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The Guilt Pill
What if women could get rid of their guilt?
Maya Patel has it all—her own start-up, a sexy, doting husband, influencer status, and now, a new baby. But behind closed doors, Maya's drowning. Her newborn is taking a toll on her marriage, her best friend won't return her calls, and her company's hanging on by a thread. The worst part? It's all her fault. If she could just be a better boss, mother, wife, daughter, friend… Maybe she wouldn't feel so guilty all the time.
#Girlboss Liz Anderson, who introduces her to the "guilt pill," an experimental supplement that erases female guilt. At first, it’s the perfect antidote to Maya’s self-blame and imposter syndrome, and she finally becomes the unapologetic woman she’s always wanted to be. There's just one catch—for Maya to truly "have it all," she has to be willing to risk it all. And as Maya falls deeper and deeper down the pill's guilt-free rabbit hole, her growing ruthlessness could threaten everything she's built for herself... And the family she's worked so hard to protect.
Electric, taut, and sharply observed, The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.
Maya Patel has it all—her own start-up, a sexy, doting husband, influencer status, and now, a new baby. But behind closed doors, Maya's drowning. Her newborn is taking a toll on her marriage, her best friend won't return her calls, and her company's hanging on by a thread. The worst part? It's all her fault. If she could just be a better boss, mother, wife, daughter, friend… Maybe she wouldn't feel so guilty all the time.
#Girlboss Liz Anderson, who introduces her to the "guilt pill," an experimental supplement that erases female guilt. At first, it’s the perfect antidote to Maya’s self-blame and imposter syndrome, and she finally becomes the unapologetic woman she’s always wanted to be. There's just one catch—for Maya to truly "have it all," she has to be willing to risk it all. And as Maya falls deeper and deeper down the pill's guilt-free rabbit hole, her growing ruthlessness could threaten everything she's built for herself... And the family she's worked so hard to protect.
Electric, taut, and sharply observed, The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
February 20, 2025
I really wanted to like this as a sci-fi fan, but this is more contemporary fiction with a sprinkling of sci-fi thriller. So, just a heads up for those (like me) who wanted something more immersed in the sci-fi realm.
As contemporary fiction, I liked this book for how it portrayed the challenges of motherhood while running a growing startup. Combine that with Asian American immigrant stubbornness and you have a realistic character with Maya.
I loved how race was interwoven into the narrative, with Maya being an Indian American woman who grew up working class, who then married an upper middle-class man. The themes of race and class within the Indian immigrant society were very well done imo. Maya's frustrations with having to struggle in childhood while her husband underwent a privileged background felt very authentic.
I also liked how the author used Liz Anderson as Maya's foil, particularly when it came to Liz's status as a white woman business owner who's been in Maya's shoes when it comes to running startups. It was very easy to see how Maya was desperate enough to trust Liz's solution: a questionable medication that could solve all of her problems by minimalizing her guilt and anxiety with not being good enough as a new mother, a wife, a businesswoman, and an influencer.
I think I would've liked this a lot better if Maya's friendship with Liz went even deeper, with Liz introducing Maya to her family and her inner circle. Throughout the novel, Liz's character felt very distant, and it was easy to see that she had something up her sleeve. Even though Maya became addicted to Liz's pills pretty quickly, it felt sort of unrealistic that Maya would trust a relative stranger with her health, especially since her best friend is a doctor.
I did like the book for its themes, so I'd recommend this for someone who likes contemporary thrillers with a bit of sci-fi.
Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for this arc.
As contemporary fiction, I liked this book for how it portrayed the challenges of motherhood while running a growing startup. Combine that with Asian American immigrant stubbornness and you have a realistic character with Maya.
I loved how race was interwoven into the narrative, with Maya being an Indian American woman who grew up working class, who then married an upper middle-class man. The themes of race and class within the Indian immigrant society were very well done imo. Maya's frustrations with having to struggle in childhood while her husband underwent a privileged background felt very authentic.
I also liked how the author used Liz Anderson as Maya's foil, particularly when it came to Liz's status as a white woman business owner who's been in Maya's shoes when it comes to running startups. It was very easy to see how Maya was desperate enough to trust Liz's solution: a questionable medication that could solve all of her problems by minimalizing her guilt and anxiety with not being good enough as a new mother, a wife, a businesswoman, and an influencer.
I think I would've liked this a lot better if Maya's friendship with Liz went even deeper, with Liz introducing Maya to her family and her inner circle. Throughout the novel, Liz's character felt very distant, and it was easy to see that she had something up her sleeve. Even though Maya became addicted to Liz's pills pretty quickly, it felt sort of unrealistic that Maya would trust a relative stranger with her health, especially since her best friend is a doctor.
I did like the book for its themes, so I'd recommend this for someone who likes contemporary thrillers with a bit of sci-fi.
Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for this arc.
April 16, 2025
The Guilt Pill by @saumyajdave
Publisher- @parkrowbooks
Audiobook narrator- Sharmila Devar
Pub Date - 4/15/25
Imagine you are the CEO of a successful start up company. You worked your tail off to get there too. Your company is flourishing and you’re all over social media.
Maya Patel is the CEO of Medini, a company with beauty products that are safe for the environment. She lives with her husband, Dev and also has a new baby. Her baby boy is colic and has been causing her so much stress that she feels guilty just for going into the office. Sound familiar?
One day, her friend Liz hands her a pill that she is working on that will remove ALL GUILT. Allowing her to be successful, a good mother and empower her without all the guilt attached. Unfortunately, there are some ugly consequences that follow.
What I loved about this story was how close to home it is for mothers. Mothers who are trying to make it in their professional lives and personal lives. She hit the nail on the head and I absolutely loved it!!!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher- @parkrowbooks
Audiobook narrator- Sharmila Devar
Pub Date - 4/15/25
Imagine you are the CEO of a successful start up company. You worked your tail off to get there too. Your company is flourishing and you’re all over social media.
Maya Patel is the CEO of Medini, a company with beauty products that are safe for the environment. She lives with her husband, Dev and also has a new baby. Her baby boy is colic and has been causing her so much stress that she feels guilty just for going into the office. Sound familiar?
One day, her friend Liz hands her a pill that she is working on that will remove ALL GUILT. Allowing her to be successful, a good mother and empower her without all the guilt attached. Unfortunately, there are some ugly consequences that follow.
What I loved about this story was how close to home it is for mothers. Mothers who are trying to make it in their professional lives and personal lives. She hit the nail on the head and I absolutely loved it!!!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 21, 2025
An intriguing premise. What if you could take a pill to make “mommy guilt” go away? This is a dual timeline book- we are aware that Mya is a founder of a consumer goods company on maternity leave with an infant son. She gets a lot of guilt from her mother in law and other moms, we can be mean to each other and question our mothering.
So her business contact Liz gives her access to guilt pills that make this go away, and soon Mya finds herself addicted and taking more than she should.
The speculative fiction element went a different direction than I expected. I was a little disappointed in this but overall it was a very accessible read and gives you some food for thought.
So her business contact Liz gives her access to guilt pills that make this go away, and soon Mya finds herself addicted and taking more than she should.
The speculative fiction element went a different direction than I expected. I was a little disappointed in this but overall it was a very accessible read and gives you some food for thought.
February 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Thought-Provoking, Nuanced Exploration of Motherhood and Identity
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is an absolute must-read—compelling, deeply emotional, and impossible to put down. Dave masterfully weaves a story that explores the pressures of motherhood, the weight of expectations, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding mental health and medication.
The characters feel real and raw, especially Maya, a psychiatrist and mother caught between science, societal norms, and personal guilt. She comes across a pill that will fully relieve her guilt, and it works, but at a cost.
The novel forces readers to confront their own beliefs about what it means to be a “good mother” and how far one would go to relieve their guilt. The writing is beautiful, and Dave balances drama with real-life complexity, making every page feel urgent and meaningful.
This book lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love thought-provoking, character-driven stories that tackle moral ambiguity with nuance and grace, The Guilt Pill is for you.
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is an absolute must-read—compelling, deeply emotional, and impossible to put down. Dave masterfully weaves a story that explores the pressures of motherhood, the weight of expectations, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding mental health and medication.
The characters feel real and raw, especially Maya, a psychiatrist and mother caught between science, societal norms, and personal guilt. She comes across a pill that will fully relieve her guilt, and it works, but at a cost.
The novel forces readers to confront their own beliefs about what it means to be a “good mother” and how far one would go to relieve their guilt. The writing is beautiful, and Dave balances drama with real-life complexity, making every page feel urgent and meaningful.
This book lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love thought-provoking, character-driven stories that tackle moral ambiguity with nuance and grace, The Guilt Pill is for you.
October 24, 2025
3.25 stars
What a fun concept for a story! A pill that can make your guilt go away. I was eager to dive into this book to see how it would all play out!!
Maya Patel, CEO of an up and coming start up, is a new mother on maternity leave. She is treading water to be the perfect mom while also trying not to miss a beat in leading her team of employees to success. Social media influences, talk show appearances, boardroom meetings, company trips...all while trying to breastfeed her son, soothe him in the middle of the night and essentially be the perfect mother. But... it's an impossible feat without help, and Maya is starting to crack at the seams. That is, until another CEO (and one of Maya's mentors), Liz reaches out and offers her a saving grace in the form of a little pink pill - the guilt pill. Maya barely has to think about it before she pops one of those pills and instantly notices the difference...
You can probably see where this story is going and such a fun ride it was!!
I loved how the author nailed the stress and anxiety experience as a new mother. The never-ending guilt that seesaws between being there for your child but also keeping your own identity and career. It is an extremely difficult life stage, and, like Maya, can paralyze even the most capable women. I viscerally felt Maya's stress while reading this book. It was incredibly tense! I also enjoyed the scifi component of the magic pill and its effect on Maya's life.
However, where things weren't as successful was in the last 20% of the plot. It took a strange turn and never fully recovered. The ending felt more like a wrap-up of all the loose ends rather than an event itself. It was also too drawn out. I was ready for the book to be over well before the final chapter.
Overall, it was just a so-so read for me, although I would recommend to others if only for the psychological aspect of new motherhood and the guilt pill trip.
What a fun concept for a story! A pill that can make your guilt go away. I was eager to dive into this book to see how it would all play out!!
Maya Patel, CEO of an up and coming start up, is a new mother on maternity leave. She is treading water to be the perfect mom while also trying not to miss a beat in leading her team of employees to success. Social media influences, talk show appearances, boardroom meetings, company trips...all while trying to breastfeed her son, soothe him in the middle of the night and essentially be the perfect mother. But... it's an impossible feat without help, and Maya is starting to crack at the seams. That is, until another CEO (and one of Maya's mentors), Liz reaches out and offers her a saving grace in the form of a little pink pill - the guilt pill. Maya barely has to think about it before she pops one of those pills and instantly notices the difference...
You can probably see where this story is going and such a fun ride it was!!
I loved how the author nailed the stress and anxiety experience as a new mother. The never-ending guilt that seesaws between being there for your child but also keeping your own identity and career. It is an extremely difficult life stage, and, like Maya, can paralyze even the most capable women. I viscerally felt Maya's stress while reading this book. It was incredibly tense! I also enjoyed the scifi component of the magic pill and its effect on Maya's life.
However, where things weren't as successful was in the last 20% of the plot. It took a strange turn and never fully recovered. The ending felt more like a wrap-up of all the loose ends rather than an event itself. It was also too drawn out. I was ready for the book to be over well before the final chapter.
Overall, it was just a so-so read for me, although I would recommend to others if only for the psychological aspect of new motherhood and the guilt pill trip.
October 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. I absolutely love Saumya Dave's writing and after reading her first two books a few years ago and heard she was coming out with a new book, I immediately had to request it on NetGalley. I feel like Dave and I would be great friends in real life because her writing is so real, raw, and inspirational. The Guilt Pill explores the idea of maternal guilt when balancing work, family pressure, and new motherhood. It explores delicate themes of classism, burnout, and feels of inadequacy as a mother. While I am not a parent, I really resonate with these deeply human feelings. I was right there along with Maya as she dug herself deeper and deeper into this rabbit hole she couldn't get herself out of. I think this book is very well set up for a sequel, and I'm really looking forward to it, because I want to see some characters crash and burn and I'd love to explore more of the relationship between Maya and her mother-in-law, Maya's brother and her family, and Maya's parents individually.
Definitely recommend everyone to pick up this book when it hits shelves in 2025!
Definitely recommend everyone to pick up this book when it hits shelves in 2025!
October 8, 2025
"Welcome to the real world where everyone is tired and overworked"
The mom guilt and woman guilt are so well portrayed in this book that it was shocking to me. I am not a mother, though my best friends are. Seeing their chief fears portrayed through these characters made me realize how widespread this guilt is. And with that in mind, wouldn't a pill to make it all go away be so convenient? Race, of course, is also very important to this story and the fact that non-white presenting people have to work so much harder for half as much. I would be remis if I excluded mentioning that crucial point as the author Dave is showing this perfect-storm trifecta that brought Maya to her knees.
my one complaint was that it was easy to see early on that Liz had poor intentions. her getting away, however, I enjoyed because I think so often the villains do get away. Dave did a phenomenal job of keeping this story grounded in reality where the bad guy doesn't always get caught, parents separate, other people are victimized down the line. This was a great novel and I hope that people will read it not just for the story but for the message behind it.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Saumya Dave, and Harlequin audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
The mom guilt and woman guilt are so well portrayed in this book that it was shocking to me. I am not a mother, though my best friends are. Seeing their chief fears portrayed through these characters made me realize how widespread this guilt is. And with that in mind, wouldn't a pill to make it all go away be so convenient? Race, of course, is also very important to this story and the fact that non-white presenting people have to work so much harder for half as much. I would be remis if I excluded mentioning that crucial point as the author Dave is showing this perfect-storm trifecta that brought Maya to her knees.
my one complaint was that it was easy to see early on that Liz had poor intentions. her getting away, however, I enjoyed because I think so often the villains do get away. Dave did a phenomenal job of keeping this story grounded in reality where the bad guy doesn't always get caught, parents separate, other people are victimized down the line. This was a great novel and I hope that people will read it not just for the story but for the message behind it.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Saumya Dave, and Harlequin audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
April 27, 2025
(rounded up from 2.5)
I was initially drawn into this book because it's classified as sci-fi but after finishing I would say it's more a lukewarm thriller (since the thrilling part of the book is also handled a bit vaguely, and not in the usual high-stakes tension-filled climax or action sequence I'd expect in a thriller).
Maya Patel is a first-generation Indian-American who is the CEO and founder of her startup that makes biodegradable personal care products. She also has a two-month-old son and is meant to be on maternity leave but she can feel her company slipping away from her grasp, and her husband is the primary earner and therefore not around to help with their son. After developing a new friendship with a controversial hashtag girlboss figure in the world of startups, Maya is convinced by her new friend and mentor, Liz, to try some pills she's been developing that will alleviate guily and help women get ahead in life without all the guilt of motherhood, etc. weighing them down. Maya reluctantly tries them and is predictably hooked on increasing amounts of the pill as she tries to girlboss her life.
I rated this lower than I expected, primarily because this is definitely not sci-fi and even as a thriller, this is barely fast paced and is, instead, quite predictable and remains reasonably shallow in terms of Maya and her struggles. Maya is a fairly shallow stand-in for desi women who are trying to work themselves to death while having zero self-esteem because that's what her parents did as immigrants to America. For an intelligent woman, she is oddly cavalier about ingesting drugs that are not FDA-approved or even available for general sale, especially while attempting to exclusively breastfeed her infant, because this woman she's known for a week says, "Trust me, bro".
There's also a lot of unnecessary build-up to Maya being missing, with excerpts from police interviews and social media articles and commentary in between chapters that don't really help much and were honestly also quite shallow and dull. Overall, I think this was an interesting idea, but the treatment doesn't really go beyond skin-deep, which makes it hard to set it apart from any other novels about being a mother and CEO of a struggling startup.
I was initially drawn into this book because it's classified as sci-fi but after finishing I would say it's more a lukewarm thriller (since the thrilling part of the book is also handled a bit vaguely, and not in the usual high-stakes tension-filled climax or action sequence I'd expect in a thriller).
Maya Patel is a first-generation Indian-American who is the CEO and founder of her startup that makes biodegradable personal care products. She also has a two-month-old son and is meant to be on maternity leave but she can feel her company slipping away from her grasp, and her husband is the primary earner and therefore not around to help with their son. After developing a new friendship with a controversial hashtag girlboss figure in the world of startups, Maya is convinced by her new friend and mentor, Liz, to try some pills she's been developing that will alleviate guily and help women get ahead in life without all the guilt of motherhood, etc. weighing them down. Maya reluctantly tries them and is predictably hooked on increasing amounts of the pill as she tries to girlboss her life.
I rated this lower than I expected, primarily because this is definitely not sci-fi and even as a thriller, this is barely fast paced and is, instead, quite predictable and remains reasonably shallow in terms of Maya and her struggles. Maya is a fairly shallow stand-in for desi women who are trying to work themselves to death while having zero self-esteem because that's what her parents did as immigrants to America. For an intelligent woman, she is oddly cavalier about ingesting drugs that are not FDA-approved or even available for general sale, especially while attempting to exclusively breastfeed her infant, because this woman she's known for a week says, "Trust me, bro".
There's also a lot of unnecessary build-up to Maya being missing, with excerpts from police interviews and social media articles and commentary in between chapters that don't really help much and were honestly also quite shallow and dull. Overall, I think this was an interesting idea, but the treatment doesn't really go beyond skin-deep, which makes it hard to set it apart from any other novels about being a mother and CEO of a struggling startup.
March 29, 2025
#ad many thanks for my advance copy @htp_hive #partner
& @netgalley for the ALC
What if you could take a single pill and leave all the negative emotions that guilt produce in your rearview? No more guilt for anything. How would it change your life?
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is a fascinating look into the life of a new mother and business CEO, who is drowning in societal stereotypes and gender roles, when she’s offered the perfect solution in the form of a pill. The only downside? It only lasts a few hours.
I devoured this one. It’s also thought-provoking in that it had me going down the rabbit hole of how society really hates babies. Just think about it: you’ll never sleep again, you’ll never have time to yourself, forget about having a life now. How many other pieces of “wisdom” have you heard that carry the same tune?
The book tackled these topics in an engaging and intriguing way. I loved the overall message of this one. The nonstop action and compelling narrative makes this impossible to put down. The audio was also perfect. The narrators truly brought this story to life.
I enjoyed exploring how someone who is usually bogged down by the feelings of guilt would act if all of a sudden those feelings were gone. In the end, guilt is a product of so much more and is just a part of us. It’s what makes us do and say the things we do. And without it, well we aren’t the same person anymore.
At the heart, this is a mystery as the FMC disappears we are thrown back in time to see how everything unfolded and how we got to where we are at the present time. The story alternates between the past and the present.
Fun and engaging. Loved it.
& @netgalley for the ALC
What if you could take a single pill and leave all the negative emotions that guilt produce in your rearview? No more guilt for anything. How would it change your life?
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is a fascinating look into the life of a new mother and business CEO, who is drowning in societal stereotypes and gender roles, when she’s offered the perfect solution in the form of a pill. The only downside? It only lasts a few hours.
I devoured this one. It’s also thought-provoking in that it had me going down the rabbit hole of how society really hates babies. Just think about it: you’ll never sleep again, you’ll never have time to yourself, forget about having a life now. How many other pieces of “wisdom” have you heard that carry the same tune?
The book tackled these topics in an engaging and intriguing way. I loved the overall message of this one. The nonstop action and compelling narrative makes this impossible to put down. The audio was also perfect. The narrators truly brought this story to life.
I enjoyed exploring how someone who is usually bogged down by the feelings of guilt would act if all of a sudden those feelings were gone. In the end, guilt is a product of so much more and is just a part of us. It’s what makes us do and say the things we do. And without it, well we aren’t the same person anymore.
At the heart, this is a mystery as the FMC disappears we are thrown back in time to see how everything unfolded and how we got to where we are at the present time. The story alternates between the past and the present.
Fun and engaging. Loved it.
July 27, 2025
This book was an interesting concept, but I just think the execution was lacking. Many of the issues that the main character had weren't guilt, they were a lack of communication and then being angry at everyone around her for not being able to read her mind. I think many women truly struggle with this issue. Maybe confusing this communication flaw for mom guilt is common.
July 28, 2025
The Guilt Pill is definitely not a book I would have picked up of my own volition but I am very glad to have read it. A colleague of mine is married to Saumya and I was so excited to find this out, they were gracious enough to send me a copy of her new novel.
If you have been reading my reviews for a while you know that I have a soft spot for the "unhinged women" trope in literature and I would say there is just enough of that in this to peak my interest but the intrigue of it's premise had me stay for the entirety: a young mother who is also the CEO of an up and coming startup discovers that there is a pill you can take to mask your feelings of guilt, allowing you to make decisions without the additional burden of wondering how it would affect the other party.
The beauty of this idea is that any working parent can understand the potential unlock this would provide. But it is in the relatable execution of Saumya's novel that settles into the external view of Maya (main character) which really brings into focus how damning outside voices can be to a person in this scenario. There are segments of online discourse where people theorize on Maya's situation and always veer negative, at times concocting inaccurate claims based on poor information. Ultimately this swirl leads to an unravelling but there is so much more explored and worth the read. if you enjoyed Dearest for it's exploration of young motherhood (minus the horror element) or if you are looking for another book after finishing The Bright Years I think you will very much like this book.
If you have been reading my reviews for a while you know that I have a soft spot for the "unhinged women" trope in literature and I would say there is just enough of that in this to peak my interest but the intrigue of it's premise had me stay for the entirety: a young mother who is also the CEO of an up and coming startup discovers that there is a pill you can take to mask your feelings of guilt, allowing you to make decisions without the additional burden of wondering how it would affect the other party.
The beauty of this idea is that any working parent can understand the potential unlock this would provide. But it is in the relatable execution of Saumya's novel that settles into the external view of Maya (main character) which really brings into focus how damning outside voices can be to a person in this scenario. There are segments of online discourse where people theorize on Maya's situation and always veer negative, at times concocting inaccurate claims based on poor information. Ultimately this swirl leads to an unravelling but there is so much more explored and worth the read. if you enjoyed Dearest for it's exploration of young motherhood (minus the horror element) or if you are looking for another book after finishing The Bright Years I think you will very much like this book.
July 30, 2025
Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but a solid 4.5 ⭐ from me for this one.
The discourse around achievement, do it all ness, expectations, disappointment, sacrifice , especially in the eye of a second gen immigrant lens was exactly what I needed to read. And it's set in NYC, with the main character's office so close to my own :P
The discourse around achievement, do it all ness, expectations, disappointment, sacrifice , especially in the eye of a second gen immigrant lens was exactly what I needed to read. And it's set in NYC, with the main character's office so close to my own :P
July 5, 2025
What. A. Page. Turner. This tackles women's guilt about trying to have it all and the struggle it is to manage it all. Maya is the CEO of a start up, a new mom with a fussy baby. While doing a big tv promotion, she and another high powered woman in tech, become friends and Liz seems to see Maya, her strengths as well as her doubts. Liz' magic pill, that takes away guilt, seems to take away Maya's fears and guilt surrounding motherhood and being the boss. Moreover this also addresses wanting more from our partners, despite the partner's best intentions. Maya, being in and spinning out of control becomes this endless stressful loop while family and friends are concerned and confused. There won't be a guilt pill for readers as they shirk all other responsibilities but there will be a payoff of a satisfying read. Personally, I devoured this in a day and felt no guilt for it.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 5/25
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 5/25
May 3, 2025
The concept of The Guilt Pill was unique and had me hooked from page one! I loved the mixed media format, with news articles or social media posts between each chapter.
I found the writing easy to follow which meant I did not want to put the book down.
-1 star ⭐ as I felt the ending dragged a little bit more than it needed too and I would have liked some more sci-fi aspects.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
I found the writing easy to follow which meant I did not want to put the book down.
-1 star ⭐ as I felt the ending dragged a little bit more than it needed too and I would have liked some more sci-fi aspects.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
May 4, 2025
This book is horrible. Not a thriller at all, too much build up and fluff that doesn’t make sense. Literally so bad, character development is horrible and just not likable. I feel like she fixated on trying to be so woke and feminist with her opinions that it’s makes it a bit annoying. As a south Asian I wanted to love this for support but it’s horrible.
March 8, 2025
(4.25 stars) A huge thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, The Hive, and Saumya Dave for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book!
This was such a great read. To me, it read like a women’s fiction/mystery, which is something I’ve never experienced in a book, so that made it feel really fast-paced. When I first saw this book, I was immediately intrigued because guilt is something I struggle with every day. Women’s guilt is something that I don’t feel is touched on or acknowledged nearly enough, and this book did a fabulous job at shedding light on the topic. If you’re a woman and/or a mother, or even if you’re not, I highly recommend reading this book!
This was such a great read. To me, it read like a women’s fiction/mystery, which is something I’ve never experienced in a book, so that made it feel really fast-paced. When I first saw this book, I was immediately intrigued because guilt is something I struggle with every day. Women’s guilt is something that I don’t feel is touched on or acknowledged nearly enough, and this book did a fabulous job at shedding light on the topic. If you’re a woman and/or a mother, or even if you’re not, I highly recommend reading this book!
April 1, 2025
The Guilt Pill was an amazing read in my opinion. The mom guilt representation was spot on. What it’s like for women and new moms in the workplace was spot on. The representation in the book was all around amazing and it was very well done. The amount of things that resonated with me was astronomical. I’ve never felt more seen from a character in any book I’ve ever read. The book did take a weird turn of events I wasn’t expecting and that side of things was left unresolved, which I didn’t really like. Overall I would say the story did tie up nicely though and left you with a feel good feeling. This was a five star read for me and I would recommend it to any woman, new mom, seasoned mom, and everyone in between. I need a trophy copy to tab because I just loved this book so much!
July 16, 2025
I really wanted to love The Guilt Pill. The premise is compelling, and there are moments that struck a real emotional chord. The book explores important themes—generational trauma, the impossible expectations placed on working mothers, and the isolation of early postpartum life. It captures how those struggles are often met with toxic positivity, which felt very true to life. But by the end, I wasn’t sure what the novel was trying to say. The takeaway just didn’t land.
I did enjoy the structure—news clippings, transcripts, and interviews interspersed throughout helped build suspense and kept the story moving. The early chapters, in particular, portrayed the challenges of new motherhood with nuance and authenticity.
Unfortunately, I found most of the characters frustrating. Maya’s contradictions, especially around her views on her parents and therapy, wore thin. Her husband and best friend, though concerned, weren’t particularly likeable either.
The pacing also felt uneven. The first half spends a lot of time on unimportant stuff, while major plot developments later are rushed. A central traumatic event is built up but ultimately doesn’t deliver.
The Guilt Pill had a lot of potential, but for me, it didn’t quite come together in the end.
I did enjoy the structure—news clippings, transcripts, and interviews interspersed throughout helped build suspense and kept the story moving. The early chapters, in particular, portrayed the challenges of new motherhood with nuance and authenticity.
Unfortunately, I found most of the characters frustrating. Maya’s contradictions, especially around her views on her parents and therapy, wore thin. Her husband and best friend, though concerned, weren’t particularly likeable either.
The pacing also felt uneven. The first half spends a lot of time on unimportant stuff, while major plot developments later are rushed. A central traumatic event is built up but ultimately doesn’t deliver.
The Guilt Pill had a lot of potential, but for me, it didn’t quite come together in the end.
April 10, 2025
This book was a little too relatable and I’m not mad about it at all. I thought this was a pretty spot on look at the conflicts of motherhood, especially during the first year. Maya was such a complex character and it was so easy to understand her struggles with the mental/physical/emotional toll motherhood can bring while also wanting to maintain herself outside of being a mom, especially with being a CEO/founder of a company. I really liked how it explored the changes you can feel in a marriage after giving birth. There were so many nuances and layers to this part of the story and I was kind of blown away by it. I did find the Liz part of the story exciting at first, but it ended up being a bit of a let down. I think part of that was because we didn’t really get to know Liz very well and also there was not much closure once that part of the story ended. I did really enjoy the police interviews, articles and social media posts sprinkled throughout the book. That added a fun layer of mystery and suspense. Overall, as a deep look into the burdens and blessings of motherhood, I LOVED IT, but the mystery part of it was a little bland.
Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced digital reader’s copy!
Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced digital reader’s copy!
April 24, 2025
Not a fan at all. The concept is interesting but the writing and character development felt superficial. Lots of the dialogue read like poorly disguised ranting. Also the overuse of italics in dialogue was distracting.
June 18, 2025
I was excited to receive this as an ALC! I did not know what to expect, but it absolutely wowed me!
This feels like a commentary on the way society views women, especially after they have a baby. Let me just say a few things up top that I believe in, that were also mentioned in the book:
1) Maternity leave is not a vacation.
2) You cannot babysit your own child.
3) Fed is best, breast or formula.
4) Being a mother does not make you a bad employee.
5) Women look like CEOs.
We also explore the importance of giving other women grace, honesty and authenticity, and being careful who you trust when you are vulnerable.
Every woman needs to read this book! Cannot recommend enough.
This feels like a commentary on the way society views women, especially after they have a baby. Let me just say a few things up top that I believe in, that were also mentioned in the book:
1) Maternity leave is not a vacation.
2) You cannot babysit your own child.
3) Fed is best, breast or formula.
4) Being a mother does not make you a bad employee.
5) Women look like CEOs.
We also explore the importance of giving other women grace, honesty and authenticity, and being careful who you trust when you are vulnerable.
Every woman needs to read this book! Cannot recommend enough.
August 24, 2025
I fear I’m not the target audience for this book. Young professional mothers would probably give it a much higher rating (2.5 rounded up to 3). I, in my ripe old age, just wanted Maya to get a grip, hire a nanny, talk to her husband, and — for the love of the gods — why is she taking so many pills? It takes too much suspension of belief that a young woman smart enough to build and lead a multi-million dollar business could be so gullible. Also, I’m a raging old feminist so I don’t need to told and retold and retold and retold about the imbalance of marital/parental responsibilities.
May 3, 2025
I won an ARC of this book from HarperCollinsCanada and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I couldn’t quite relate to a lot of the story since I’m not a mother, however everyone has feelings of guilt at some point. I was expecting more of a thriller based on the start of the book, so that was a bit disappointing. Overall though it was a decent book.
April 10, 2025
I was expecting more of a sci-fi slant. I felt like there was a lot of potential, but it fell flat.
June 7, 2025
It was a fast read. It was a wholesome book for anyone who has ever gone through postpartum, addiction or to the moms who think they have to do it all all the time.
June 20, 2025
Saumya Dave's latest psychological thriller, The Guilt Pill, ventures into treacherous territory—the intersection of motherhood, ambition, and the societal expectations that keep women tethered to perpetual guilt. Following her acclaimed novels Well-Behaved Indian Women and What a Happy Family, Dave demonstrates her evolution as a writer by seamlessly blending domestic drama with speculative elements, creating a narrative that feels both timely and unnervingly plausible.
The premise is deceptively simple yet devastatingly complex: What if women could pharmaceutical their way out of guilt? Maya Patel, founder of eco-friendly startup Medini, appears to have achieved the modern woman's holy grail—successful business, devoted husband, new baby, social media influence. Yet beneath this curated perfection lies a woman drowning in the impossible expectations of contemporary motherhood and entrepreneurship.
The Architecture of Female Guilt
Dave's greatest strength lies in her unflinching examination of how guilt operates as both personal torment and societal control mechanism. Maya's internal monologue reads like a catalog of modern maternal anxieties: inadequate milk production, work-life balance failures, the constant measuring against other mothers' seemingly effortless competence. The author's own experience as a mother writing this novel "when postpartum with my first son" and completing it "right after giving birth to my second son" infuses the narrative with authentic emotional weight.
The guilt pill itself—those hot-pink capsules that promise freedom from self-blame—functions as both plot device and metaphor. When Maya first encounters Liz Anderson, the charismatic entrepreneur behind Women Rise supplements, the seduction feels organic. Liz's pitch resonates because it addresses a genuine crisis: the way female guilt operates as invisible labor, keeping women compliant and self-sacrificing.
Dave excels at capturing the specific texture of new motherhood—the physical discomfort, the sleep deprivation, the way Maya's body feels foreign to her. The scene where she pumps breast milk in an Uber while racing to a crucial business meeting perfectly encapsulates the impossible juggling act expected of modern mothers. Her description of staring at her postpartum reflection—"loose skin lingering around her middle, deep purple stretch marks hugging her hips"—carries the weight of genuine experience.
The Dangerous Seduction of Simple Solutions
The novel's central tension emerges as Maya begins taking the experimental pills. Initially, the effects seem miraculous—she sleeps better, delegates without apologizing, speaks her mind without qualification. Dave skillfully portrays how liberation can feel intoxicating, especially for women conditioned to prioritize everyone else's comfort over their own needs.
However, the transformation comes at a cost that Dave explores with increasing psychological complexity. Maya's newfound assertiveness gradually morphs into ruthlessness. She becomes dismissive of her husband Dev's concerns, harsh with employees, and disconnected from her infant son Shaan. The pills don't eliminate guilt so much as replace it with something potentially more dangerous—complete emotional detachment.
The relationship between Maya and the mysterious Liz Anderson serves as the novel's dark heart. Liz's backstory—a childhood marked by her father's abandonment and her mother's subsequent self-blame—provides compelling motivation for her crusade against female guilt. Yet Dave gradually reveals Liz as a master manipulator who weaponizes feminist language to exploit vulnerable women. Her pattern of targeting "women of color" like Maya and the disappeared Anita Johnson adds layers of commentary about how white feminism can exploit and ultimately harm the very women it claims to champion.
Cultural Specificity and Universal Themes
Dave's exploration of guilt carries particular resonance within South Asian cultural contexts. Maya's interactions with her mother Mira illuminate how guilt operates intergenerationally, passed down "like a family heirloom" through cultural expectations and traditional gender roles. The scene where Maya challenges her mother's automatic assumption that she must cook for visiting relatives reveals how deeply embedded these patterns become.
The novel's treatment of Maya's marriage to Dev adds nuance to discussions of progressive partnerships. Despite Dev's genuine support and good intentions, the default assumption that Maya will handle childcare while he maintains his career trajectory reflects systemic inequalities that even well-meaning couples struggle to overcome. Dave captures this dynamic without villainizing Dev, instead illustrating how patriarchal structures operate through individual relationships.
Where the Narrative Falters
Despite its compelling premise and strong character development, The Guilt Pill occasionally struggles with pacing and plausibility. The middle section, where Maya's transformation accelerates, sometimes feels rushed. Her descent into ruthless behavior could benefit from more gradual development—the pills seem to work almost too effectively, making Maya's personality shift feel abrupt rather than inevitable.
The novel's resolution, while emotionally satisfying, raises questions about the speculative elements. The pills' exact mechanism remains vague, and some readers may find the science-fictional aspects underdeveloped. Dave seems more interested in the psychological and social implications than the technical details, which works thematically but occasionally leaves plot holes.
Additionally, certain secondary characters feel underwritten. Maya's business partner Josh and assistant Tiffany serve primarily functional roles without developing distinct personalities. Given the novel's focus on workplace dynamics and female entrepreneurship, these relationships could carry more emotional weight.
A Mirror to Modern Motherhood
Where Dave succeeds most powerfully is in holding up a mirror to contemporary motherhood's contradictions. Society demands that women "have it all" while providing inadequate support systems for actually achieving that goal. The novel's social media subplot—Maya's curated Instagram presence versus her private struggles—brilliantly captures how modern mothers perform happiness while drowning privately.
The book's treatment of postpartum mental health feels particularly urgent. Maya's experience of feeling like "a stranger in her own body" and her desperate need for validation will resonate with many readers who've navigated the treacherous waters of new parenthood. Dave doesn't pathologize these struggles but instead questions why society expects women to maintain impossible standards during one of life's most challenging transitions.
Literary Craftsmanship and Style
Dave's prose style has matured since her earlier works, developing a sharp precision that serves the psychological thriller format well. She balances internal monologue with external action effectively, and her dialogue feels authentic without becoming overly naturalistic. The novel's structure—alternating between Maya's perspective and external media coverage of her eventual disappearance—creates effective tension and foreshadowing.
The author's background in mental health advocacy enriches the narrative with psychological insight. Her portrayal of how trauma and societal pressure interact to create vulnerability feels informed by genuine understanding rather than surface research.
Final Verdict
The Guilt Pill succeeds as both page-turning thriller and thoughtful social commentary. While the novel occasionally prioritizes message over narrative momentum, Dave's exploration of female guilt, motherhood, and ambition feels both timely and timeless. The book works best when it focuses on Maya's internal struggle rather than the more fantastical elements of the plot.
Dave has crafted a cautionary tale that will resonate with anyone who's felt the weight of impossible expectations. The novel asks difficult questions about the price of liberation and whether true freedom can be found in a pill—or anywhere else external to ourselves. For readers seeking psychological complexity wrapped in propulsive plotting, The Guilt Pill delivers a satisfying if sometimes uneven reading experience.
The premise is deceptively simple yet devastatingly complex: What if women could pharmaceutical their way out of guilt? Maya Patel, founder of eco-friendly startup Medini, appears to have achieved the modern woman's holy grail—successful business, devoted husband, new baby, social media influence. Yet beneath this curated perfection lies a woman drowning in the impossible expectations of contemporary motherhood and entrepreneurship.
The Architecture of Female Guilt
Dave's greatest strength lies in her unflinching examination of how guilt operates as both personal torment and societal control mechanism. Maya's internal monologue reads like a catalog of modern maternal anxieties: inadequate milk production, work-life balance failures, the constant measuring against other mothers' seemingly effortless competence. The author's own experience as a mother writing this novel "when postpartum with my first son" and completing it "right after giving birth to my second son" infuses the narrative with authentic emotional weight.
The guilt pill itself—those hot-pink capsules that promise freedom from self-blame—functions as both plot device and metaphor. When Maya first encounters Liz Anderson, the charismatic entrepreneur behind Women Rise supplements, the seduction feels organic. Liz's pitch resonates because it addresses a genuine crisis: the way female guilt operates as invisible labor, keeping women compliant and self-sacrificing.
Dave excels at capturing the specific texture of new motherhood—the physical discomfort, the sleep deprivation, the way Maya's body feels foreign to her. The scene where she pumps breast milk in an Uber while racing to a crucial business meeting perfectly encapsulates the impossible juggling act expected of modern mothers. Her description of staring at her postpartum reflection—"loose skin lingering around her middle, deep purple stretch marks hugging her hips"—carries the weight of genuine experience.
The Dangerous Seduction of Simple Solutions
The novel's central tension emerges as Maya begins taking the experimental pills. Initially, the effects seem miraculous—she sleeps better, delegates without apologizing, speaks her mind without qualification. Dave skillfully portrays how liberation can feel intoxicating, especially for women conditioned to prioritize everyone else's comfort over their own needs.
However, the transformation comes at a cost that Dave explores with increasing psychological complexity. Maya's newfound assertiveness gradually morphs into ruthlessness. She becomes dismissive of her husband Dev's concerns, harsh with employees, and disconnected from her infant son Shaan. The pills don't eliminate guilt so much as replace it with something potentially more dangerous—complete emotional detachment.
The relationship between Maya and the mysterious Liz Anderson serves as the novel's dark heart. Liz's backstory—a childhood marked by her father's abandonment and her mother's subsequent self-blame—provides compelling motivation for her crusade against female guilt. Yet Dave gradually reveals Liz as a master manipulator who weaponizes feminist language to exploit vulnerable women. Her pattern of targeting "women of color" like Maya and the disappeared Anita Johnson adds layers of commentary about how white feminism can exploit and ultimately harm the very women it claims to champion.
Cultural Specificity and Universal Themes
Dave's exploration of guilt carries particular resonance within South Asian cultural contexts. Maya's interactions with her mother Mira illuminate how guilt operates intergenerationally, passed down "like a family heirloom" through cultural expectations and traditional gender roles. The scene where Maya challenges her mother's automatic assumption that she must cook for visiting relatives reveals how deeply embedded these patterns become.
The novel's treatment of Maya's marriage to Dev adds nuance to discussions of progressive partnerships. Despite Dev's genuine support and good intentions, the default assumption that Maya will handle childcare while he maintains his career trajectory reflects systemic inequalities that even well-meaning couples struggle to overcome. Dave captures this dynamic without villainizing Dev, instead illustrating how patriarchal structures operate through individual relationships.
Where the Narrative Falters
Despite its compelling premise and strong character development, The Guilt Pill occasionally struggles with pacing and plausibility. The middle section, where Maya's transformation accelerates, sometimes feels rushed. Her descent into ruthless behavior could benefit from more gradual development—the pills seem to work almost too effectively, making Maya's personality shift feel abrupt rather than inevitable.
The novel's resolution, while emotionally satisfying, raises questions about the speculative elements. The pills' exact mechanism remains vague, and some readers may find the science-fictional aspects underdeveloped. Dave seems more interested in the psychological and social implications than the technical details, which works thematically but occasionally leaves plot holes.
Additionally, certain secondary characters feel underwritten. Maya's business partner Josh and assistant Tiffany serve primarily functional roles without developing distinct personalities. Given the novel's focus on workplace dynamics and female entrepreneurship, these relationships could carry more emotional weight.
A Mirror to Modern Motherhood
Where Dave succeeds most powerfully is in holding up a mirror to contemporary motherhood's contradictions. Society demands that women "have it all" while providing inadequate support systems for actually achieving that goal. The novel's social media subplot—Maya's curated Instagram presence versus her private struggles—brilliantly captures how modern mothers perform happiness while drowning privately.
The book's treatment of postpartum mental health feels particularly urgent. Maya's experience of feeling like "a stranger in her own body" and her desperate need for validation will resonate with many readers who've navigated the treacherous waters of new parenthood. Dave doesn't pathologize these struggles but instead questions why society expects women to maintain impossible standards during one of life's most challenging transitions.
Literary Craftsmanship and Style
Dave's prose style has matured since her earlier works, developing a sharp precision that serves the psychological thriller format well. She balances internal monologue with external action effectively, and her dialogue feels authentic without becoming overly naturalistic. The novel's structure—alternating between Maya's perspective and external media coverage of her eventual disappearance—creates effective tension and foreshadowing.
The author's background in mental health advocacy enriches the narrative with psychological insight. Her portrayal of how trauma and societal pressure interact to create vulnerability feels informed by genuine understanding rather than surface research.
Final Verdict
The Guilt Pill succeeds as both page-turning thriller and thoughtful social commentary. While the novel occasionally prioritizes message over narrative momentum, Dave's exploration of female guilt, motherhood, and ambition feels both timely and timeless. The book works best when it focuses on Maya's internal struggle rather than the more fantastical elements of the plot.
Dave has crafted a cautionary tale that will resonate with anyone who's felt the weight of impossible expectations. The novel asks difficult questions about the price of liberation and whether true freedom can be found in a pill—or anywhere else external to ourselves. For readers seeking psychological complexity wrapped in propulsive plotting, The Guilt Pill delivers a satisfying if sometimes uneven reading experience.
May 14, 2025
I think this book truly captures what it’s like to be a new mom and to feel guilty and inadequate about everything. The premise of the guilt pill kind of reminds me of Elizabeth Holmes. I think the strength of this book is not so much the mystical element of the guilt pill but more so accurately describing the new motherhood and trying to “balance it all” (impossible).
April 6, 2025
Review: The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave
Rating: ★★★☆☆
I loved the idea of this book. The Guilt Pill follows Maya Mehta, a CEO and new mom grappling with postpartum depression, anxiety, and the relentless pressure of trying to “do it all.” When a mysterious new pill promises to take away feelings of guilt, Maya is intrigued, and tempted. What follows is a sharp, emotional exploration of motherhood, ambition, mental health, and the dangerous appeal of a quick fix.
As someone who has personally struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety, I felt so seen by the premise. The book touches on so many truths: the impossible expectations placed on working moms, the imbalance between mothers and fathers, and the way our own inner critic can become our worst enemy. Honestly? I’d take a guilt pill in a heartbeat. 😂
But of course, things don’t exactly go smoothly. As Maya learns, the only way out is through l; there’s no shortcut when it comes to healing. (Shocker, I know.)
While I loved the concept and appreciated the representation of mental health struggles, the execution didn’t fully hit for me, which is why this landed as a three-star read. Still, I’m grateful to have read it and to NetGalley for the ARC!
Rating: ★★★☆☆
I loved the idea of this book. The Guilt Pill follows Maya Mehta, a CEO and new mom grappling with postpartum depression, anxiety, and the relentless pressure of trying to “do it all.” When a mysterious new pill promises to take away feelings of guilt, Maya is intrigued, and tempted. What follows is a sharp, emotional exploration of motherhood, ambition, mental health, and the dangerous appeal of a quick fix.
As someone who has personally struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety, I felt so seen by the premise. The book touches on so many truths: the impossible expectations placed on working moms, the imbalance between mothers and fathers, and the way our own inner critic can become our worst enemy. Honestly? I’d take a guilt pill in a heartbeat. 😂
But of course, things don’t exactly go smoothly. As Maya learns, the only way out is through l; there’s no shortcut when it comes to healing. (Shocker, I know.)
While I loved the concept and appreciated the representation of mental health struggles, the execution didn’t fully hit for me, which is why this landed as a three-star read. Still, I’m grateful to have read it and to NetGalley for the ARC!
April 6, 2025
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave. Thanks to @parkrowbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maya is CEO and Founder of an eco friendly company. She’s recently had a baby and is balancing motherhood, marriage, and her career, leaving her ridden with guilt. When she connects with famous girl boss, Liz, she’s introduced to a supplement that blocks female guilt.
This book did a great job of showing the pressures of working mothers, especially those that run their own business. The guilt of having to choose between career and motherhood when issues arise is real. Maya’s character makes us think: what if we didn’t have to feel that guilt? Of course the reader realizes right away that it’s not going to end well but there’s still mystery to the story. I enjoyed the business aspects of the story, as well as the influencer parts.
“With just one pink pill, she’s limitless. F*ck the rules. The rules weren’t made to benefit people like her.”
The Guilt Pill comes out 4/15.
Maya is CEO and Founder of an eco friendly company. She’s recently had a baby and is balancing motherhood, marriage, and her career, leaving her ridden with guilt. When she connects with famous girl boss, Liz, she’s introduced to a supplement that blocks female guilt.
This book did a great job of showing the pressures of working mothers, especially those that run their own business. The guilt of having to choose between career and motherhood when issues arise is real. Maya’s character makes us think: what if we didn’t have to feel that guilt? Of course the reader realizes right away that it’s not going to end well but there’s still mystery to the story. I enjoyed the business aspects of the story, as well as the influencer parts.
“With just one pink pill, she’s limitless. F*ck the rules. The rules weren’t made to benefit people like her.”
The Guilt Pill comes out 4/15.
February 6, 2025
Saumya’s previous two books were absolute gems, and I think I loved them because the stories hit so close to home. Maybe this one didn’t quite resonate with me as much?
The guilt pill concept was super intriguing, and the plot had so much potential because it was so fresh and relatable to so many women. Especially first generation American women 💪🏽 But the repetitive structure of the book made it tough for me to stay engaged. I’m curious to know what my new mom friends think!
The guilt pill concept was super intriguing, and the plot had so much potential because it was so fresh and relatable to so many women. Especially first generation American women 💪🏽 But the repetitive structure of the book made it tough for me to stay engaged. I’m curious to know what my new mom friends think!
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