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The Better Mother: A Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26A woman ends up pregnant after a casual fling, but the father's girlfriend has much more sinister intentions in this plot-driven suspense debut.
A modern spin on Fatal Attraction meets The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, perfect for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Still recovering from a devastating breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has finally managed to put her life back together when she gets the shock of her life—after a brief fling with a man named Max, she is pregnant.
When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison, and he will need time to break it to her. Surprisingly, Madison isn’t upset—in fact, she’s excited, and wants to help.
Max insists Madison has the best of intentions, but Savannah finds her efforts—popping by uninvited, demanding lifestyle changes, and pretty much trying to take over the pregnancy—anything but helpful. When Savannah finally stands up for herself, Madison’s treatment of her goes from casually cruel to downright dangerous.
All Savannah wanted to do was form a friendly co-parenting relationship with the father of her child—but his new girlfriend obviously has much more sinister plans in mind.
She has no plans to co-parent at all.
A modern spin on Fatal Attraction meets The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, perfect for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Still recovering from a devastating breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has finally managed to put her life back together when she gets the shock of her life—after a brief fling with a man named Max, she is pregnant.
When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison, and he will need time to break it to her. Surprisingly, Madison isn’t upset—in fact, she’s excited, and wants to help.
Max insists Madison has the best of intentions, but Savannah finds her efforts—popping by uninvited, demanding lifestyle changes, and pretty much trying to take over the pregnancy—anything but helpful. When Savannah finally stands up for herself, Madison’s treatment of her goes from casually cruel to downright dangerous.
All Savannah wanted to do was form a friendly co-parenting relationship with the father of her child—but his new girlfriend obviously has much more sinister plans in mind.
She has no plans to co-parent at all.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
12 people are currently reading
10200 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer van der Kleut
1 book83 followersJennifer van der Kleut (née McBride) is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications, including the D.C. affiliate of ABC7 News.
A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons.
For nearly a decade, she was the lead singer of the Bay Area-based band SweetDuration, and performed with artists like Jason Mraz, Big Country, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Stabbing Westward.
When she’s not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book.
A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons.
For nearly a decade, she was the lead singer of the Bay Area-based band SweetDuration, and performed with artists like Jason Mraz, Big Country, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Stabbing Westward.
When she’s not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 1, 2025
Wow. There’s a new thriller queen in the house. This book is fast-paced, twisty, deeply unsettling—in the best, shout-into-a-pillow way—and impossible to put down. It reads like a treadmill set to sprint: heart-pounding chapters, razor-sharp cliffhangers, and just enough menace between scenes to make you demolish a family-size bag of popcorn. If you love the high-tension vibes of Freida McFadden, add this to the top of your list. And Hollywood, if you’re listening: please option this. (Casting wish: Olivia Cooke as Madison. She can do “girlfriend from hell” with unnerving precision—Capricorn fire with Aries chaos.)
The hook: Savannah Mitchell is clawing her way back after a brutal breakup and the loss of her dream job. Six months into a new agency role and finally settled in a small one-bedroom, she’s convinced she’s turning a corner. Then life throws the cruelest curveball: after a brief fling with Max, Savannah discovers she’s pregnant—right as Max reunites with his ex, Madison. Red flag: didn’t he mention Madison’s jealous streak?
When Madison insists on meeting, Savannah decides to rip the Band-Aid. At first, Madison presents like a polished Stepford-adjacent dream: poised, pretty, overly tactile, and way too invested. What starts as “helpful” quickly turns invasive. Madison knows Savannah’s address (and uses the buzzer liberally). She brings groceries and “remedy” teas, drops off books thick with highlighted “advice,” and somehow keeps tabs on everything: Uber trips, meeting schedules, girls’ nights with Ellie—even Savannah’s food orders. The texts pile up, urgent and relentless, like a fire alarm you can’t switch off.
Small things begin to vanish—most chillingly, the ultrasound photo—and Madison’s language shifts from “your baby” to “our child,” as if Savannah is merely the surrogate for Madison’s fantasy life. The tighter Savannah tries to draw boundaries (without detonating her co-parenting plan with Max), the more Madison constricts the loop: surveillance masquerading as concern, gaslighting dressed as friendship. Is this obsession? A calculated campaign? Or something darker rooted in Madison’s past?
What makes the book sing is the escalation. Every chapter raises the stakes without breaking the spell of plausibility; the author nails how control can creep in dressed as caretaking. The themes—stalking, motherhood, bodily autonomy, digital surveillance, emotional exploitation—are threaded with nerve-scraping precision. Savannah is a heroine you ache for: smart enough to spot the red flags, human enough to hope for the best. Madison, meanwhile, is the kind of villain who weaponizes niceness. (You will invent new curse words. I did.)
Craft-wise, it’s tight: crisp prose, short scenes that pop, and reveals that land like trapdoors. The office politics are deliciously petty, the best-friend beats with Ellie give oxygen, and the final act delivers jolts without devolving into nonsense. Yes, it’s disturbing. Yes, you’ll keep reading at 2 a.m. anyway.
Overall: a run-run-RUN thriller—nail-biting, compulsively readable, and tailor-made for a weekend binge. I’ve officially added this author to my auto-approve thriller queens list. If you want something delicious, sinister, and instantly addictive, this is your next read.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this unputdownable thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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The hook: Savannah Mitchell is clawing her way back after a brutal breakup and the loss of her dream job. Six months into a new agency role and finally settled in a small one-bedroom, she’s convinced she’s turning a corner. Then life throws the cruelest curveball: after a brief fling with Max, Savannah discovers she’s pregnant—right as Max reunites with his ex, Madison. Red flag: didn’t he mention Madison’s jealous streak?
When Madison insists on meeting, Savannah decides to rip the Band-Aid. At first, Madison presents like a polished Stepford-adjacent dream: poised, pretty, overly tactile, and way too invested. What starts as “helpful” quickly turns invasive. Madison knows Savannah’s address (and uses the buzzer liberally). She brings groceries and “remedy” teas, drops off books thick with highlighted “advice,” and somehow keeps tabs on everything: Uber trips, meeting schedules, girls’ nights with Ellie—even Savannah’s food orders. The texts pile up, urgent and relentless, like a fire alarm you can’t switch off.
Small things begin to vanish—most chillingly, the ultrasound photo—and Madison’s language shifts from “your baby” to “our child,” as if Savannah is merely the surrogate for Madison’s fantasy life. The tighter Savannah tries to draw boundaries (without detonating her co-parenting plan with Max), the more Madison constricts the loop: surveillance masquerading as concern, gaslighting dressed as friendship. Is this obsession? A calculated campaign? Or something darker rooted in Madison’s past?
What makes the book sing is the escalation. Every chapter raises the stakes without breaking the spell of plausibility; the author nails how control can creep in dressed as caretaking. The themes—stalking, motherhood, bodily autonomy, digital surveillance, emotional exploitation—are threaded with nerve-scraping precision. Savannah is a heroine you ache for: smart enough to spot the red flags, human enough to hope for the best. Madison, meanwhile, is the kind of villain who weaponizes niceness. (You will invent new curse words. I did.)
Craft-wise, it’s tight: crisp prose, short scenes that pop, and reveals that land like trapdoors. The office politics are deliciously petty, the best-friend beats with Ellie give oxygen, and the final act delivers jolts without devolving into nonsense. Yes, it’s disturbing. Yes, you’ll keep reading at 2 a.m. anyway.
Overall: a run-run-RUN thriller—nail-biting, compulsively readable, and tailor-made for a weekend binge. I’ve officially added this author to my auto-approve thriller queens list. If you want something delicious, sinister, and instantly addictive, this is your next read.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this unputdownable thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of The Better Mother by Jennifer van de kleut
Life is unpredictable, crazy, and run by the wealthy.. just like this book. Which is what makes it so shockingly terrifying. I will point out every time, how extremely talented of a writer one must be.. To allow the reader to have a good idea of what's to come, while still remaining all engrossed and entertained. That's what we have here and it's absolutely riveting.. if this one's not on my 2026 top 10, it'll be number #11. Very, very good, definitely worthy of a Limited Series on Netflix, or movie. I couldn't help but think how equally amazing this would be on screen throughout my read.
If you're a thriller fan one of your missions for 2026 should definitely be getting your hands on a copy of this book! I was hooked like a Floridian Bass, and I don't think I'll be the only one.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
Life is unpredictable, crazy, and run by the wealthy.. just like this book. Which is what makes it so shockingly terrifying. I will point out every time, how extremely talented of a writer one must be.. To allow the reader to have a good idea of what's to come, while still remaining all engrossed and entertained. That's what we have here and it's absolutely riveting.. if this one's not on my 2026 top 10, it'll be number #11. Very, very good, definitely worthy of a Limited Series on Netflix, or movie. I couldn't help but think how equally amazing this would be on screen throughout my read.
If you're a thriller fan one of your missions for 2026 should definitely be getting your hands on a copy of this book! I was hooked like a Floridian Bass, and I don't think I'll be the only one.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
November 30, 2025
I have never wanted to 🔪 a character more in my life.
Jennifer van der Kleut’s debut thriller, THE BETTER MOTHER, immediately hooked me with his intense and intriguing cover, but I was a bit apprehensive since “mommy thrillers” tend to frustrate me. This book is NO “mommy thriller,” it is so much more. Thank you @crookedlanebooks for sending me this 🦇 💩 thriller!
Savannah Mitchell is trying to rebuild her life after a painful breakup when a brief fling with Max leaves her pregnant. The timing could not be worse. Max has reconciled with his ex, Madison, who arrives in Savannah’s life with a perceived innocence and smile, but also an obsessive interest in the pregnancy. What begins as polite involvement quickly turns intrusive as Madison inserts herself into Savannah’s home, routines, and personal boundaries, all while presenting herself as helpful.
As Savannah tries to protect her privacy, Madison’s behavior darkens in ways that feel both calculated and unhinged. Small possessions disappear, conversations shift toward ownership of the baby, and Madison’s constant monitoring grows suffocating. The tension builds with precision, balancing emotional realism with high-stakes suspense. The story becomes a study in manipulation, control, and the danger lurking beneath manufactured kindness. It is addictive, unsettling, and impossible to stop reading once the spiral begins. THE BETTER MOTHER grabs you instantly with its sharp pacing, spiraling tension, and uncanny sense of dread. I was immediately hooked and read this book in two sittings. THE BETTER MOTHER starts with a hook but the level of suspense that escalates each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. There will be characters you love and some you will want to 🔪, but one thing is for certain, this book is an absolute page turner! I read this book in two sittings and could not put it down. This book is one of the most FUN thrillers I’ve read in a while and is a Q1 2026 MUST READ. STARS: 5, PUB: 2/10/26
Jennifer van der Kleut’s debut thriller, THE BETTER MOTHER, immediately hooked me with his intense and intriguing cover, but I was a bit apprehensive since “mommy thrillers” tend to frustrate me. This book is NO “mommy thriller,” it is so much more. Thank you @crookedlanebooks for sending me this 🦇 💩 thriller!
Savannah Mitchell is trying to rebuild her life after a painful breakup when a brief fling with Max leaves her pregnant. The timing could not be worse. Max has reconciled with his ex, Madison, who arrives in Savannah’s life with a perceived innocence and smile, but also an obsessive interest in the pregnancy. What begins as polite involvement quickly turns intrusive as Madison inserts herself into Savannah’s home, routines, and personal boundaries, all while presenting herself as helpful.
As Savannah tries to protect her privacy, Madison’s behavior darkens in ways that feel both calculated and unhinged. Small possessions disappear, conversations shift toward ownership of the baby, and Madison’s constant monitoring grows suffocating. The tension builds with precision, balancing emotional realism with high-stakes suspense. The story becomes a study in manipulation, control, and the danger lurking beneath manufactured kindness. It is addictive, unsettling, and impossible to stop reading once the spiral begins. THE BETTER MOTHER grabs you instantly with its sharp pacing, spiraling tension, and uncanny sense of dread. I was immediately hooked and read this book in two sittings. THE BETTER MOTHER starts with a hook but the level of suspense that escalates each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. There will be characters you love and some you will want to 🔪, but one thing is for certain, this book is an absolute page turner! I read this book in two sittings and could not put it down. This book is one of the most FUN thrillers I’ve read in a while and is a Q1 2026 MUST READ. STARS: 5, PUB: 2/10/26
Read
January 20, 2026A mess!!! I couldn't put it down.
January 20, 2026
What a great debut! Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC of The Better Mother. All opinions are my own.
First off - this one gave me such anxiety (in a good way) I actually felt the terror as my stomach churned while listening to this audiobook. I loved the main character and was really rooting for her. The plot was diabolical and seriously had me questioning all of humanity. This was definitely one of those psychological thrillers that makes you think and puts yourself in the main character’s shoes asking yourself what would you do in this particular situation.
After a casual hook up Savannah finds herself pregnant. When the father of her baby’s obsessive ex girlfriend enters the chat all things go haywire. A mix of obsession and being engulfed in what it feels to have a mother’s love you’ll be shocked as the twists and plot thickens. Like I mentioned above my stomach actually churned while listening - it was twisty and terrifying the lengths a crazy person will go to get their way.
The hype is real this one be sure to add it to your tbr it releases 2/10!
First off - this one gave me such anxiety (in a good way) I actually felt the terror as my stomach churned while listening to this audiobook. I loved the main character and was really rooting for her. The plot was diabolical and seriously had me questioning all of humanity. This was definitely one of those psychological thrillers that makes you think and puts yourself in the main character’s shoes asking yourself what would you do in this particular situation.
After a casual hook up Savannah finds herself pregnant. When the father of her baby’s obsessive ex girlfriend enters the chat all things go haywire. A mix of obsession and being engulfed in what it feels to have a mother’s love you’ll be shocked as the twists and plot thickens. Like I mentioned above my stomach actually churned while listening - it was twisty and terrifying the lengths a crazy person will go to get their way.
The hype is real this one be sure to add it to your tbr it releases 2/10!
December 26, 2025
Special thanks to Jennifer and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted advance copy!
——
After coming out of a previous relationship where Savannah wanted a baby but the ex didn’t, Savannah now finds out she’s pregnant from a casual fling with Max. She decides to get in touch about it with Max, and to her surprise, he wants to be part of raising their child even though Max is back with his gf, Madison.
At first, Savannah is even more surprised that Madison is also welcoming with the idea of raising the baby. Madison is extra helpful with groceries and parenting advice until it gets to a point where Madison starts showing zero boundaries in Savannah’s life. Soon enough, Savannah’s life becomes a terrifying nightmare with Madison having a special agenda of her own.
This thriller is INTENSE, guys! We’re not talking about a character who’s just a little cray cray, we’re talking UNHINGED in full caps. Never have I wanted a fictional character to be unalived so deeply and I read a lot of dark books! There’s an astronomical level of gaslighting and manipulation inflicted by a character towards a heavily pregnant woman to the point of violence so this is perhaps a book to set aside if the reader is pregnant. The second half of the book had me holding my breath several times and the tension never relents until the grand finale.
This is Jennifer’s debut?! Well, now guess who’s my new favorite thriller author! 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 is by far one of the best thriller books I’ve ever read tackling fierce motherhood. I can’t wait for its February release. Trust me, the buzz it’s been getting is worth every penny!!
——
After coming out of a previous relationship where Savannah wanted a baby but the ex didn’t, Savannah now finds out she’s pregnant from a casual fling with Max. She decides to get in touch about it with Max, and to her surprise, he wants to be part of raising their child even though Max is back with his gf, Madison.
At first, Savannah is even more surprised that Madison is also welcoming with the idea of raising the baby. Madison is extra helpful with groceries and parenting advice until it gets to a point where Madison starts showing zero boundaries in Savannah’s life. Soon enough, Savannah’s life becomes a terrifying nightmare with Madison having a special agenda of her own.
This thriller is INTENSE, guys! We’re not talking about a character who’s just a little cray cray, we’re talking UNHINGED in full caps. Never have I wanted a fictional character to be unalived so deeply and I read a lot of dark books! There’s an astronomical level of gaslighting and manipulation inflicted by a character towards a heavily pregnant woman to the point of violence so this is perhaps a book to set aside if the reader is pregnant. The second half of the book had me holding my breath several times and the tension never relents until the grand finale.
This is Jennifer’s debut?! Well, now guess who’s my new favorite thriller author! 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 is by far one of the best thriller books I’ve ever read tackling fierce motherhood. I can’t wait for its February release. Trust me, the buzz it’s been getting is worth every penny!!
December 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reader copy of The Better Mother by Jennifer van der Kleut in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Better Mother is a psychological thriller featuring 34-year old Savannah who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. She hopes to have a friendly co-parenting relationship with Max, her fling and the father of her child, but his ex and rekindled girlfriend, Madison, has more sinister plans in mind.
This debut reminded me of a Frieda McFadden novel. It’s fast paced and suspenseful. Once the premise is established, the story became somewhat predictable but kept me entertained and turning the pages. I kept hoping that Savannah would stop falling into all of Madison’s carefully laid traps. But I found the ending to be satisfying. Ultimately I would recommend this novel to fans of popcorn thrillers looking for a book to breeze through. 3/5⭐️
The Better Mother is a psychological thriller featuring 34-year old Savannah who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. She hopes to have a friendly co-parenting relationship with Max, her fling and the father of her child, but his ex and rekindled girlfriend, Madison, has more sinister plans in mind.
This debut reminded me of a Frieda McFadden novel. It’s fast paced and suspenseful. Once the premise is established, the story became somewhat predictable but kept me entertained and turning the pages. I kept hoping that Savannah would stop falling into all of Madison’s carefully laid traps. But I found the ending to be satisfying. Ultimately I would recommend this novel to fans of popcorn thrillers looking for a book to breeze through. 3/5⭐️
November 15, 2025
A captivating unraveling. The characters drove this story. They were genuine and believable with complex layers. I was frantically turning pages to find out what they would do next. After such a phenomenal buildup, though, I would have liked a bit more from the ending.
November 23, 2025
Still need to edit this a bit - it doesn’t read or feel right to me. Gonna let it sit for a bit. (MY REVIEW NOT THE BOOK 😂) Just clarifying that. Why’d I wait a day to write this? 😭 Prob bc I was too occupied loving the 💩 outta this book!
#ad much love for my advance copy @crookedlanebooks #partner
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅴🆃🆃🅴🆁 🅼🅾🆃🅷🅴🆁
< @jennvdk >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ꜰᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ/ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ
I had the best time reading this book - every word, every page, every chapter gave me some type of reaction. This is the first book I posted my thoughts and theories on after each chapter. Just a fabulously fun read. You’ll want to buddy read this one, because it’s just too fun of a read to not share with your best friend.
Oof! The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut is coming in HOTT. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, but this is one village you’d probably be better off hightailing it away from. So buckle up, hold on to your hats, and yes, this is one of those books you’ll need a Xanax for.
Who would be the better mother? It’ll be a fight to the death before that answer is revealed. You’ll want to finish this book in a day. It’s impossible to stop reading.
A gripping and twisty read that you won’t want to put down. There are some serious high-voltage twists and turns you won’t see coming. This is one of those books that will leave your head spinning. You won’t know what’s up, down, right, or left. It’ll give you a 100 different theories and suspects, but when the truth is revealed, you’ll still be shocked. It’ll zap the life right out of you while slapping you across the face.
So sharpen those detective skills, grab a glass of wine, relax, and cancel all your plans, because this is a one-night-stand type of read. And it’ll satisfy you in every way possible, leaving you wanting more. Definitely up there as one of funnest books I’ve read this year.
When Savvy becomes pregnant after a brief fling with Max, she feels they can co-parent this baby together - Max, his girlfriend Madison, and Savvy. They’ve got this. But Madison is like that bad best friend who shows up uninvited to your house randomly and sticks to you like chewed gum. You can’t be rid of her no matter what you do. Unhinged in the best possible way.
This book delivers everything us thriller readers love most. I had high expectations for this one and it did not disappoint. You’ll be completely gripped by the end of chapter one.
A debut?! Jennifer has just put herself on the map! Netflix, Hulu, Amazon WHERE YOU AT BRO’S?! I got your next favorite read right here, and it would make a KILLER movie or limited series.
A hilarious (in that deranged sense - which I find hilarious), edge-of-your-seat read that you won’t walk away from unscathed. An unforgettable must-read.
Read. This. Book. Or else.
Can’t wait to see what twisty and unhinged story Van Der Kleut comes up with next, because I’ll be there for it. Guaranteed!
#ad much love for my advance copy @crookedlanebooks #partner
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅴🆃🆃🅴🆁 🅼🅾🆃🅷🅴🆁
< @jennvdk >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ꜰᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ/ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ
I had the best time reading this book - every word, every page, every chapter gave me some type of reaction. This is the first book I posted my thoughts and theories on after each chapter. Just a fabulously fun read. You’ll want to buddy read this one, because it’s just too fun of a read to not share with your best friend.
Oof! The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut is coming in HOTT. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, but this is one village you’d probably be better off hightailing it away from. So buckle up, hold on to your hats, and yes, this is one of those books you’ll need a Xanax for.
Who would be the better mother? It’ll be a fight to the death before that answer is revealed. You’ll want to finish this book in a day. It’s impossible to stop reading.
A gripping and twisty read that you won’t want to put down. There are some serious high-voltage twists and turns you won’t see coming. This is one of those books that will leave your head spinning. You won’t know what’s up, down, right, or left. It’ll give you a 100 different theories and suspects, but when the truth is revealed, you’ll still be shocked. It’ll zap the life right out of you while slapping you across the face.
So sharpen those detective skills, grab a glass of wine, relax, and cancel all your plans, because this is a one-night-stand type of read. And it’ll satisfy you in every way possible, leaving you wanting more. Definitely up there as one of funnest books I’ve read this year.
When Savvy becomes pregnant after a brief fling with Max, she feels they can co-parent this baby together - Max, his girlfriend Madison, and Savvy. They’ve got this. But Madison is like that bad best friend who shows up uninvited to your house randomly and sticks to you like chewed gum. You can’t be rid of her no matter what you do. Unhinged in the best possible way.
This book delivers everything us thriller readers love most. I had high expectations for this one and it did not disappoint. You’ll be completely gripped by the end of chapter one.
A debut?! Jennifer has just put herself on the map! Netflix, Hulu, Amazon WHERE YOU AT BRO’S?! I got your next favorite read right here, and it would make a KILLER movie or limited series.
A hilarious (in that deranged sense - which I find hilarious), edge-of-your-seat read that you won’t walk away from unscathed. An unforgettable must-read.
Read. This. Book. Or else.
Can’t wait to see what twisty and unhinged story Van Der Kleut comes up with next, because I’ll be there for it. Guaranteed!
November 7, 2025
Wow! This book blew my mind and choked me up! Savannah finds herself pregnant with Max's baby, after picking him up in a bar. But his new wife Madison weasels her way into her sonogram appointment and Savannah is irritated as who is this stranger who is so concerned with her well-being? There's blackmail, slashed tires, threats, and so much more. I raced through this one as there are surprises on every page...so good!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can’t believe how stressed this book made me 😭
Like… actual anxiety while reading.
The Better Mother was scary and straight-up psychotic.
I was lucky enough to both read and listen at the same time. The narrator wasn’t really my favorite (her voice leaned a little too Valley Girl for me), but it honestly didn’t take away from how intense and heart-pounding the story was.
Savannah- a 34 year old who just managed to get her life back together after a devastating break up- just wanted to peacefully co-parent after a surprise pregnancy with a quick fling. When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison.
Savannah’s situation starts out messy but manageable…
Madison starts off helpful” and quickly turns into overbearing, cruel, then genuinely dangerous.
Watching it escalate was SO uncomfortable in the best way.
This book made me feel trapped, stressed, and constantly waiting for something bad to happen (which was ALWAYS HAPPENING to Savannah)
If you like thrillers that mess with your head and make you uncomfortable the entire time, this one will absolutely do it.
Still thinking about it. Still stressed. Still will recommend.
Like… actual anxiety while reading.
The Better Mother was scary and straight-up psychotic.
I was lucky enough to both read and listen at the same time. The narrator wasn’t really my favorite (her voice leaned a little too Valley Girl for me), but it honestly didn’t take away from how intense and heart-pounding the story was.
Savannah- a 34 year old who just managed to get her life back together after a devastating break up- just wanted to peacefully co-parent after a surprise pregnancy with a quick fling. When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison.
Savannah’s situation starts out messy but manageable…
Madison starts off helpful” and quickly turns into overbearing, cruel, then genuinely dangerous.
Watching it escalate was SO uncomfortable in the best way.
This book made me feel trapped, stressed, and constantly waiting for something bad to happen (which was ALWAYS HAPPENING to Savannah)
If you like thrillers that mess with your head and make you uncomfortable the entire time, this one will absolutely do it.
Still thinking about it. Still stressed. Still will recommend.
October 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Better Mother by Jennifer van der Kleut! This book started a little slow for me, but around the 50% mark, I could not put it down. The writing pulled me in so deeply that I found myself completely absorbed in the story. I loved almost every character; they felt so real and layered, well, except the Clarks and Max, of course. The only thing I wish we got at the end was a glimpse of her putting her life back together, maybe seeing her get her job back, and finding peace with the baby. Still, that’s a small wish compared to how great this book was overall. When I realized this was the author’s debut novel, I was honestly shocked. The writing was beautiful, the characters were perfectly crafted, and the concept was so interesting. It was a fun, emotional, and shocking read that left me thinking about it long after I finished.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this story.
There were a few moments where things happened too conveniently for the sake of giving the readers information, and instances where the antagonist made odd decisions so the story would flow in the main character's favor. But you know what? I enjoyed the story anyway. It was fun and entertaining! At the end of the day, that's all I want... a decent story to temporarily take me to another world.
I was rooting for the MC the entire time as her world fell apart. I just wish she heard me yelling at her. It would've prevented her from making some of the silly mistakes...lol.
I can definitely see this becoming a movie, and doing pretty well.
Thanks again, NetGalley. This was a winner.
There were a few moments where things happened too conveniently for the sake of giving the readers information, and instances where the antagonist made odd decisions so the story would flow in the main character's favor. But you know what? I enjoyed the story anyway. It was fun and entertaining! At the end of the day, that's all I want... a decent story to temporarily take me to another world.
I was rooting for the MC the entire time as her world fell apart. I just wish she heard me yelling at her. It would've prevented her from making some of the silly mistakes...lol.
I can definitely see this becoming a movie, and doing pretty well.
Thanks again, NetGalley. This was a winner.
January 19, 2026
I don’t believe that reviews should give away anything in the book especially for thriller/mystery, just know this book definitely lives up to the genre of Thriller! It keeps you on your toes with all the suspense. The perfect writing style to keep the readers attention. Like a Lifestyle Thriller.
Dare I say I have a new thriller author to keep an eye out for! Highly recommend.
Dare I say I have a new thriller author to keep an eye out for! Highly recommend.
Want to read
September 24, 2025Thank you Edelweiss and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. This debut looks crazy good.
November 1, 2025
Wow! Just wow! There’s not much I can say about this book without any spoilers… so I’ll keep it short. I was immediately hooked! Savannah ends up pregnant after a short fling with Max. She thought it would be an easy co-parenting situation…
The amount of detail that went in to such an elaborate scheme was insane and left me constantly surprised!
The amount of detail that went in to such an elaborate scheme was insane and left me constantly surprised!
September 19, 2025
Jennifer Vanderkleut’s debut novel was fantastic! I read this book in one sitting, it gripped me from the beginning and kept me in its thrall all the way to the end. I love a book that takes you on a roller coaster ride and this one hit that on all points. Beautifully written and well executed.
I look forward to more from this promising author!
I look forward to more from this promising author!
January 21, 2026
“Madison can get pretty jealous.” That may be a teeny weeny understatement. I do enjoy a good unhinged character. Be careful reading reviews on this one since I’ve seen a few spoilers. I was worried this would be a mommy drama trope, but it wasn’t that at all. It’s a great thriller debut and I’m looking forward to more books by this author!
Xe Sands is the voice actor on the audiobook production and she’s perfect in this role. I’d recommend the audiobook format if you can get a copy. Thank you @dreamscape_media and @jennvdk for an ALC of The Better Mother.
Xe Sands is the voice actor on the audiobook production and she’s perfect in this role. I’d recommend the audiobook format if you can get a copy. Thank you @dreamscape_media and @jennvdk for an ALC of The Better Mother.
October 7, 2025
What a debut!
What's it about?
Savannah has a fling with a guy after a bad breakup. A few months later… oopsy. She’s pregnant. And Max is cool with it. But his ex-girlfriend, who he’s reunited with in the interim, is a little more excited than you would expect. Like, way too excited. It takes off from there and it doesn’t let up.
This book is a total page-turner binge read! I read it in two sittings, and this was during a very busy week. I seriously could not wait to get back to it. An engrossing, exciting read that I highly recommend, with a few characters you will love to hate.
What's it about?
Savannah has a fling with a guy after a bad breakup. A few months later… oopsy. She’s pregnant. And Max is cool with it. But his ex-girlfriend, who he’s reunited with in the interim, is a little more excited than you would expect. Like, way too excited. It takes off from there and it doesn’t let up.
This book is a total page-turner binge read! I read it in two sittings, and this was during a very busy week. I seriously could not wait to get back to it. An engrossing, exciting read that I highly recommend, with a few characters you will love to hate.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a thrilling and unputdownable debut! I can hardly believe this is the author’s first book, as I’m already eagerly anticipating more from Ms. Jennifer!
Savannah Mitchell, a 34-year-old woman recovering from a breakup, discovers she’s pregnant after a brief fling with Max. When she informs Max, he reveals he’s back with his ex, Madison, who surprisingly wants to help with the pregnancy. However, Savannah soon finds Madison's intentions far from helpful as she oversteps boundaries and becomes increasingly controlling. As tensions rise, Savannah realizes Madison's behavior is shifting from cruel to dangerously threatening, complicating her hopes for a friendly co-parenting relationship.
This story kicks off with a bang and keeps you on your toes, leaving you both guessing and at times frustrated by the unfolding events. You can’t help but wait for the twists and turns to finally reveal the truth of what’s really going on. It’s a dizzying mix of chaos as you get to know Savannah, Max, and Madison. Reading this feels like stepping into someone’s wild nightmare, and you just want to wake up, as it leaves you holding your breath! Then other things start happening... I don't want to give anything away!
I must admit, I was able to predict a few plot points, but that didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. It just fueled my desire to keep reading at full speed, especially with the level of craziness Madison brings to the story! Honestly, there were times I found myself wanting to reach in and shake Max vigorously until he came to his senses! I’ll leave it up to you to decide who was your favorite character and who made your blood boil. The whole situation was bizarre and somewhat drawn out, but that just added to the experience!
If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden, you’ll absolutely love this book with its unexpected twists and mind-boggling situations. This would also make a fantastic pick for a book club, as there’s so much to unpack. Whether you enjoy stories about stalkers, obsession, or hard-to-believe scenarios fueled by desire, or if you're just curious about all the buzz surrounding this book, you’ll definitely want to dive in. I have a hunch this book will be the talk of the town come 2026, and I really hope Reese’s Bookclub takes notice, as it’s fast-paced, hard to put down, and so wild that your belief system will take quite a hit!
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Savannah Mitchell, a 34-year-old woman recovering from a breakup, discovers she’s pregnant after a brief fling with Max. When she informs Max, he reveals he’s back with his ex, Madison, who surprisingly wants to help with the pregnancy. However, Savannah soon finds Madison's intentions far from helpful as she oversteps boundaries and becomes increasingly controlling. As tensions rise, Savannah realizes Madison's behavior is shifting from cruel to dangerously threatening, complicating her hopes for a friendly co-parenting relationship.
This story kicks off with a bang and keeps you on your toes, leaving you both guessing and at times frustrated by the unfolding events. You can’t help but wait for the twists and turns to finally reveal the truth of what’s really going on. It’s a dizzying mix of chaos as you get to know Savannah, Max, and Madison. Reading this feels like stepping into someone’s wild nightmare, and you just want to wake up, as it leaves you holding your breath! Then other things start happening... I don't want to give anything away!
I must admit, I was able to predict a few plot points, but that didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. It just fueled my desire to keep reading at full speed, especially with the level of craziness Madison brings to the story! Honestly, there were times I found myself wanting to reach in and shake Max vigorously until he came to his senses! I’ll leave it up to you to decide who was your favorite character and who made your blood boil. The whole situation was bizarre and somewhat drawn out, but that just added to the experience!
If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden, you’ll absolutely love this book with its unexpected twists and mind-boggling situations. This would also make a fantastic pick for a book club, as there’s so much to unpack. Whether you enjoy stories about stalkers, obsession, or hard-to-believe scenarios fueled by desire, or if you're just curious about all the buzz surrounding this book, you’ll definitely want to dive in. I have a hunch this book will be the talk of the town come 2026, and I really hope Reese’s Bookclub takes notice, as it’s fast-paced, hard to put down, and so wild that your belief system will take quite a hit!
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 19, 2025
This story explores the powerful bond between a mother and her child even from the womb, and the difficult choices women face when life doesn’t go as planned. The story is told in a fast-paced, first-person style that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The plot is original and full of unexpected twists that made the reading experience both exciting and emotional.
The author handles the topic of infertility with care and sensitivity. I appreciated how the story presents two women: one who cannot conceive and another who becomes pregnant at a challenging time. Their different backgrounds, careers, and life goals are portrayed with honesty and empathy. The ending felt realistic and respectful to both characters.
I also admired the way female friendships were shown. The relationships were genuine and supportive, without jealousy or competition, which is not often seen in fiction today.
What I liked:
* Fast-paced and engaging narration
* Honest look at motherhood from two perspectives
* A surprising and well-developed plot twist
What I didn’t enjoy as much:
* Savannah’s repeated suffering felt excessive/overdone
* Max’s manipulative/scamming behaviour was frustrating
* Maddison’s desperation felt too extreme
Ratings breakdown:
Setting - 3⭐️
Character Building - 5⭐️
Writing Style - 4⭐️
Message - 4⭐️
Overall - 4⭐️
If you enjoy thrillers with emotional depth, strong female characters, and unexpected turns, this book is worth reading. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and well-written.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jennifer Van Der Kleut for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
~JaNnA~
#bookreview #thebettermother #jennifervanderkleut #netgalley
The author handles the topic of infertility with care and sensitivity. I appreciated how the story presents two women: one who cannot conceive and another who becomes pregnant at a challenging time. Their different backgrounds, careers, and life goals are portrayed with honesty and empathy. The ending felt realistic and respectful to both characters.
I also admired the way female friendships were shown. The relationships were genuine and supportive, without jealousy or competition, which is not often seen in fiction today.
What I liked:
* Fast-paced and engaging narration
* Honest look at motherhood from two perspectives
* A surprising and well-developed plot twist
What I didn’t enjoy as much:
* Savannah’s repeated suffering felt excessive/overdone
* Max’s manipulative/scamming behaviour was frustrating
* Maddison’s desperation felt too extreme
Ratings breakdown:
Setting - 3⭐️
Character Building - 5⭐️
Writing Style - 4⭐️
Message - 4⭐️
Overall - 4⭐️
If you enjoy thrillers with emotional depth, strong female characters, and unexpected turns, this book is worth reading. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and well-written.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jennifer Van Der Kleut for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
~JaNnA~
#bookreview #thebettermother #jennifervanderkleut #netgalley
January 14, 2026
Thank you Jennifer van der Kleut, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I was intrigued in this book because I have not read many mom thrillers so I decided I wanted to give it a try. With that being said, this book has set an impossibly high standard in the mom thriller category. I read this in one day and actually changed my plans that day so I could finish this book.
This is about a 34 year old named Savannah who had some one off nights hooking up with a random guy named Max she met at a bar. They bonded over both dealing with some what recent breakups but they eventually fall off on keeping in touch until Savannah realizes she is pregnant. Once she lets Max know that she is expecting, he lets her know that he got back together with his ex Madison. They try to keep it all as friendly as possible in order to coparent the best they can but Madison keeps overstepping boundary after boundary. Savannah has this feeling that something is off but Max keeps telling her that Madison can just be a bit intense.
This book starts out so fast that you get invested immediately. As the plot thickens the story just gets more and more gripping. Super fast paced, such a fun read, and the suspense/tension is so strong. I have never hated a character in a book as much as I hated Madison in this book. She made me want to scream. I also loved that there were 3 parts to show more insight into what was going on in the present. The only thing I will note is that the end is very popcorn thriller type vibe. So if you are someone who wants a very intricate ending, you may be a tad disappointed, but if you are like me and just want drama then you will LOVE this.
This is about a 34 year old named Savannah who had some one off nights hooking up with a random guy named Max she met at a bar. They bonded over both dealing with some what recent breakups but they eventually fall off on keeping in touch until Savannah realizes she is pregnant. Once she lets Max know that she is expecting, he lets her know that he got back together with his ex Madison. They try to keep it all as friendly as possible in order to coparent the best they can but Madison keeps overstepping boundary after boundary. Savannah has this feeling that something is off but Max keeps telling her that Madison can just be a bit intense.
This book starts out so fast that you get invested immediately. As the plot thickens the story just gets more and more gripping. Super fast paced, such a fun read, and the suspense/tension is so strong. I have never hated a character in a book as much as I hated Madison in this book. She made me want to scream. I also loved that there were 3 parts to show more insight into what was going on in the present. The only thing I will note is that the end is very popcorn thriller type vibe. So if you are someone who wants a very intricate ending, you may be a tad disappointed, but if you are like me and just want drama then you will LOVE this.
December 18, 2025
I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of The Better Mother from the author and Crooked Lane Books! 🫶
The Better Mother is such an incredible debut novel that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time while I was reading! 😱🙊🤯😳🫢🙀 I binged the whole thing in one sitting because it’s that incredible and I needed to know everything that happened immediately because this is unhinged times infinity and just when you think you know what’s going on this story took a whole other turn I didn’t see coming! 😱 I need this book to be a movie because this needs to be on the big-screen since this is honestly one of the best thriller books I have ever read in my life! 🫶
I had so much fun coming up with my hundreds of theories for what was going on. It kept constantly changing too because one minute I’m blaming everything on one character and then I kept switching around the blame to other characters! 🕵️♀️🔎 The feeling of dread that slowly oozes and encompasses the reading experience made me feel ALL the emotions and had me feeling angry, devastated, heartbroken, intrigued, and shocked to my core! 🤯😳🙊😭😤😱 I will not be saying anything about the plot because I think the reading experience truly is best going in without knowing anything about it but I will say that Jennifer van der Kleut is officially an autobuy author for me now and that is such an impressive feat especially considering this is a debut novel! 🫶
If you love thrillers then this book is an absolute must-add to the TBR because it is officially one of my favorite thrillers I have ever read! 🫶
The Better Mother is such an incredible debut novel that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time while I was reading! 😱🙊🤯😳🫢🙀 I binged the whole thing in one sitting because it’s that incredible and I needed to know everything that happened immediately because this is unhinged times infinity and just when you think you know what’s going on this story took a whole other turn I didn’t see coming! 😱 I need this book to be a movie because this needs to be on the big-screen since this is honestly one of the best thriller books I have ever read in my life! 🫶
I had so much fun coming up with my hundreds of theories for what was going on. It kept constantly changing too because one minute I’m blaming everything on one character and then I kept switching around the blame to other characters! 🕵️♀️🔎 The feeling of dread that slowly oozes and encompasses the reading experience made me feel ALL the emotions and had me feeling angry, devastated, heartbroken, intrigued, and shocked to my core! 🤯😳🙊😭😤😱 I will not be saying anything about the plot because I think the reading experience truly is best going in without knowing anything about it but I will say that Jennifer van der Kleut is officially an autobuy author for me now and that is such an impressive feat especially considering this is a debut novel! 🫶
If you love thrillers then this book is an absolute must-add to the TBR because it is officially one of my favorite thrillers I have ever read! 🫶
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Better Mother is an absolutely unhinged, manipulative and intense thriller. I have never hated characters as much as I did in this book. The lever of gaslighting is absolutely unreal. I was absolutely hooked right from the start. The author grabbed me with her writing style, the story was tense right off the bat. I could sense that something wasn't right and boy was I right, but I would've never guessed to that extent. The story moves very quickly and never lets up, there's a constant sense of dread and the atmosphere is chilling. This book is deeply unsettling and completely addictive. I can't believe this is Jennifer's debut, if she keeps going this way, watch out we have a new thriller queen on the rise !
My pulse was pounding throughout the entire book, the way these characters were so despicable. The way I wanted to unalived them myself for what they made Savvy go through !!! My head was spinning constantly as the author threw me back and forth, constantly making me doubt what's real, what's not, who to trust. I absolutely loved how the plot unraveled, how the twists came about and how the reveals were perfectly thrown in. Everything was meticulously done and intricately placed to deliver an utterly satisfying thriller.
Overall, this is an absolutely unhinged BANGER of a thriller that I highly recommend. It's dark, unhinged, fast paced, action packed, twisty and will make you doubt the characters multiple times ! I'll definitely be recommending this one for a long time.
✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @crookedlanebooks & @jennifervanderkleut for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My pulse was pounding throughout the entire book, the way these characters were so despicable. The way I wanted to unalived them myself for what they made Savvy go through !!! My head was spinning constantly as the author threw me back and forth, constantly making me doubt what's real, what's not, who to trust. I absolutely loved how the plot unraveled, how the twists came about and how the reveals were perfectly thrown in. Everything was meticulously done and intricately placed to deliver an utterly satisfying thriller.
Overall, this is an absolutely unhinged BANGER of a thriller that I highly recommend. It's dark, unhinged, fast paced, action packed, twisty and will make you doubt the characters multiple times ! I'll definitely be recommending this one for a long time.
✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @crookedlanebooks & @jennifervanderkleut for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of The Better Mother. It’s hard to believe this is van der Kleut’s debut novel. She turns the tension up high in this engrossing thrilller that follows a young San Francisco marketing executive, Savannah, who learns she is pregnant after a casual fling. Her friend encourages her to reach out to the father, Max, to let him know she’s expecting and while he seems excited, he’s also eager to share the news with his girlfriend, Madison, whom he recently reconciled with.
Madison is thrilled, obsessively so, as she begins to insert herself into almost every aspect of Savannah’s life and even begins to refer to the unborn child as her own baby.
From there, strange things begin happening to Savannah. She discovers she’s being followed, her phone is hacked, and someone seems keen on destroying every aspect of her life, while trying to prove she’s unfit to be a mother.
When Savannah begins to investigate, she learns that nothing is what it seems and there’s a meticulous plan in place to prevent her from raising her unborn child. A plan that goes far beyond what she ever could have imagined.
I couldn’t put this book down and the plot twists had me on edge to the very last page. If you’re looking for a well-written thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, The Better Mother delivers.
Madison is thrilled, obsessively so, as she begins to insert herself into almost every aspect of Savannah’s life and even begins to refer to the unborn child as her own baby.
From there, strange things begin happening to Savannah. She discovers she’s being followed, her phone is hacked, and someone seems keen on destroying every aspect of her life, while trying to prove she’s unfit to be a mother.
When Savannah begins to investigate, she learns that nothing is what it seems and there’s a meticulous plan in place to prevent her from raising her unborn child. A plan that goes far beyond what she ever could have imagined.
I couldn’t put this book down and the plot twists had me on edge to the very last page. If you’re looking for a well-written thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, The Better Mother delivers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My anxiety was through the roof while listening to this audiobook, so much so that I had to finish it in one sitting. We follow Savannah, who is recovering from a breakup and has a fling with a guy named Max. When Savannah tells Max that he is going to be a father, he initially takes it well. However he soon reveals that he has gotten back together with his ex, Madison.
Days later Max tells Savannah that not only did he inform Madison about the pregnancy, but that Madison is ecstatic and eager to help Savannah in every possible way. What starts as concern quickly turns unsettling. Madison becomes a living nightmare, criticizing Savannah’s every move and inserting herself into every aspect of her life.
Soon Savannah spirals into chaos. Her phone is hacked, mysterious credit card charges appear, and she becomes convinced someone is following her everywhere she goes. Savannah must figure out how to protect not only her unborn child but also herself from Madison.
The audiobook was fantastic, relentlessly tense, and fast paced. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves high tension psychological thrillers that are impossible to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this arc
Days later Max tells Savannah that not only did he inform Madison about the pregnancy, but that Madison is ecstatic and eager to help Savannah in every possible way. What starts as concern quickly turns unsettling. Madison becomes a living nightmare, criticizing Savannah’s every move and inserting herself into every aspect of her life.
Soon Savannah spirals into chaos. Her phone is hacked, mysterious credit card charges appear, and she becomes convinced someone is following her everywhere she goes. Savannah must figure out how to protect not only her unborn child but also herself from Madison.
The audiobook was fantastic, relentlessly tense, and fast paced. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves high tension psychological thrillers that are impossible to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this arc
November 3, 2025
Everything is going well for Savannah at last. She's pretty much over the breakup with her boyfriend, her career looks to be headed on track, and she's comfy in her new apartment. She's started dating. And there's the red flag!
After three years with Jason, Savannah was ready for a baby. The problem - Jason wasn't. So when she ends up looking at the two blue lines on the pregnancy stick after her casual encounter with Max, her feelings are all over the place. The first thing she does is get in touch with Max to let him know. The second thing that happens has her totally blindsided - Max is back with his girlfriend. And now his girlfriend wants to meet her.
Madison seems much too invested in the pregnancy and, if you're hearing dun dun dun in the background, you heard correctly. Madison is evil. And she has plans for this baby. Plans that don't include Savannah.
The tension ramps up as we find out who's gaslighting whom...and how far people are willing to go to protect themselves.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Jennifer van der Kleut, for her debut novel. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
After three years with Jason, Savannah was ready for a baby. The problem - Jason wasn't. So when she ends up looking at the two blue lines on the pregnancy stick after her casual encounter with Max, her feelings are all over the place. The first thing she does is get in touch with Max to let him know. The second thing that happens has her totally blindsided - Max is back with his girlfriend. And now his girlfriend wants to meet her.
Madison seems much too invested in the pregnancy and, if you're hearing dun dun dun in the background, you heard correctly. Madison is evil. And she has plans for this baby. Plans that don't include Savannah.
The tension ramps up as we find out who's gaslighting whom...and how far people are willing to go to protect themselves.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Jennifer van der Kleut, for her debut novel. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
December 3, 2025
THE BETTER MOTHER by @jennvdk
📖 book review • pub date 02.10.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Thanks to the author + @crookedlanebooks for my #gifted ARC!
well, way to raise my heart rate and not let it lower until the last few pages, Jenn. 🤣 Savannah finds out she is pregnant after a few casual dates, and decides to tell him. Max has already gotten back with his ex Madison, but Savannah decides she can handle coparenting.
Very quickly, Madison is overwhelmingly “helpful” which then turns to invasive.. referring to the baby as hers and making announcements before Savannah. Madison absolutely STRESSED ME OUT (I literally went on an evening walk and read my kindle while walking and almost tripped over someone’s bike on the sidewalk I was so engrossed in this story) and I felt like throwing my kindle a few times. It isn’t a good thriller if it doesn’t stress you out 😬
For me, a book sticks out if it’s one you want to pick up every chance you get. And that was The Better Mother for me. Even in the midst of a hectic holiday week with kids hanging on to me like a hair on a biscuit, I read every chance I got 🖤 add this one to your February TBR because this one will blow 👏🏻 up 👏🏻 when it’s finally released to the world!
📖 book review • pub date 02.10.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Thanks to the author + @crookedlanebooks for my #gifted ARC!
well, way to raise my heart rate and not let it lower until the last few pages, Jenn. 🤣 Savannah finds out she is pregnant after a few casual dates, and decides to tell him. Max has already gotten back with his ex Madison, but Savannah decides she can handle coparenting.
Very quickly, Madison is overwhelmingly “helpful” which then turns to invasive.. referring to the baby as hers and making announcements before Savannah. Madison absolutely STRESSED ME OUT (I literally went on an evening walk and read my kindle while walking and almost tripped over someone’s bike on the sidewalk I was so engrossed in this story) and I felt like throwing my kindle a few times. It isn’t a good thriller if it doesn’t stress you out 😬
For me, a book sticks out if it’s one you want to pick up every chance you get. And that was The Better Mother for me. Even in the midst of a hectic holiday week with kids hanging on to me like a hair on a biscuit, I read every chance I got 🖤 add this one to your February TBR because this one will blow 👏🏻 up 👏🏻 when it’s finally released to the world!
December 5, 2025
The Better Mother was a thrilling, twisty, page turning debut! The premise of the story really intrigued me and I was hooked from the very first page. We learn about Savannah’s unexpected pregnancy from a fizzled out fling with Max, and the story just builds from there.
Things seem to be heading in a wonderful direction, until everything brings to unravel- thread by thread. I had so much fun coming up with theories as I read. In the beginning, I was very suspicious of Madison, Max’s ex- who he got back together with after the fling with Savannah. But Max was very reassuring that a friendly co-parenting relationship between them all was feasible.
I was able to figure out a few minor elements in the beginning and in the moment thought I had it ALL figured out but… let me tell you, I was not prepared for how unhinged this story unfolded to be. It had me questioning everyone and everything! No spoilers of course, so you’ll have to read this one when it comes out to see what I mean. This is definitely one you won’t want to put down once you start reading.
Things seem to be heading in a wonderful direction, until everything brings to unravel- thread by thread. I had so much fun coming up with theories as I read. In the beginning, I was very suspicious of Madison, Max’s ex- who he got back together with after the fling with Savannah. But Max was very reassuring that a friendly co-parenting relationship between them all was feasible.
I was able to figure out a few minor elements in the beginning and in the moment thought I had it ALL figured out but… let me tell you, I was not prepared for how unhinged this story unfolded to be. It had me questioning everyone and everything! No spoilers of course, so you’ll have to read this one when it comes out to see what I mean. This is definitely one you won’t want to put down once you start reading.
January 17, 2026
*Audiobook
“We’re happy to take care of the baby for you.”
Thanks to Dreamscape Media for my ALC of this one in exchange for my honest thoughts. The audio narration was so good, she changed her voice to go with each character and it played well with the storyline.
Savannah and Max have a brief fling…they unexpectedly get pregnant despite using protection. Only prior to finding out they were pregnant, Max gets back together with his girlfriend Madison.
Madison is upset at first, as this isn’t ideal but then Madison decides she wants to be part of the pregnancy. Savannah is put off by this but reluctantly agrees to meet Max & Madison to chat about the baby and so everyone can get to know each other.
Then thing gets really weird.
This book is described as a fusion of…
🤚🏻𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒆
🪦𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
💍𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉
…which I totally agree with.
This book was so good. I was so stressed reading it and was hoping that Savannah was able to get justice.
This was such a compulsive, binge worthy read.
Highly recommend.
“We’re happy to take care of the baby for you.”
Thanks to Dreamscape Media for my ALC of this one in exchange for my honest thoughts. The audio narration was so good, she changed her voice to go with each character and it played well with the storyline.
Savannah and Max have a brief fling…they unexpectedly get pregnant despite using protection. Only prior to finding out they were pregnant, Max gets back together with his girlfriend Madison.
Madison is upset at first, as this isn’t ideal but then Madison decides she wants to be part of the pregnancy. Savannah is put off by this but reluctantly agrees to meet Max & Madison to chat about the baby and so everyone can get to know each other.
Then thing gets really weird.
This book is described as a fusion of…
🤚🏻𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒆
🪦𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
💍𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉
…which I totally agree with.
This book was so good. I was so stressed reading it and was hoping that Savannah was able to get justice.
This was such a compulsive, binge worthy read.
Highly recommend.
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