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The Better Mother
A 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, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
308 people are currently reading
26016 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer van der Kleut
1 book228 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 864 reviews
April 21, 2026
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.
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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:
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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
🩵
February 27, 2026
OMG! A blindingly fast-paced novel of sinister manipulations and despicable underhanded motives, The Better Mother was a wild rollercoaster ride that I couldn’t put down. Starting off with a bang, the rest of the book was filled with ever increasing dread and nonstop action. You see, this debut was a brilliant combo of Freida McFadden’s twists and turns and Kaira Rouda’s deliciously unhinged characters. Using them to turn a simple unplanned pregnancy into an over-the-top disaster, I was beyond riveted by the root-for-able narrator and her detestable enemies. After all, this one-sitting read was everything I love in an inhale-able popcorn thriller. With cat-and-mouse games, a character you’ll love to hate, and plenty of nefarious schemes, it had everything I could want plus just a little bit more.
All said and done, Ms. van der Kleut hit it out of the park on her very first go. Twisty, taut, and filled with high-stakes chills and thrills, the domestic drama in this unputdownable novel would give any soon-to-be mother some serious nightmares. I mean, how would you like for your pregnancy to turn into a Fatal Attraction-esque horror show? Between the dueling threats of control and obsession, there wasn’t a moment of downtime from beginning to end. Don’t get me wrong, you have to be in the mood for a book where you need to suspend all disbelief. Once you do that, though, you’ll be utterly addicted. So before you pick this one up, be sure to have all of your chores finished and with plenty of time to read. After all, this relentless tour-de-force will surely keep your eyes glued to the pages. Rating of 5 stars.
P.S. Dear author, can we please have a sequel? I’m sure there could be more to this story… After all, while it was perfectly wrapped up, I still want more time with Savannah!
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Jennifer van der Kleut and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 10, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, stalking, catfishing, gaslighting, miscarriage, kidnapping, violence, gun violence, blood, mention of: blackmail, infidelity
All said and done, Ms. van der Kleut hit it out of the park on her very first go. Twisty, taut, and filled with high-stakes chills and thrills, the domestic drama in this unputdownable novel would give any soon-to-be mother some serious nightmares. I mean, how would you like for your pregnancy to turn into a Fatal Attraction-esque horror show? Between the dueling threats of control and obsession, there wasn’t a moment of downtime from beginning to end. Don’t get me wrong, you have to be in the mood for a book where you need to suspend all disbelief. Once you do that, though, you’ll be utterly addicted. So before you pick this one up, be sure to have all of your chores finished and with plenty of time to read. After all, this relentless tour-de-force will surely keep your eyes glued to the pages. Rating of 5 stars.
P.S. Dear author, can we please have a sequel? I’m sure there could be more to this story… After all, while it was perfectly wrapped up, I still want more time with Savannah!
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Jennifer van der Kleut and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 10, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, stalking, catfishing, gaslighting, miscarriage, kidnapping, violence, gun violence, blood, mention of: blackmail, infidelity
February 26, 2026
Did I just listen to a "good/bad" Lifetime movie audiobook?
This compulsively readable and OTT domestic/psychological thriller about pregnancy, obsession, and control was engaging and completely bonkers -- all at the same time.
Even though I absolutely/positively wanted to push the STOP button on my phone, I was unable to do so.
➡️ Was the book's storyline high art? No.
➡️ Was it realistic? Not even slightly.
➡️ Were the coincidences too convenient? Yes.
➡️ Was the dialogue too melodramatic? Yes.
➡️ But was it entertaining? TOTALLY!!!!!!
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Xe Sands.
I usually am not a fan of Xe Sands' narrations, but this narration was one of her better ones.
If you enjoy "good/bad" Lifetime movies as much as I do, this was a very impressive debut by author Jennifer van der Kleut.
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
February 1, 2026
DNF at 13%
The main character is too stupid to bear, and the audiobook narrator is sending me into a murderous spiral.
Update: put it on 2x and finished. This has to be one of the stupidest books I've ever read. I wish I had kept track of all the plot conveniences and utterly ridiculous characters, conversations, and situations. Honestly would've rooted for the villain if they weren't just as stupid as the MC.
The main character is too stupid to bear, and the audiobook narrator is sending me into a murderous spiral.
Update: put it on 2x and finished. This has to be one of the stupidest books I've ever read. I wish I had kept track of all the plot conveniences and utterly ridiculous characters, conversations, and situations. Honestly would've rooted for the villain if they weren't just as stupid as the MC.
April 27, 2026
Savannah's long term relationship came to a sudden end leaving her stunned. She has since been trying to pull herself together. While out one night she meets Max that has recently broken up with his girlfriend. That one night stand turns into several meet ups between the two until their relationship fizzles out. No big deal really. Savannah was never looking for anything long-term.
Until the day she finds out she's pregnant. She's shocked to say the least. Now she has to make a decision on whether or not to tell Max because deep down she knows that she plans to keep the baby.
Deciding it's best to let him know she meets Max at a local coffee shop where he explains that he's gotten back together with his girlfriend but that he plans to be there for her throughout the pregnancy.
Even more surprising when a few days later Max calls to let he know that his girlfriend, Madison, is excited and wants to help in any way she can.
Madison's friendly help soon turns sinister.
This started off decent enough but it quickly spiraled into an implausible mess. This book took far-fetched to an entirely new level. The last 75% was so eye roll inducing I was getting a headache from it. Yet, I did finish it so there's that for the positives. 2 stars!
Until the day she finds out she's pregnant. She's shocked to say the least. Now she has to make a decision on whether or not to tell Max because deep down she knows that she plans to keep the baby.
Deciding it's best to let him know she meets Max at a local coffee shop where he explains that he's gotten back together with his girlfriend but that he plans to be there for her throughout the pregnancy.
Even more surprising when a few days later Max calls to let he know that his girlfriend, Madison, is excited and wants to help in any way she can.
Madison's friendly help soon turns sinister.
This started off decent enough but it quickly spiraled into an implausible mess. This book took far-fetched to an entirely new level. The last 75% was so eye roll inducing I was getting a headache from it. Yet, I did finish it so there's that for the positives. 2 stars!
April 6, 2026
This is a frightening and frustrating story of secrets, deception, and treachery. I always admire when a thriller elicits strong emotions. This thriller had me reeling. There were many times Savannah, the protagonist, had me shaking my head at her questionable choices. After she finds herself pregnant, she is gradually thrust into a life of danger and uncertainty. There was a twist toward the ending that I was able to predict. This didn't diminish any of my enjoyment of this twisted, suspenseful story.
April 4, 2026
OH HELLO… you little gorgeous unhinged thriller!! 🩷 I loved you sooo much!! Thank you @crookedlanebooks #partner for the gorgeous finished copy!! 🥰🫶 I have seen absolutely nothing but fantastic reviews for this.. let’s be honest here… the FOMO has been killing me. 😂
How is this a debut?? 🤷♀️ @jennvdk killed it!! Seriously listen to this…
You are are on the rebound and decide to hook up with this guy… Max… he’s nice enough but nothing to write home about. Who writes home anymore anyways?🤔 That expression is a little outdated. Anyways… you get pregnant. 😳 You figure Max will be freaked out… but he’s… ecstatic. HMMM… SO is his girlfriend. Wait what…. Like really… WTFFFF???? OH hang on… there are many more WTFFFF moments. 😂🤯 I loved it!!
An unhinged thriller that keeps you on they edge of your seat because this crazy train 🚆 is in full mode!!! Look I am not a huge fan of thrillers based on mommyville… but when SO many people that I know feel the same way… absolutely loved it… I knew I would too!!! 🩷 100% right up my alley!!!
💕💕💕 5 fantastic ⭐️ Also @crookedlanebooks gets bonus points for the pink and black thriller cover. We LOVE those!!
🩷🖤🩷🖤 Is this on your TBR? Last unhinged thriller you read? Best pink thrillers?? Ohh I am making you think now… 😂
How is this a debut?? 🤷♀️ @jennvdk killed it!! Seriously listen to this…
You are are on the rebound and decide to hook up with this guy… Max… he’s nice enough but nothing to write home about. Who writes home anymore anyways?🤔 That expression is a little outdated. Anyways… you get pregnant. 😳 You figure Max will be freaked out… but he’s… ecstatic. HMMM… SO is his girlfriend. Wait what…. Like really… WTFFFF???? OH hang on… there are many more WTFFFF moments. 😂🤯 I loved it!!
An unhinged thriller that keeps you on they edge of your seat because this crazy train 🚆 is in full mode!!! Look I am not a huge fan of thrillers based on mommyville… but when SO many people that I know feel the same way… absolutely loved it… I knew I would too!!! 🩷 100% right up my alley!!!
💕💕💕 5 fantastic ⭐️ Also @crookedlanebooks gets bonus points for the pink and black thriller cover. We LOVE those!!
🩷🖤🩷🖤 Is this on your TBR? Last unhinged thriller you read? Best pink thrillers?? Ohh I am making you think now… 😂
Read
January 20, 2026A mess!!! I couldn't put it down.
March 10, 2026
4.25 stars for this crazy whirlwind of a pregnancy. Wowza. Single and pregnant a gal reveals to her casual fling she’s pregnant with his baby and boy does her life go into a whirlwind after that. The guy now has a girlfriend who also wants to be involved (really really involved) in the pregnancy as well. A crazy but fast-paced debut novel that makes your head spin. Can’t wait to see what her second novel becomes as this was a great debut!
May 1, 2026
「 my thoughts 」
4⭐️ my nails are completely gone omg this book made me so anxious but i mean i guess in a good way! i loved this book it was like nothing i have ever read before and it was just so interesting and there were so many plot twists
。၄၃ characters ၄၃ 。
॥ savannah॥ : she is so brave and honestly showed me the importance of boundaries and staying away from ppl who give you bad feelings. she experienced so much in this book but she still kept her head up and kept going
။ ellie ။ : she is such an amazing friend literally idk if savannah would’ve gotten thru all this without her
။ madison ။ : i mean she was just absolutely insane she did so so so many horrible things i just wanted to rip out my hair i was so mad
။ max ။ : i’m sorry but why are you talking to madison is it not completely obvious how crazy she is??? idk i felt like he wasn’t on the same level as madison but obviously still pretty awful
။ jenna ။ : honestly i’m still confused what’s going on with her😭💔
4⭐️ my nails are completely gone omg this book made me so anxious but i mean i guess in a good way! i loved this book it was like nothing i have ever read before and it was just so interesting and there were so many plot twists
。၄၃ characters ၄၃ 。
॥ savannah॥ : she is so brave and honestly showed me the importance of boundaries and staying away from ppl who give you bad feelings. she experienced so much in this book but she still kept her head up and kept going
။ ellie ။ : she is such an amazing friend literally idk if savannah would’ve gotten thru all this without her
။ madison ။ : i mean she was just absolutely insane she did so so so many horrible things i just wanted to rip out my hair i was so mad
။ max ။ : i’m sorry but why are you talking to madison is it not completely obvious how crazy she is??? idk i felt like he wasn’t on the same level as madison but obviously still pretty awful
။ jenna ။ : honestly i’m still confused what’s going on with her😭💔
February 3, 2026
The Better Mother was honestly so well done. It was one of those thrillers that actually made me squirm while reading, because the situations were so uncomfortable and intense, and the author did a great job making everything feel very real.
I could not stop rooting for Savannah. You just want her to catch a break so badly, and the deeper it goes, the more invested you get because the things happening to her are genuinely shocking and unsettling in a way that gets under your skin. It’s messy, tense, and just stressful in the best thriller way.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that it felt a little longer than it needed to be. There were a few parts that could’ve been tightened up, but overall, I flew through it and couldn’t wait to see how it all played out.
If you like domestic thrillers that feel creepy, twisty, and make you feel personally involved, this one is definitely worth picking up.
I could not stop rooting for Savannah. You just want her to catch a break so badly, and the deeper it goes, the more invested you get because the things happening to her are genuinely shocking and unsettling in a way that gets under your skin. It’s messy, tense, and just stressful in the best thriller way.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that it felt a little longer than it needed to be. There were a few parts that could’ve been tightened up, but overall, I flew through it and couldn’t wait to see how it all played out.
If you like domestic thrillers that feel creepy, twisty, and make you feel personally involved, this one is definitely worth picking up.
February 13, 2026
Anytime a story can bring this many emotions out of me, I have to consider it a great read! These were some of the most frustrating characters I’ve ever read about but I mean that in the most addictive, intriguing way possible. I was hooked & invested!
The red flags were flagging from very early on in the story! Savannah was just mistaken manipulation for kindness, as Madison absolutely gave “I’m crazy and I’m taking your baby” vibes from the first time she was mentioned! What I didn’t expect of how many twists & turns it took to get to the root of what was really happening. & let’s just say that something sinister was evidently lurking, but it was waaayyy deeper than I could have ever imagined! Nobody and I do mean nobody could be trusted in their story!
The audiobook narration was absolutely amazing! I have officially added this author and narrator into my “dig more in their catalog” list! Overall very well written, engaging & kept my attention the entire time. Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy.
Publication 🗓️ : 02.10.26
The red flags were flagging from very early on in the story! Savannah was just mistaken manipulation for kindness, as Madison absolutely gave “I’m crazy and I’m taking your baby” vibes from the first time she was mentioned! What I didn’t expect of how many twists & turns it took to get to the root of what was really happening. & let’s just say that something sinister was evidently lurking, but it was waaayyy deeper than I could have ever imagined! Nobody and I do mean nobody could be trusted in their story!
The audiobook narration was absolutely amazing! I have officially added this author and narrator into my “dig more in their catalog” list! Overall very well written, engaging & kept my attention the entire time. Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy.
Publication 🗓️ : 02.10.26
February 7, 2026
The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut was exactly the kind of wildly entertaining, can’t look away domestic thriller I love most, the kind where you keep muttering “what the actual hell am I reading” while immediately turning the page. From the jump, the premise hooks you, but it’s the execution that really shines: fast paced, sharply written, and dripping with unease. I tore through this in just a couple sittings because the tension never lets up and the story constantly escalates in ways that feel both inevitable and completely bananas.
Savannah’s situation—unexpected pregnancy, messy emotional fallout, and an overly involved girlfriend who insists she “just wants to help”quickly slides from uncomfortable to deeply sinister. Madison is the kind of character you know is bad news but can’t stop watching, and the mounting sense of suspicion and dread is deliciously effective. The author does an excellent job of turning everyday interactions into something chilling, making even seemingly small moments feel loaded with threat.
This is a pure popcorn thriller in the best way: dark, sharp, and wildly fun, filled with awful characters you’ll absolutely despise, and that’s half the joy. If you love plot driven suspense, morally questionable people, and stories that feel like a modern mashup of Fatal Attraction and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, this one delivers. Easily one of the more entertaining and compulsively readable thrillers I’ve picked up lately.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It had a solid premise, but the execution didn’t work for me. What starts out feeling like it might build into something tense and unsettling quickly becomes predictable, with characters who grew more frustrating the longer the story went on.
As the plot unfolded, the decisions made by the characters felt increasingly unrealistic, which made it hard to stay invested. Instead of tightening the tension as it moved toward the climax, the story became more irritating than suspenseful.
By the end, I wasn’t caught up in the outcome—I was just ready for it to be over.
That said, the audiobook itself has a definite bright spot. Xe Sands continues to be one of my favorite narrators. Her performance adds polish and emotional clarity to the material, even when the story itself falls short.
As the plot unfolded, the decisions made by the characters felt increasingly unrealistic, which made it hard to stay invested. Instead of tightening the tension as it moved toward the climax, the story became more irritating than suspenseful.
By the end, I wasn’t caught up in the outcome—I was just ready for it to be over.
That said, the audiobook itself has a definite bright spot. Xe Sands continues to be one of my favorite narrators. Her performance adds polish and emotional clarity to the material, even when the story itself falls short.
March 30, 2026
Great premise for a thriller and a truly crazy story.
The main letdown here for me here was the writing. Keeping in mind this is a debut novel, the prose still felt a bit workmanlike and basic. I had some trouble with the characters as most of them seemed very flat, to the point that I sometimes forgot who minor but reappearing people were and had to stop and think to remind myself when they had last entered the story (and in some cases it was only a chapter or so back 🙄).
I don’t want to discourage any writer, and I’m certainly not saying don’t bother to read this, but I recommend keeping expectations in check. This is the kind of story you might expect from thrill writer Freida McFadden, but it doesn’t have McFadden’s polish and trademark electricity. Still, I hope this debut author keeps at her craft and continues to write because I do think she has potential.
The main letdown here for me here was the writing. Keeping in mind this is a debut novel, the prose still felt a bit workmanlike and basic. I had some trouble with the characters as most of them seemed very flat, to the point that I sometimes forgot who minor but reappearing people were and had to stop and think to remind myself when they had last entered the story (and in some cases it was only a chapter or so back 🙄).
I don’t want to discourage any writer, and I’m certainly not saying don’t bother to read this, but I recommend keeping expectations in check. This is the kind of story you might expect from thrill writer Freida McFadden, but it doesn’t have McFadden’s polish and trademark electricity. Still, I hope this debut author keeps at her craft and continues to write because I do think she has potential.
March 24, 2026
This was a great story and I had a hard time putting it down. I gave it 4 stars because I did not care for the way the lady read it but it was still worth it.
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!
February 15, 2026
THE BETTER MOTHER
By Jennifer van der Kleut
Narrated by Xe Sands
(3.5 stars, rounded down)
The narration by Xe Sands captured the emotions and nuances of this twisted story perfectly and truly enhanced the listening experience. This was my first time hearing a performance from her, and I was impressed by how well she brought the tension and unease to life.
Savannah ends up single and pregnant after a short fling with Max. Meanwhile, Max slides right back to his ex, Madison, as if nothing ever happened. Savannah decides she’ll raise the baby on her own—and if Max wants to co-parent, she’s open to it.
Then Madison starts posting all over social media about how happy she and Max are, dropping hints about the baby and presenting it as part of their perfect future. At first, it’s awkward. Then it’s uncomfortable. Then it’s just plain strange.
As secrets begin to unravel, Savannah’s mind—and mine—starts reeling. The tension builds steadily, and while the story is definitely over the top at times, I found it undeniably entertaining. I was anxious to see how it would all play out and ultimately answer the question: Who is the better mother?
A solid debut and I would definitely read future books by Jennifer van der Kleut.
By Jennifer van der Kleut
Narrated by Xe Sands
(3.5 stars, rounded down)
The narration by Xe Sands captured the emotions and nuances of this twisted story perfectly and truly enhanced the listening experience. This was my first time hearing a performance from her, and I was impressed by how well she brought the tension and unease to life.
Savannah ends up single and pregnant after a short fling with Max. Meanwhile, Max slides right back to his ex, Madison, as if nothing ever happened. Savannah decides she’ll raise the baby on her own—and if Max wants to co-parent, she’s open to it.
Then Madison starts posting all over social media about how happy she and Max are, dropping hints about the baby and presenting it as part of their perfect future. At first, it’s awkward. Then it’s uncomfortable. Then it’s just plain strange.
As secrets begin to unravel, Savannah’s mind—and mine—starts reeling. The tension builds steadily, and while the story is definitely over the top at times, I found it undeniably entertaining. I was anxious to see how it would all play out and ultimately answer the question: Who is the better mother?
A solid debut and I would definitely read future books by Jennifer van der Kleut.
February 7, 2026
The Better Mother by Jennifer van der Kleut. Thanks to @booksparks #WRC2026 for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Savannah is shocked when she becomes pregnant after a fling. When she tells him, he’s excited to be a father but has gotten back together with his girlfriend, Madison, and wants to arrange a co-parenting relationship. Madison is eager to help but her eagerness quickly becomes scary.
I absolutely devoured this one. I read it in one sitting in about three hours. It is one of the tensest books I’ve read and really caused my anxiety to spike! It’s just one horror after another, in an unbelievable but wildly entertaining story. Highly recommend this one!
Read if you like:
-Pregnancy tropes
-Stalking or obsession stories
-Tense plot lines
The Better Mother comes out 2/10.
Savannah is shocked when she becomes pregnant after a fling. When she tells him, he’s excited to be a father but has gotten back together with his girlfriend, Madison, and wants to arrange a co-parenting relationship. Madison is eager to help but her eagerness quickly becomes scary.
I absolutely devoured this one. I read it in one sitting in about three hours. It is one of the tensest books I’ve read and really caused my anxiety to spike! It’s just one horror after another, in an unbelievable but wildly entertaining story. Highly recommend this one!
Read if you like:
-Pregnancy tropes
-Stalking or obsession stories
-Tense plot lines
The Better Mother comes out 2/10.
February 23, 2026
These are the type of thrillers I really enjoy. I was hooked from the very beginning and I never wanted to put it down. I felt so bad for Savannah and there were moments where I felt I was going crazy right along with her, trying to figure out why Madison was tormenting her so much. There were definitely times when I thought Savannah could have put the pieces together a little quicker, but I actually ended up enjoying how naive she was at times, it made everything more entertaining and a little more chaotic. The ending was super fast paced, so much was going on and I really enjoyed how it all wrapped up. I will absolutely pick up something else from this author!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
March 11, 2026
LOVED this book🤗🤗!! This is an incredible debut for a very talented writer!! Smart, creative, inventive, and genuinely inspiring writing…
This story has everything that a great thriller would have and more. Twists, turns, bad guys, good guys, scary parts, funny parts, surprising moments, and overall just a damn good book that was fun to read and very hard to put down!!
I can’t wait to read what this writer publishes next 😊😊!! I look forward to reading it!!
Enjoy 😊😊!!
This story has everything that a great thriller would have and more. Twists, turns, bad guys, good guys, scary parts, funny parts, surprising moments, and overall just a damn good book that was fun to read and very hard to put down!!
I can’t wait to read what this writer publishes next 😊😊!! I look forward to reading it!!
Enjoy 😊😊!!
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.
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!!
February 22, 2026
Mind-blowing how this book made it through editing without a single person pointing out that no real person would ever do anything as dumb as every action the main character took. This was an infuriating read.
February 4, 2026
An entertaining debut popcorn thriller about how far someone will go to become a mother.
Told in three parts, and in two first-person POVs, the story had suspense building to a solid twist in part two. The second half of the novel was fast-paced and intense but definitely required suspension of belief.
An entertaining, captivating quick read that I read in just a little over a day.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Told in three parts, and in two first-person POVs, the story had suspense building to a solid twist in part two. The second half of the novel was fast-paced and intense but definitely required suspension of belief.
An entertaining, captivating quick read that I read in just a little over a day.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
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.
April 17, 2026
I don’t think I can accurately express the sheer RAGE I felt whilst reading this book. Gaslighting and manipulation at its very best! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because I needed JUSTICE.
After a brief fling with a stranger, Savannah discovers she’s pregnant. Alone and scared, she contacts the father to tell him and although he agrees to support her entirely, he also mentions that he has since gotten back together with his ex. He assures her that everything will be fine and suggests that they should all meet to discuss the future, now that they will be a part of each other lives forever.
That meeting goes well and his girlfriend seems oddly happy about the situation and super eager to help out, which seems sweet but also kind of intense? But soon her obsession with the pregnancy grows and she begins making all kinds of decisions behind the mother’s back.. AND IT GETS CRAZY. I love a good unhinged book but I couldn’t have guessed where this would go. My anxiety was through the roof and at times I just felt so uncomfortable - which I always take as signs of a great read!!!
There were a few loose ends that probably could’ve been tied but that did not take away from my reading experience. I believe this is a debut novel, but I’m already so excited to see what’s to come from this author! 4 stars!!!
After a brief fling with a stranger, Savannah discovers she’s pregnant. Alone and scared, she contacts the father to tell him and although he agrees to support her entirely, he also mentions that he has since gotten back together with his ex. He assures her that everything will be fine and suggests that they should all meet to discuss the future, now that they will be a part of each other lives forever.
That meeting goes well and his girlfriend seems oddly happy about the situation and super eager to help out, which seems sweet but also kind of intense? But soon her obsession with the pregnancy grows and she begins making all kinds of decisions behind the mother’s back.. AND IT GETS CRAZY. I love a good unhinged book but I couldn’t have guessed where this would go. My anxiety was through the roof and at times I just felt so uncomfortable - which I always take as signs of a great read!!!
There were a few loose ends that probably could’ve been tied but that did not take away from my reading experience. I believe this is a debut novel, but I’m already so excited to see what’s to come from this author! 4 stars!!!
February 19, 2026
4.5 Stars for this one! What a crazy book this was and man oh man I never have wanted to punch someone so much in a book than a character in this one. If you know, you know. I really enjoyed this one though despite the annoyance and anger I had for certain reasons when reading this one. The overall story was great, it was super fast paced and one you just couldn't put down.
We have Savannah who is our main character who ends up becoming pregnant by a random guy she met for a few drinks a few times and what do you know becomes pregnant like I said. She always wanted a baby so she knew she would keep it. She has to tell the father though. At first he is "shocked" but then is okay with it and this guy's girlfriend wants to be apart of this process too with the baby. Little did we know things start getting out of hand and Savannah wants nothing more then to get this woman to go away. Things start getting serious and story just keeps getting crazier and we get thrown with some twists that you wont expect!
Definitely a very great Mystery Thriller you will want to pick up!
We have Savannah who is our main character who ends up becoming pregnant by a random guy she met for a few drinks a few times and what do you know becomes pregnant like I said. She always wanted a baby so she knew she would keep it. She has to tell the father though. At first he is "shocked" but then is okay with it and this guy's girlfriend wants to be apart of this process too with the baby. Little did we know things start getting out of hand and Savannah wants nothing more then to get this woman to go away. Things start getting serious and story just keeps getting crazier and we get thrown with some twists that you wont expect!
Definitely a very great Mystery Thriller you will want to pick up!
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