be like this. When one of her family’s friends is found dead and Brynn’s husband is arrested for her murder, her world collapses.
•At a glance, this seems like your average murder mystery, but it is so much more than that. It’s more so a book about the challenges and intricacies of motherhood, with a murder mystery mixed in.
•Such a Good Mom will be available on April 29, 2025. Thank you Macmillan Audio, Julia Spiro, and Minotaur Books for this ARC.
August 18, 2025
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.
I enjoyed this one overall, and thought the narrator did a great job with this story. It is a slow-burn read, very heavy on the postpartum depression, which worked for this story but was a little much at times, and became almost a crutch for the character when I thought she was better than that. I liked how it all wrapped up, although I had it figured out fairly early on.
I enjoyed this one overall, and thought the narrator did a great job with this story. It is a slow-burn read, very heavy on the postpartum depression, which worked for this story but was a little much at times, and became almost a crutch for the character when I thought she was better than that. I liked how it all wrapped up, although I had it figured out fairly early on.
October 10, 2024
I had the opportunity to read Such A Good Mom through NetGalley, and while the story started off strong, it ultimately left me feeling conflicted. The premise seemed promising, but as I dove deeper, I found myself overwhelmed by the heavy-handed liberal viewpoints that permeated the narrative.
From the get-go, the author tackles complex themes around motherhood and societal expectations, but some of the points felt almost nauseatingly one-sided. For instance, there were several instances where characters expressed gratitude for their abortions, which I personally found troubling. The portrayal of men in the story was equally frustrating; they were often depicted as useless, with a recurring sentiment that they could never truly understand the sacrifices women make. This felt not only extreme but also reductive.
The setting in a posh, upper-class society added another layer of disconnect for me. It seemed to serve as an exaggerated backdrop for the issues at hand, making the characters’ struggles feel somewhat contrived. After researching the author, It appears that they actually reside on Martha's Vineyard, what a coincidence...
Additionally, the confession towards the end dragged on unnecessarily, adding length without substance. By that point, I was left wondering if I was even the right audience for this book.
In summary, Such A Good Mom had a compelling start but ultimately fell into clichés and overt political commentary that detracted from the narrative. While some readers might appreciate its boldness, I found it hard to connect with the story at hand. Two stars given for character development and PPD representation.
From the get-go, the author tackles complex themes around motherhood and societal expectations, but some of the points felt almost nauseatingly one-sided. For instance, there were several instances where characters expressed gratitude for their abortions, which I personally found troubling. The portrayal of men in the story was equally frustrating; they were often depicted as useless, with a recurring sentiment that they could never truly understand the sacrifices women make. This felt not only extreme but also reductive.
The setting in a posh, upper-class society added another layer of disconnect for me. It seemed to serve as an exaggerated backdrop for the issues at hand, making the characters’ struggles feel somewhat contrived. After researching the author, It appears that they actually reside on Martha's Vineyard, what a coincidence...
Additionally, the confession towards the end dragged on unnecessarily, adding length without substance. By that point, I was left wondering if I was even the right audience for this book.
In summary, Such A Good Mom had a compelling start but ultimately fell into clichés and overt political commentary that detracted from the narrative. While some readers might appreciate its boldness, I found it hard to connect with the story at hand. Two stars given for character development and PPD representation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one. I appreciated the portrayal of postpartum depression -- it’s an important topic that affects more new moms than we often realize -- but the mystery at the center of this domestic suspense novel felt contrived and ultimately underwhelming. The writing didn’t quite work for me either: there was a lot of repetition, the dialogue felt clunky and unnatural (truly, nobody talks like that 😭), and I found myself losing interest pretty early on. I have a hard time with mysteries and thrillers that stretch believability, and I kept thinking, “none of this is believable” The audio narration was fine... not a standout, but not bad. Overall, Such a Good Mom was a bit of a letdown for me. That said, plenty of readers are giving it 4–5 stars, so maybe this was just a me thing!
Thank you to SMP & Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies! 💗
Thank you to SMP & Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies! 💗
April 18, 2025
3.25 Stars Rounded Down
This is set on Martha's Vineyard adding a touch of small town vibes to this mystery. I found the story line thin in places but overall compelling enough to keep me interested. This is somewhat of a domestic thriller. Brynn is an author with 2 books published who currently owes a first draft on her 3rd romance novel. She's a new mom who is healing from a c-section, getting very little sleep, even less help, breastfeeding and has a fussy newborn. Her husband, Ross, is of little help but its unclear why they don't simply hire help. As they seem to be living in a tax bracket that could afford someone to clean, cook, have groceries delivered at the least, not to mention a night nurse/nanny at least a couple of days a week. Brynn also seems to be struggling with a bit of postpartum depression. In fact this goes quite deep into the impact of new motherhood and postpartum issues. It's extremely relatable and the best written aspect of the novel.
In this midst of this already overwhelming situation, a work associate of Ross's family business turns up dead. As Brynn is trying to process why neither her husband nor best friend made her aware of this shocking news, Ross is arrested for this associates murder. Brynn felt a touch ingénue-ish which I found annoying. At times it felt like an author would have more of an imagination when it came to elements of the mystery. I will say that the story wasn't exactly as I expected and I did not guess all of the reveals.
This audiobook was a fun way to spend an afternoon. The narrator of this audiobook is Abigail Reno. Abigail offers a realistic voice portrayal of an exhausted and overwhelmed new mother. Her tone and inflection really convey exhaustion combined with trepidation. In this case the narration helped Brynn feel more realistic.
Thank you to Julia Spiro, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This is set on Martha's Vineyard adding a touch of small town vibes to this mystery. I found the story line thin in places but overall compelling enough to keep me interested. This is somewhat of a domestic thriller. Brynn is an author with 2 books published who currently owes a first draft on her 3rd romance novel. She's a new mom who is healing from a c-section, getting very little sleep, even less help, breastfeeding and has a fussy newborn. Her husband, Ross, is of little help but its unclear why they don't simply hire help. As they seem to be living in a tax bracket that could afford someone to clean, cook, have groceries delivered at the least, not to mention a night nurse/nanny at least a couple of days a week. Brynn also seems to be struggling with a bit of postpartum depression. In fact this goes quite deep into the impact of new motherhood and postpartum issues. It's extremely relatable and the best written aspect of the novel.
In this midst of this already overwhelming situation, a work associate of Ross's family business turns up dead. As Brynn is trying to process why neither her husband nor best friend made her aware of this shocking news, Ross is arrested for this associates murder. Brynn felt a touch ingénue-ish which I found annoying. At times it felt like an author would have more of an imagination when it came to elements of the mystery. I will say that the story wasn't exactly as I expected and I did not guess all of the reveals.
This audiobook was a fun way to spend an afternoon. The narrator of this audiobook is Abigail Reno. Abigail offers a realistic voice portrayal of an exhausted and overwhelmed new mother. Her tone and inflection really convey exhaustion combined with trepidation. In this case the narration helped Brynn feel more realistic.
Thank you to Julia Spiro, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
April 28, 2025
Seems I am alone with my thoughts about this book. I did not enjoy it. It was so repetitive aggravating for me. I'm sorry but to me it was just ok. Maybe awful. I honestly hate to write this kind of review. To me this was just not that good.
Brynn is a new mother. She is never sleeping and her husband is not understanding. Their baby cries all the time and Brynn wishes she had never had him. Well yes some mothers go through this. It is good to adress. But all Brynn does is whine about her baby. About lack of sleep. About breast feeding. About everything.
When Brynn's husband is arrested for the murder of a waitress at the club they belong too on Martha's Vineyard she begins to wonder if he had an affair. If he killed her. Good grief would you blame him if he did? Well yes I would but still. Brynn starts to investigate. Lack of sleep and a screaming baby would stop a normal person. But not this one. She wants answers. She tells her friends how much she believes in her husband. Seems to me she should have recognized her own husband in a video. NO MATTER WHAT...
I didn't like anyone in this book. Well maybe Ginny. But the rest were so perfect. Until they weren't. I give Ross, Brynn's husband a pass because he seemed to truly be a nice guy. He was working hard for them to have a good life. He was also investigating someone for being crooked. I won't say who.
Everything does come out in the end. Not that I didn't figure it out. Good grief I was hoping it would be more. Maybe a long lost relative or something. All well what can I say. I did not enjoy any part of this book. To much about lack of sleep, breast feeding, and don't get me started on that rectal thermometer thing. lol It wasn't like Brynn did not have help. Oh and all throughout this story you hear how awful her mother was and is but then she shows up and it's like Brynn's best friend forever showed up. Yes this book was aggravating. It had me rolling my eyes so much. But the author worked hard on it I'm sure and I have to give her credit for that...
Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #MacMillanAudio, for this ARC.
Brynn is a new mother. She is never sleeping and her husband is not understanding. Their baby cries all the time and Brynn wishes she had never had him. Well yes some mothers go through this. It is good to adress. But all Brynn does is whine about her baby. About lack of sleep. About breast feeding. About everything.
When Brynn's husband is arrested for the murder of a waitress at the club they belong too on Martha's Vineyard she begins to wonder if he had an affair. If he killed her. Good grief would you blame him if he did? Well yes I would but still. Brynn starts to investigate. Lack of sleep and a screaming baby would stop a normal person. But not this one. She wants answers. She tells her friends how much she believes in her husband. Seems to me she should have recognized her own husband in a video. NO MATTER WHAT...
I didn't like anyone in this book. Well maybe Ginny. But the rest were so perfect. Until they weren't. I give Ross, Brynn's husband a pass because he seemed to truly be a nice guy. He was working hard for them to have a good life. He was also investigating someone for being crooked. I won't say who.
Everything does come out in the end. Not that I didn't figure it out. Good grief I was hoping it would be more. Maybe a long lost relative or something. All well what can I say. I did not enjoy any part of this book. To much about lack of sleep, breast feeding, and don't get me started on that rectal thermometer thing. lol It wasn't like Brynn did not have help. Oh and all throughout this story you hear how awful her mother was and is but then she shows up and it's like Brynn's best friend forever showed up. Yes this book was aggravating. It had me rolling my eyes so much. But the author worked hard on it I'm sure and I have to give her credit for that...
Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #MacMillanAudio, for this ARC.
November 10, 2024
I received this as an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed this story and the twisty turns it led the reader. I really liked the non clues/clues Spiro left in and didn’t figure out the whole of it until the big reveal.
Look forward to reading her next book.
#SuchAGoodMom
#JuliaSpiro
I enjoyed this story and the twisty turns it led the reader. I really liked the non clues/clues Spiro left in and didn’t figure out the whole of it until the big reveal.
Look forward to reading her next book.
#SuchAGoodMom
#JuliaSpiro
May 12, 2025
Ugh. Whining, pumping, sleep. Meaningless dips into the past, and a lot more whining, pumping and sleeping.
April 21, 2025
3.5/5
This was slightly different than what I expected, less thriller more light mystery is what it is and I assumed it would read more like a thriller. It’s more character driven than I thought it would be as well, it takes a hard look at Brynn’s experience with post partum depression and that made the whole thing feel pretty heavy. Sort of a weird combo with the mystery feeling lighter and easy to predict and the rest of it feeling so dark, at least for me. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard was well described and makes this an ideal one to read during the summer and I did enjoy some of the authors prose, there was a sharpness that came through a few times, I just wish there was more of it and more complexity with the mystery aspect. If you are newer to mysteries or enjoy lighter style suspense you should try this though!
This was slightly different than what I expected, less thriller more light mystery is what it is and I assumed it would read more like a thriller. It’s more character driven than I thought it would be as well, it takes a hard look at Brynn’s experience with post partum depression and that made the whole thing feel pretty heavy. Sort of a weird combo with the mystery feeling lighter and easy to predict and the rest of it feeling so dark, at least for me. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard was well described and makes this an ideal one to read during the summer and I did enjoy some of the authors prose, there was a sharpness that came through a few times, I just wish there was more of it and more complexity with the mystery aspect. If you are newer to mysteries or enjoy lighter style suspense you should try this though!
March 20, 2025
#ad many thanks to StMartins Press for my advance copy & @netgalley for the ALC
Umm. Hmm. Okay. I liked? This book - the mystery intrigued me, the writing was great, and so were the characters. But most of this book is focused on postpartum, gender roles, chapped nipples and being a new mom.
The book would have been fantastic if it didn’t keep going on and on about these issues. I’d say the book is 75% about being a new mom - which was relatable - while the other 25% focuses on the mystery. Seriously I must have read/heard the word “nipples” at least 5000 times.
You might enjoy this one more if you’re looking for more of a women’s lit type of book with a light murder mystery. If you’re expecting a mystery/thriller well, you will get that too but you’ll also get a bunch of repeating troubles on motherhood.
I don’t even know how to rate this book. There’s so much that’s great about it but also a lot that isn’t.
Will def check out future books by this author however because I enjoyed her writing.
Umm. Hmm. Okay. I liked? This book - the mystery intrigued me, the writing was great, and so were the characters. But most of this book is focused on postpartum, gender roles, chapped nipples and being a new mom.
The book would have been fantastic if it didn’t keep going on and on about these issues. I’d say the book is 75% about being a new mom - which was relatable - while the other 25% focuses on the mystery. Seriously I must have read/heard the word “nipples” at least 5000 times.
You might enjoy this one more if you’re looking for more of a women’s lit type of book with a light murder mystery. If you’re expecting a mystery/thriller well, you will get that too but you’ll also get a bunch of repeating troubles on motherhood.
I don’t even know how to rate this book. There’s so much that’s great about it but also a lot that isn’t.
Will def check out future books by this author however because I enjoyed her writing.
November 8, 2024
While this one had an interesting back story and plot, it was probably 80% about this new mom's post partum depression, exhaustion, and guilt for not connecting with her child and her fear that she wasn't a good mom because of it. I found that, frankly, exhausting. So I am either not the right audience for this or I've just seen this as a plot driver a few too many times.
January 29, 2025
A good look at postpartum depression, but that's about all that I can say about this one. The twist is easy to figure out.
March 14, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Apr. 29, 2025
With a newborn baby and a beautiful home on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But she can’t seem to shake the darkness that has befallen her since the birth of her son and her husband, Ross, is being more secretive and distant than ever. When a young woman, Cecilia, is found dead on the island and Brynn’s husband is arrested for the crime, things quickly go from bad to worse. Brynn is convinced her husband didn’t do this, but evidence to the contrary is piling up. Brynn wants to prove to everyone that Ross is innocent but even she has doubts. Is the man she married capable of killing someone?
Julia Spiro’s new novel, “Such a Good Mom” fits into the recently developing genre of “murder among the uber wealthy”, where someone dies among the world of the uber wealthy, and everyone closes up ranks. I have read many novels with this premise as of late and there are piles of Netflix shows that carry this premise, too (such as “The Perfect Couple” and “The White Lotus”), but that doesn’t mean that the novels are pedestrian or unimaginative. In fact, Spiro’s novel is an obsessive read that I devoured.
Brynn is a new mom and is struggling with all that that entails. Her in-laws are Martha’s Vineyard elite, so you know right away they’re shady and suspicious. Brynn is a relatable protagonist, especially for anyone who has ever faced the challenges of motherhood, and it is easy to build a quick connection with her.
There are twists and turns aplenty and although I figured out the “who” pretty quickly, the complex “why” eluded me until the final pages. Spiro crafted a well-developed plot with multi-layered characters, making “Mom” an easy-to-read page turner.
“Mom” is Spiro’s third novel (although it was a first for me), and she shows no signs of slowing down. I was grateful to be a part of Spiro’s book journey and look forward to seeing what else she has in store.
Expected publication date: Apr. 29, 2025
With a newborn baby and a beautiful home on Martha’s Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she’s ever been. But she can’t seem to shake the darkness that has befallen her since the birth of her son and her husband, Ross, is being more secretive and distant than ever. When a young woman, Cecilia, is found dead on the island and Brynn’s husband is arrested for the crime, things quickly go from bad to worse. Brynn is convinced her husband didn’t do this, but evidence to the contrary is piling up. Brynn wants to prove to everyone that Ross is innocent but even she has doubts. Is the man she married capable of killing someone?
Julia Spiro’s new novel, “Such a Good Mom” fits into the recently developing genre of “murder among the uber wealthy”, where someone dies among the world of the uber wealthy, and everyone closes up ranks. I have read many novels with this premise as of late and there are piles of Netflix shows that carry this premise, too (such as “The Perfect Couple” and “The White Lotus”), but that doesn’t mean that the novels are pedestrian or unimaginative. In fact, Spiro’s novel is an obsessive read that I devoured.
Brynn is a new mom and is struggling with all that that entails. Her in-laws are Martha’s Vineyard elite, so you know right away they’re shady and suspicious. Brynn is a relatable protagonist, especially for anyone who has ever faced the challenges of motherhood, and it is easy to build a quick connection with her.
There are twists and turns aplenty and although I figured out the “who” pretty quickly, the complex “why” eluded me until the final pages. Spiro crafted a well-developed plot with multi-layered characters, making “Mom” an easy-to-read page turner.
“Mom” is Spiro’s third novel (although it was a first for me), and she shows no signs of slowing down. I was grateful to be a part of Spiro’s book journey and look forward to seeing what else she has in store.
May 5, 2025
I just finished Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro and here are my musings.
Brynn is struggling with motherhood and being a wife. Her husband has been withdrawn and she can’t manage to do her job around the baby… When a waitress at their country club is found murdered, then tragedy hits her home… Her husband has been arrested for the crime.. It looks like he did it but Brynn isn’t so sure and she will stop at nothing to find the truth.
This one was really well done. I loved the narration. It really brought me into the story and held my attention. I felt the postpartum aspects of the story were handled with care and accuracy so that was a big plus too. It was loaded with family drama and the thriller side of it felt like the secondary story which was a bit of a bummer.
Brynn was the star of the show. Her whole character was what kept me going through the whole story. The pace was a bit slow for a thriller but Brynn kept me engaged. It was a really clever story. I didn’t figure out what happened so the ending hit me hard. I was like what the SHEET!!!! I love it when I am kept guessing….
This is definitely a different type of thriller to my norm but I enjoyed the heck out of it!! The writing was great, the other characters were a bit flat but all in all… I great book, well narrated and I was entertained.
4 stars
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio and @minotaur_books for my ALC and ARC!
July 1, 2025
Obviously gotta give it the 5 starts since Julia wrote it. Really cool reading a book written by someone I know (and that I knew while she was writing it - unlike her first two books). You can really tell that she was pulling from her own experiences as a new mom because Bryn’s struggles with being a new mom felt painfully human. I doubt that I (26M with no kids) was the target audience, but I still think it was important for me to hear about the challenges associated with being a new mother. Hopefully, I learn from Ross and Bryn’s experiences so that if/when I’m a new parent I don’t have to uncover a secret murder to begin properly communicating with my wife about how to best take care of our child.
Oh yeah and the whole murder mystery aspect of the book too.. Yea that was well done and I love how the title “Such a Good Mom” kind of plays differently depending on which mom in the story you apply it to. Bryn, Margot, Bryn’s mom - my opinions of who was a “good” mom changed probably 40 times for each of them throughout the book haha.
Also this book definitely has a fair amount of “hidden mickey” to it reserved specially for people that live on the island. Some were simple like name dropping a restaurant I frequent, or a shoutout to the piping plovers(!!!), but also some of the character building was reserved for island-readers. You don’t need to live on Martha’s Vineyard to enjoy the book, but there are many details about the characters that Spiro did not explicitly write out. Rather she inferred them based on the island locales or the towns they were associated with. Readers that live on the island pick up on these character traits almost without realizing it, but when I took a step back and thought about how to best explain this book to you GoodReads folks, I realized that it would be hard for me to explain the big Margot twist without also explaining that she’s “from Edgartown” and what that meant for her character’s expectations and arc. I don’t know whether Spiro meant to do this, but it’s part of what made this book so cool for me to read.
Thanks Julia, great book!
Oh yeah and the whole murder mystery aspect of the book too.. Yea that was well done and I love how the title “Such a Good Mom” kind of plays differently depending on which mom in the story you apply it to. Bryn, Margot, Bryn’s mom - my opinions of who was a “good” mom changed probably 40 times for each of them throughout the book haha.
Also this book definitely has a fair amount of “hidden mickey” to it reserved specially for people that live on the island. Some were simple like name dropping a restaurant I frequent, or a shoutout to the piping plovers(!!!), but also some of the character building was reserved for island-readers. You don’t need to live on Martha’s Vineyard to enjoy the book, but there are many details about the characters that Spiro did not explicitly write out. Rather she inferred them based on the island locales or the towns they were associated with. Readers that live on the island pick up on these character traits almost without realizing it, but when I took a step back and thought about how to best explain this book to you GoodReads folks, I realized that it would be hard for me to explain the big Margot twist without also explaining that she’s “from Edgartown” and what that meant for her character’s expectations and arc. I don’t know whether Spiro meant to do this, but it’s part of what made this book so cool for me to read.
Thanks Julia, great book!
March 27, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I did want Brynn to resolve her issues of postpartum depression, anxiety around motherhood, and being somewhat estranged from her parents, and all that took some time!
The story is set on Martha’s Vineyard. Brynn’s husband Ross is part of a family construction business and his father, mother, and brother are somewhat overpowering and definitely have insinuated themselves in Brynn’s life, especially his mother Margo. A murder occurs on the island shortly after Brynn and Ross become parents, and Ross is arrested for the crime. The author did a good job of setting up that mystery and I was in the dark until shortly before the reveal.
The narration was really top notch! I loved the audiobook and highly recommend it. Motherhood changes women, some more than others, and I could identify with Brynn on several levels.
Four sparkling stars! I enjoyed the book.
I received a copy of the digital ALC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
The story is set on Martha’s Vineyard. Brynn’s husband Ross is part of a family construction business and his father, mother, and brother are somewhat overpowering and definitely have insinuated themselves in Brynn’s life, especially his mother Margo. A murder occurs on the island shortly after Brynn and Ross become parents, and Ross is arrested for the crime. The author did a good job of setting up that mystery and I was in the dark until shortly before the reveal.
The narration was really top notch! I loved the audiobook and highly recommend it. Motherhood changes women, some more than others, and I could identify with Brynn on several levels.
Four sparkling stars! I enjoyed the book.
I received a copy of the digital ALC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
February 24, 2025
3.5⭐️
Overall I enjoyed reading this in that I wanted to get to the end to find out what happened. But the book doesn’t know what it wants to be. Its description dangles that’s it’s a “perfect beach read” and puts it in the Women’s fiction category, however, it wants to be a mystery/thriller. A beach read it is not.
I liked the “mystery” part of the book the most even if it’s overly predictable. It does give an interesting examination of post partum depression. It goes into detail about scenarios the FMC brings up in her head as well as some frightening intrusive thoughts. There is a lot of prose dedicated to the mundane newborn activities that don’t drive the story forward.
I listened to the audiobook and that’s where the biggest problem was. The narrator Abigail Reno did a fine job with the recitation with one glaring issue… she said a majority of the geographic locations wrong. It was really frustrating to listen to when you’re a person who lives in the area that the book mentions. Massachusetts towns and locals are notorious for being stumpers for people not from here. It was disappointing that the narrator didn’t do even the small amount of research into how to say them properly and that the author approved the final copy of the audiobook.
I recommend the book to read but not the audiobook for the above reason.
I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Macmilliam Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
Overall I enjoyed reading this in that I wanted to get to the end to find out what happened. But the book doesn’t know what it wants to be. Its description dangles that’s it’s a “perfect beach read” and puts it in the Women’s fiction category, however, it wants to be a mystery/thriller. A beach read it is not.
I liked the “mystery” part of the book the most even if it’s overly predictable. It does give an interesting examination of post partum depression. It goes into detail about scenarios the FMC brings up in her head as well as some frightening intrusive thoughts. There is a lot of prose dedicated to the mundane newborn activities that don’t drive the story forward.
I listened to the audiobook and that’s where the biggest problem was. The narrator Abigail Reno did a fine job with the recitation with one glaring issue… she said a majority of the geographic locations wrong. It was really frustrating to listen to when you’re a person who lives in the area that the book mentions. Massachusetts towns and locals are notorious for being stumpers for people not from here. It was disappointing that the narrator didn’t do even the small amount of research into how to say them properly and that the author approved the final copy of the audiobook.
I recommend the book to read but not the audiobook for the above reason.
I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Macmilliam Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
March 7, 2025
So this is hard for me to review because on one hand I thought it was really good & on the other hand it rubbed me the wrong way.
This is a story of motherhood & murder. At points it felt like the two separate stories were fighting each other for the spotlight but motherhood eventually won.
I couldn’t tell if the nightmare was supposed to be your husband in jail for a murder you don’t believe he committed— or being a mom to a newborn.
I’ve gone through the newborn stage twice & even though I related to a lot of the things Brynn was going through— at times it was just too much. It’s clear she had postpartum depression & most certainly needed help. The issue was that the murder part of the story was really interesting & could have stood alone but it felt like an afterthought.
Give this book to teenagers & it’s all the birth control they’d need. Sheesh!
& to the ladies who haven’t had kids yet but want to— please don’t let this book scare you off. If anything— use it as a lesson & advocate for yourself.
This is a story of motherhood & murder. At points it felt like the two separate stories were fighting each other for the spotlight but motherhood eventually won.
I couldn’t tell if the nightmare was supposed to be your husband in jail for a murder you don’t believe he committed— or being a mom to a newborn.
I’ve gone through the newborn stage twice & even though I related to a lot of the things Brynn was going through— at times it was just too much. It’s clear she had postpartum depression & most certainly needed help. The issue was that the murder part of the story was really interesting & could have stood alone but it felt like an afterthought.
Give this book to teenagers & it’s all the birth control they’d need. Sheesh!
& to the ladies who haven’t had kids yet but want to— please don’t let this book scare you off. If anything— use it as a lesson & advocate for yourself.
May 6, 2025
3.5 stars. This is a mystery/suspense story with loads of family drama. The main character is Brynn, an author and a new mom who is struggling with post-partum depression. She lives year-round on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, who is part of a very successful and well-off local family. Right at the beginning of the book, the body of a young woman washes up on the beach. They all knew her because she was one of their favorite waitresses and was well-loved. The authorities declare her death a murder, and the person they immediately pin the crime on is a surprise to everyone on the island. Their arrest draws Brynn into a deep pit of family secrets.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline of this book. The setting was great and very atmospheric. I definitely wanted to keep turning the pages as the characters tried to figure out if the police have arrested the right person or if someone else committed the murder. A few things didn't work as well for me, though. The descriptions of the exhaustion and demands of new motherhood was very relatable (and might be a trigger for some readers), but it was mentioned too often for me - the point would have come across just as strongly without as much repetition of that theme. There were also a few things that Brynn did that seemed out of character. As with a lot of books in this genre, some things were maybe a little too convenient - I don't mind that but it's not everyone's cup of tea. In general, this book was a quick, entertaining read that would be a great pool-side pick. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital arc to review.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline of this book. The setting was great and very atmospheric. I definitely wanted to keep turning the pages as the characters tried to figure out if the police have arrested the right person or if someone else committed the murder. A few things didn't work as well for me, though. The descriptions of the exhaustion and demands of new motherhood was very relatable (and might be a trigger for some readers), but it was mentioned too often for me - the point would have come across just as strongly without as much repetition of that theme. There were also a few things that Brynn did that seemed out of character. As with a lot of books in this genre, some things were maybe a little too convenient - I don't mind that but it's not everyone's cup of tea. In general, this book was a quick, entertaining read that would be a great pool-side pick. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital arc to review.
April 7, 2025
This book is about Brynn, a new mom who is struggling with enjoying motherhood. Brynn and their little community on Martha's Vineyard are completely shocked when Brynn's husband Ross is arrested for the murder of a young women. With the mounting evidence against him, Brynn tries to figure out the truth, with only a cryptic clue from her husband.
I was drawn to the title of this novel because as a mom, I enjoy reading about other mothers perspective and experience with motherhood. One thing I did appreciate was the author bringing awareness to postpartum depression and the amount of women who experience it. I also liked the different perspective on motherhood and what it means from the different female characters in the story. Many times as moms we may idolize other mothers or assume they are doing things better than we are, when in reality, every mom struggles and things may not always be as they seem. The audio production was ok. I did have to listen to it at 1.25x speed because normal speed was just too slow.
Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot more that I liked about this storyline. I felt like the story was all over the place. There were things that weren't relevant that could have been left out and there were moments when I felt the author was trying to stretch out the story unnecessarily. Brynn as the main character was very self centered and got a bit annoying. Everything seemed to be about her. She felt like she was responsible for anything that happened to anyone else in the story. Lastly, when the mystery was solved, as a reader I felt like the author thought I was stupid and I needed it to be explained to me three different times. The last 30 minutes I was literally screaming, "I know!! I got it!". This fell flat for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC for my honest review.
I was drawn to the title of this novel because as a mom, I enjoy reading about other mothers perspective and experience with motherhood. One thing I did appreciate was the author bringing awareness to postpartum depression and the amount of women who experience it. I also liked the different perspective on motherhood and what it means from the different female characters in the story. Many times as moms we may idolize other mothers or assume they are doing things better than we are, when in reality, every mom struggles and things may not always be as they seem. The audio production was ok. I did have to listen to it at 1.25x speed because normal speed was just too slow.
Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot more that I liked about this storyline. I felt like the story was all over the place. There were things that weren't relevant that could have been left out and there were moments when I felt the author was trying to stretch out the story unnecessarily. Brynn as the main character was very self centered and got a bit annoying. Everything seemed to be about her. She felt like she was responsible for anything that happened to anyone else in the story. Lastly, when the mystery was solved, as a reader I felt like the author thought I was stupid and I needed it to be explained to me three different times. The last 30 minutes I was literally screaming, "I know!! I got it!". This fell flat for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC for my honest review.
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