The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair

by Meg Myers Morgan

Gemma Sinclair is coming undone.

At first glance, she seems to have it all: a successful career as a therapist, a devoted husband, two young sons, and a beautiful home. But upon closer inspection, there are serious fractures rooted in professional demands, family stresses, and—most notably—the unexpected onset of postpartum depression.
After a frightening accident injures her newborn son, Gemma lies about who is responsible. As her lies compound and pressure builds, she has no choice but to confront long-buried family secrets. Gemma soon finds her career threatened, her marriage in jeopardy, and her sanity stretched to the breaking point.

With poignant humor, crackling dialogue, and unflinching honesty, The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is about a woman in crisis, determined to find her way through past trauma toward love, forgiveness, and—ultimately—rebirth.

Genres: Contemporary

309 pages, ebook

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Meg Myers Morgan is a best-selling and award-winning author whose books speak to the nuances of womanhood, motherhood, and self-worth. Her collection of essays, Harebrained: It seemed like a good idea at the time (Gem Publishing, 2015), won the gold medal from the Independent Publishers Book Awards. Her career development book, Everything is Negotiable: The Five Tactics to Get What You Want in Life, Love, and Work (Seal Press/Hachette, 2018) is a bestseller and has been translated in multiple languages. The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair (GFB, 2025) is Meg's debut novel. Meg earned her degree in Creative Writing with Honors in English from Drury University, and her masters and PhD from the University of Oklahoma. She is currently an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma. Meg, her husband, and her two daughters are all citizens of the Cherokee Nation and live in Tulsa.

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️
If all women were written as complexly and beautifully as Meg writes Gemma, the world would be a better place 🌎💙

[Katie Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma Sinclair isn't simply a story of one woman's unraveling. It's a mirror held up to the expectations placed on all of us, wanting to be everything to everyone and losing yourself in the process. I'm not a mother myself, but I found Gemma's journey and her relationships to be emotionally resonant and REAL. It is both deeply funny and deeply honest. Perfect for readers who love complex characters and stories with honesty and heart.

"There are the decisions that are thrust upon us, and the decisions that we are lucky enough to make."

[Mary F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a few days because I couldn’t put it down. Meg uses humor and insight to describe the struggles in family relationships. As parents especially, we feel such pressure to make good decisions for our children. As humans, we fail miserably and are so often guided by perceptions, guilt, emotions and pride. I love writing that expresses all of these human thoughts and feelings so succinctly. I can’t wait to have a hard copy of the book so I can reread my favorite parts.

[Caitlin Kissee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally the best book I’ve ever read. So relatable, no detail left unturned and beautifully written. Every mother ever should read this book.

[Pam Kovalic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma Sinclair has just had her second baby. He is four days old now and Gemma is trying to get everything in order for her family to come visit. She’s doing way too much, especially to try and make things extra nice since her brother Eddie (who she doesn’t see or hear from often, but definitely seeks his attention) and his wife Kat will be staying overnight. An accident occurs that night that sends baby Calvin to the hospital and brings the dysfunctional family dynamics front and center. Gemma is an interesting character - she’s bright, a successful therapist, a loving mother, wife, sister and daughter - yet she is really struggling with her emotions, relationships with her husband and family. It’s clear to everyone that she has postpartum depression but she insists she just needs more sleep. She is finally forced to undergo therapy herself and has to face all the feelings head on, which includes facing her past experiences within her family and how those experiences affect her current state. The author does an excellent job of showing the struggles new mothers face including the real effects on your body childbirth gives you. I thought the emotions throughout the book rang true and had me pulling for Gemma to push through and come out okay. I give the book 5 stars - I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published July 15, 2025.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair' by Meg Myers Morgan - expected release date of 07/15/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second half of this book moved really quickly and flowed nicely. Morgan finally revealed the McAlister family's past traumas and misconceptions/miscommunications and the storyline tied up perfectly by the end. She just didn't delve deep enough, early enough into the character's development or their real issues for me to feel invested in them or want to root for them. It was nice to see new material in a book, (postpartum depression, CTE, childhood trauma) but the writing was played safe, maybe could've given more in those aspects to make it more relatable or informative? It read like a debut novel but overall, was a decent read!

[Wendy Remez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars-I have read a lot of books about dysfunctional families, but never one that is as realistic as this. Our main character.

Gemma just gave birth 4 days ago but rather than enjoying her time with the new baby, she is buying g gourmet coffee ground, craft bears, and fancy deli plates for a visit from her family. Well, one family member, her older brother, Eddie who is always the one that is to be put on a pedestal.

There is brutal honesty about life after birth including a lot of maxi pads and an enema along with a realistic look at the effects a horrible event has on the family and how Gemma deals with it. From the title I kind of expected a light read, this was anything but. I found myself nodding my head a lot and rooting for Gemma to come out whole at the end.

This is the debut novel from the author, which WOW! I look forward to reading more by her asap! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Stephanie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. What an emotional, thought provoking book. This was my first book by Meg Myers Morgan and it did not disappoint. What a journey of self realization and healing from past trauma! My newest favorite quote comes from this book!
“I’m choking with privilege but I still have to breathe to complain.” Wow. This hit in the gut!
Great read!

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma Sinclair is someone you think about long after the book is done. Her struggles as a wife, a daughter, a sister and a professional are all relatable. But it is her growth as a mother that really pulled me in.

[Merrilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book kept me hooked the whole way through! Brilliant character development. Gemma felt like a friend I wanted to take to coffee and bring dinner. Her unraveling was deeply relatable. The writing was raw, honest, and full of quiet strength. Highly recommend this book, the story continues to linger with you long after the final page.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I’m not sure I can currently put into words all of my thoughts. This book will resonate with any woman: mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, wives. Meg is a fabulous writer.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this novel is a work of fiction, the author has captured the raw truth that many women experience after giving birth. It is a compelling read that invites a deep dive into the impact of trauma when repression, avoidance, and denial are employed as coping mechanisms to avoid painful truths – all in the name of protecting loved ones.

Gemma Sinclair is a successful psychologist in a stable, happy marriage. Having just given birth to her second son, she struggles with the physical and emotional aspects of her recovery and the added dysfunctional dynamics of her extended family only compound her stress. The tipping point in her carefully maintained equilibrium occurs when her newborn son is injured, and she begins a downward spiral into an “inconvenient unraveling.” Despite her professional knowledge, Gemma is in denial of her symptoms of postpartum depression until she is confronted by the potential loss of her marriage, her family, and her career.

This is not an easy read, but one that is well worth the investment of time. I was engaged with the characters from the very beginning and had difficulty putting the book aside. Gemma’s tenuous position in her relationships was painful to observe, but it is a testimony to the author’s skill to craft deeply moving prose. The hopeful conclusion was gratifying and realistic.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Liane]

Before I get into the review, I think this is a really well written book; the pacing for the most part is great and it took me no time to read this. And also for the most part, I was invested.

But... unfortunately I did not vibe with this story. Mostly because of the very unlikable (imho!!) main character, Gemma. We meet Gemma four days after giving birth to her second child, preparing for her parents', older sister's, and somewhat-estranged big brother's visit to meet her new son. We pretty quickly learn that Gemma has a strained relationship to her family that she keeps tightly under wraps. Only her and the reader really know how inadequate her family dynamic makes her feel. To her family she puts on a show of a perfect mother, daughter, and sister. We're also starting to note the first glimmer of PPD.
Gemma's husband, Anthony, is described as a nerd and only-child whose concern about Gemma's behaviour towards her family's impositions is explained away by her that he "doesn't understand sibling dynamics". Gemma is so concerned not to rock the boat -- especially when it comes to her brother Eric's shitty behaviour -- that she never corrects Eric when he refers to Anthony as "Tony", even when Anthony says he doesn't like that name.

I don't want to go into too much detail here but I think it's necessary to point out that Gemma is a 35 year old psychologist and therapist who has in 10 years of treating patients not once seen a therapist herself. She has so little self-awareness that, even as a therapist herself, diagnosed with PPD by another doctor, she rejects treatment.

With regard to the storytelling, there are some odd choices of going into the nitty gritty of the physical symptoms after birth (like a lot, a lot and very graphic) but clearing conversations are almost brushed over (there's a lot of telling the reader instead of showing). And everything ties up very neatly and with very little effort from anyone involved at the end. I think this could have been a better vibe for me if the main character wasn't a therapist because I found that severe lack of self-awareness very off-putting.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Maike Pulliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this book I was pretty reserved on jumping in wholeheartedly. I read a chapter here and there. But a book that talks about postpartum depression felt like it called for a good headspace to dive into. And Gemma started off making decisions wholeheartedly opposite from my personality. I’m way quicker to tell people, “uh, no. I’m not going to be doing that.”

But as I read more, I got hooked into her story. Into her feelings. Into the dynamic she had with each other character.

The book is really good. My slow pick up quickly turned to a page flipper, in which I set my kids with a project and just read.

I love the journey that Gemma went on through this book. I’m proud of her. Leaning in to a hard space.

I will definitely be recommending this book to friends for a thoughtful, read, with a great story.

[Alicia Erasmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a post partum story not quite as resonant as better done stories like the push. It straddled motherhood and family dynamics and did neither spectacularly. A too neat hunky dory ending retrospectively detracted from the whole story.

[Jordan | espressojoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Gemma Sinclair is coming undone.
At first glance, she seems to have it all: a successful career as a therapist, a devoted husband, two young sons, and a beautiful home. But upon closer inspection, there are serious fractures rooted in professional demands, family stresses, and—most notably—the unexpected onset of postpartum depression.
After a frightening accident injures her newborn son, Gemma lies about who is responsible. As her lies compound and pressure builds, she has no choice but to confront long-buried family secrets. Gemma soon finds her career threatened, her marriage in jeopardy, and her sanity stretched to the breaking point.
With poignant humor, crackling dialogue, and unflinching honesty, The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is about a woman in crisis, determined to find her way through past trauma toward love, forgiveness, and—ultimately—rebirth.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 & 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

I could not put this book down and all I wanted to do was give Gemma Sinclair a hug. I think we can all relate in one form or another, especially with the expectations of having to do it all and being everything to everyone. Gemma completely lost her entire being in the process, trailing back to when she was a child and feeling like her entire life was a lie (which I guess in hindsight, it was).

What’s interesting to me about Gemma’s character is that when she finally stands up for herself and decides to stop being a pushover and putting herself first, as well as pushing for answers to questions that have always been brushed off (such as, why does my brother Eddie hate me?), everyone around her villainized her. She’s a mom who just had her second child and is struggling in all aspects post-partum with little support and lots of criticism, she is a wife, a daughter, an incredible therapist, and it never seems to be enough.

The emotions in this one were raw. Even if you’re not a parent, even if you don’t have a completely dysfunctional family, even if you’re not fighting for answers and fighting to be seen, you FEEL for Gemma and her journey. The realness of her entire persona made this that much more enjoyable.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter, I knew I was in for something special, but I didn’t expect to audibly gasp multiple times. (And yet… there I was. Gasping. Out loud. Multiple times.)

Gemma is the kind of character who feels so real, you start worrying about her like she’s your actual friend. In my head, I kept saying, “Gemma, what are you doing?!” I wanted to place my hands firmly on her shoulders and look her in the eye and shake her a bit. But at the same time, I deeply understood where she was and why she was. And I held space for that, which made her so lovable, even in the middle of making questionable decisions. Her journey is messy and honest, full of the kinds of sharp turns and quiet reckonings that feel deeply familiar, and that’s what makes this book so powerful. The unraveling isn’t just hers. It’s ours, too. We’ve all unraveled. Maybe some of us more than once. Maybe some of us are unraveling right now.

The character arcs? Earned. Relatable. Sometimes painfully so. The twists? Perfectly timed and utterly devastating. And the central theme — that the truth, even when inconvenient or uncomfortable, has the power to set us free — is explored with a kind of emotional clarity that snuck up on me and stayed long after I finished the last page. It’s an age-old proverb, but the take on it is fresh and modern. And god, so relatable.

This book balances heartbreak and humor so deftly that I didn’t even realize how deep it had cut me until I was sobbing the entire last chapter. That’s the magic here: the emotions don’t ask permission. They never do! They just show up, honest and raw and human. And it’s breathtaking. Beautiful. And beyond that it’s powerful to feel and guide yourself — tangle yourself — one intentional decision at a time. Because after all, our goal in life isn’t to be perfect. It’s also not to chaotically unravel. The opposite of unraveling is tangling, and that’s the truth and reality of what it’s like to be a human. It’s a bit tangly.

If you’re someone who loves books that peel back the layers — not just of the plot, but of you — read this. Immediately. And then text a friend, because you’re going to need to talk about it.

[Jennifer Wurges byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Girl Friday Publications for the ebook ARC of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

One day can change the trajectory of your whole life.

Family secrets. People pleasing. Post-partum depression. Trauma. This book has it all. Gemma Sinclair is a mom to five-year-old Bo and four-day-old Calvin. She should be in bed resting, recovering, and bonding with her new baby, but instead she is running around preparing for a family dinner. Her older brother Eddie is coming into town to stay with her and she wants to make everything perfect. Eddie has been distant with her ever since the day of his football tryouts 30 years ago, the same day she broke her collarbone at age five, and she is hopeful that they can finally talk about what happened that day since she doesn't remember much and no one in her family wants to talk about it.

The visit doesn't go as planned and ends in tragedy. As Gemma slips further and further into postpartum depression (something that as a therapist she should recognize), she keeps pushing her feelings and emotions further and further inside. She begins having nightmares about that day, memories that keep rising to the surface of her subconscious. Things don't add up and her parents won't talk about it. Are they hiding something?

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is a quick and enjoyable read - I read it in almost one sitting. I have to admit I wasn't keen on how the book started. At four days postpartum this woman is racing around cleaning despite the nine stitches her OBGYN gave her after Calvin was born? Really? As I kept reading, however, I saw that Morgan was simply establishing Gemma's character as an extreme people pleaser around her very disconnected family. Some things did feel a bit outlandish or magnified though; I wasn't sure if they would happen in real life.

However, there was a point to all the family dysfunction - to carry the story arc. All of the characters grew in some way and were changed by the end of the book.

[Abigail Plank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever heard the old adage, “trust the process”? For me, as a reader, that was paramount in developing my relationship with Gemma Sinclair.
The story begins as a hectic day in the life of Gemma, and at first, some of her choices and thoughts are incredibly frustrating. It isn’t until the second and third acts that we begin to understand the motivations and thought processes behind her decisions. It can feel unusual to fall in love with a protagonist at the second half of a story, but that’s exactly what happened to me.
What I appreciated most about the way this book was written is how it repeatedly confronted me with choices or actions that I found confusing and even upsetting. More than once, I had to put the book down to sit with my discomfort. But each time, when I took a closer look, I realized those feelings were rooted in recognition. Gemma reminded me of my own relationships, with family, with friends. I saw echoes of my own choices mirrored in hers. That’s where the discomfort came from: I was seeing myself in Gemma.
The themes of being a daughter, a mother, a wife, and sister are all reflected in different phases of my own life. And the one that hit hardest? The desperate lengths a person will go to just to have someone return the affection they feel they deserve. The ache of not understanding why that love isn’t reciprocated in equal measure despite all the effort you give.
It gutted me.

It’s a fantastic book. I’ve thought about it every single day since finishing it. I genuinely wish I could get to know Gemma better. I find myself wondering what her earlier relationships were like, just to understand her more deeply.
Reader, hang in there. Trust the process. The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair isn’t a traditional love story. But I’m confident that by the end, you’ll feel something that very much resembles love, respect, and recognition.

[Lauren Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to starting the book, I had read other reviews and was intrigued by the divide in how people perceived Gemma's actions (or inactions). Add me to the team of those who absolutely loved every second with Gemma. Gemma is real. She's everything I think to myself and am afraid to say out loud. And because so much of Gemma is presented through inner monologue or through carefully structured reflections, I found it easy to empathize with Gemma even when it was something I'd never personally dealt with.

This is such a wonderful character, and her self-discovery and self-healing journey is one I wish we could all take for ourselves. The author doesn't make it easy on Gemma, though. There were so many mini breakthrough moments where I thought, "if this were a sitcom, this would be the moment Gemma lives happily ever after." But life is not a sitcom, so Gemma's journey isn't either. Gemma has to unravel a life's worth of trauma (some obviously big, some subtly big) in order to find herself. And yes, the timing of her unraveling is certainly inconvenient (having just given birth, in denial about post partum depression), but that too is life, so I found that very relatable. The author's sarcastic and intelligent sense of humor shines through on so many pages, so luckily for the reader, this emotionally heavy journey is written in a way that you feel ready to walk beside her, to watch her heal and to heal yourself in the process.

[Trenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I typically read nonfiction (almost exclusively) and was interested in how I would relate to this book being a male. Fellas, don't let the topics covered in the book's description stop you from picking this up! The author has you feeling like the main character's best friend through the first half of the book, impressively connecting you to the struggles of the Sinclair family through Gemma's eyes. There are things we can all relate to: deep family tension, self-doubt and confidence, weaving your professional and personal life together, life's curveballs, and complicated relationships. In the first half of the book, I bit hook, line, and sinker on disliking several characters that I felt connected to in the end and found myself understanding the "why" of their behaviors. Turns out, everyone is just doing their best to love in the way they know how.

This book felt like a conversation. I've read Dr. Myers Morgan's other books, all non-fiction, and am always impressed with the hunger for more that her writing creates. She has an incredible way of ending paragraphs and chapters in a way that you absolutely do not want to stop reading, except to pause and ponder. Even with this fiction book, I found myself wrestling with my own perceptions and notions as I read.

I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Read it and gift it, you won't be disappointed. And, boys, you might just learn a thing or two about life after having children.

[Jacob Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair has something for everybody. And I mean everybody. As a male, I didn't anticipate I'd find much connection with the story of a woman navigating post-partum life, but Gemma, her family, and the world that the author has built around them are so reflective and multi-faceted that I'd challenge any reader not find an echo of their own lives within this book. The author does a fabulous job of connecting Gemma's internal experiences with the reality of what is happening around her, and showcasing the inherent complexity that underpins every family unit. The prose is as thoughtful and intentional in its structure as it is natural in how it flows, and it doesn't feel like the author wasted a single word. My only criticism is how much meat it feels was left on the bone. In a world of ten-part series, we don't need another 500-page volume, but the author created such interesting and real characters that it feels as though we just skimmed the surfaces of each. Though I suppose this criticism is rooted in the fact that we simply need more of Gemma and her world in writing.

As personal as it is universal, and as poignant as it is hilarious, Morgan has given us all space to explore and better understand ourselves through the pages of this book and the eyes of Gemma Sinclair.

[Victoria H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - I loved this! The first half made me deeply uncomfortable - and I mean that as a compliment to the author - I have never read a book that so accurately captured postpartum. As a mom of two, the feelings, confusion, tiredness of it all came rushing back. She captured the extreme emotional roller coaster of it all and how the simplest of tasks (like going to the bathroom) seem to be so daunting!

I related to Gemma so much as a mother, but I think everyone will find connection with this book. It's about her role as a mother, daughter, spouse, and sister. There's an air of mystery in unraveling Gemma's family life that weaves through the book and wanting to know that full story kept me engaged and pushing past my own discomfort of reading a postpartum mom struggle.

As a mother with two young children it hit a little closer to home than I was ready for, but it truly is a beautiful story and Meg captures the messiness, confusion, joy, and sometimes sorrow of being a daughter, mother, partner, sister, etc. Once I got going, I flew through this. I wanted to finish it, but also not stop reading it - I love when you find a book like that!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC - I loved getting to read this story!

[Danielle Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moms, remember those first few days home with your brand new baby? Remember how long the days could be, and how fast time moved? How people streamed in and out and you were never alone and never more lonely….and then how one day after your hair started to grow back you started to feel like a stronger, more powerful version of yourself? How you’d love to go back and visit that time but never want to do it again?

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair, by The Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, is an honest telling of what it feels like to squeeze your whole self into a mother when motherhood doesn’t seem to come in your size.

I could have finished it in a weekend because it’s an arresting read and perfect for a pool bag but I made myself sit with the conversations in the story, because not only is this a hilarious novel, the characters have the kind of important conversations that some of us will never get to have with our siblings or parents; sitting with Gemma’s feelings helped me unravel my own.

You can preorder this book from Amazon and Magic City, and you should. Read it while you sip some wine, and I recommend ordering in some pasta.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely floored me. From the very first chapter, I felt like I wasn't just reading Gemma's story, I was living parts of my own. Rarely do I come across a book that makes me feel so seen.

What stood out the most to me was how real and raw the writing felt. Meg doesn't shy away from the messy parts of life (the insecurities, the doubts, the push and pull between who we are and who we think we should be, etc.). Instead of glossing over those moments, she digs into them with humor, honesty, and vulnerability.

Gemma herself is such a relatable character. Reading her journey felt like sitting down with a friend who finally says out loud all of the things you've secretly been thinking but never had the courage to admit.

This book isn't just a story, it's a mirror. It reflects the uncomfortable truths, the inconvenient questions, and ultimately the unraveling we all face at some point in our lives. And yet, it does so with a warmth and wit that makes you feel less alone in the process.

If you've ever felt caught between the life you have and the life you want, this book will hit you right in the heart. Five stars, without hesitation.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this debut novel via NetGalley.

This was a quick read for me, really enjoying it overall.

Gemma has just given birth to her second child and is dealing with stressful family dynamics when her baby has an accident. I often can’t read books involving hurt children but this was well-written and didn’t make me overly anxious.

I did find that the descriptions of Gemma’s postpartum physical and emotional condition hit pretty close to home. I’m far enough out that it only added to my overall enjoyment and appreciation of the story but some newer moms may want to proceed with caution (though on the other hand, might have extra appreciation for the honest details!).

The character building was really strong and writing style appealing, though it felt like a bit of a rushed conclusion, skipping months quickly after spending the first half of the book in a short period of time. That said, this book was a welcome spotlight on the complexity of motherhood, family dynamics, and the decisions parents make.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Myers, Morgan, and GFB for a copy of The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair in exchange for an honest review.

There were many aspects of this book that I truly loved. The emotional layers, the family dynamics, and the themes woven throughout the story felt meaningful and, at times, very relatable. I absolutely adored Gemma as a character — her vulnerability, strength, and honesty made her easy to care about.

That said, there were moments where Gemma felt a bit off balance or inconsistent, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Still, having experienced similar family dynamics myself, I found much of what unfolded on the page deeply understandable and authentic. Those elements were the strongest part of the novel for me and the reason I stayed engaged.

Overall, this was a thoughtful and emotionally driven read. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me in terms of pacing and character consistency, it was heartfelt, sincere, and very easy to connect with. I’m giving it a solid three-star rating.

[Lauren Stroud · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Everywhere I look, everything I dig into, reveals more than I can handle.”

Am I the only one that feels that in my soul??

Gemma Sinclair works hard to hold it all together. She’s a people-pleaser, she’s got a demanding career, and she’s just delivered her second baby.

Seems like the perfect recipe for life to absolutely go off the rails, right?

In this incredibly-written and hugely relatable novel, Gemma is forced to face decades-old hurts and family secrets to try to figure out where she fits into her own life.

I truly could not put this book down, as it is both a wonderful story and a heartbreaking look at how hard motherhood can be. I’m not a mom, but I was cheering Gemma on like we’d met in a Lamaze class. 😂

This book has such a positive view of mental health and how multi-faceted it can be, and I so appreciated that part of the narrative.

“‘Point is, Gemma,’ she said, sitting up slightly, ‘if we don’t handle our trauma, our trauma will handle us.’”

[Carly Crue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit, Gemma Sinclair, our FMC, made a lot of decisions early on in the story that I did NOT vibe with. However, one of the main themes of this book is postpartum depression. Decisions made in the state that she was existing in DO make sense and shed light on the chaos that can exist when actively battling PPD. We walk alongside her as she delves into not only her own traumas, but her family's traumas as well. I think this book was a great representation of what PPD can look like, and I appreciate the stressed importance of therapy and medication. This was a fast-paced read, and even in moments where I was not enjoying the choices of our FMC, I still wanted to know what happened next, and I was ultimately very satisfied with how the story wrapped up.

Thank you so much to GFB for allowing me to read and review my first ARC!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is a beautifully written, emotionally grounded story that explores the complexities of family and identity with honesty and heart. Meg Myers Morgan has crafted a cast of characters who feel deeply real—flawed, funny, and relatable.

The pacing was spot-on and kept me turning the pages. I found myself frustrated with Gemma at times, but that only pulled me in deeper; I wanted to understand her, and as her backstory unraveled, her actions began to make more and more sense. That tension between who she is and who she’s been was one of the book’s most compelling elements.

The ending tied things together in a way that felt both satisfying and realistic—not too tidy, but just right.

Overall, this book was a feel-good read, not because everything was perfect, but because it felt true. Fans of character-driven fiction with heart and humor will really enjoy this one.