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Mom Brain: A Novel
Can a luxury resort transform her life by giving her back control? Georgia Evans thinks it sounds too good to be true. Turns out her motherly intuition isn't wrong . . . In the vein of Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers, Mom Brain turns a discerning eye toward society's view on modern motherhood and reframes "mom brain" as a superpower.
Welcome to The Program, an immersive week-long experience set to the backdrop of the breathtaking island of O'ahu, where mothers in all stages of crisis can come to take control of their lives. It's not exactly the type of thing Georgia Evans--a busy working mother of two--would usually consider. However, still spiraling from a debacle that crowned her "internet's worst mom," she is desperate enough to try anything.
Once on the island, Georgia is quickly won over by the elegant (and somewhat enigmatic) founder of The Program, Cecilia Clements. Cecilia shows The Program's attendees how the biology of motherhood has imprisoned them. More importantly, she promises them freedom from that prison. Captivated by this possibility and the compelling science behind it, Georgia grows deeply involved with Cecilia's mission, ignoring any doubt that starts to creep in. That's the whole point of The Program, after all: you can't really trust a mom brain.
Welcome to The Program, an immersive week-long experience set to the backdrop of the breathtaking island of O'ahu, where mothers in all stages of crisis can come to take control of their lives. It's not exactly the type of thing Georgia Evans--a busy working mother of two--would usually consider. However, still spiraling from a debacle that crowned her "internet's worst mom," she is desperate enough to try anything.
Once on the island, Georgia is quickly won over by the elegant (and somewhat enigmatic) founder of The Program, Cecilia Clements. Cecilia shows The Program's attendees how the biology of motherhood has imprisoned them. More importantly, she promises them freedom from that prison. Captivated by this possibility and the compelling science behind it, Georgia grows deeply involved with Cecilia's mission, ignoring any doubt that starts to creep in. That's the whole point of The Program, after all: you can't really trust a mom brain.
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
43 people are currently reading
4812 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Hackett
2 books81 followersNicole lives with her husband and two kids in a very old house in the farmlands of northern Maryland, where she works as a biochemical patent agent. In addition to being an author, she is one of those annoying people who run on vacation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 26, 2026
This book is very different. Different than I expected, different than anything I’ve read. And to be honest I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it yet, though I’m going to attempt to share my thoughts anyway.
“A mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self sacrifice.” And this book explores what happens when that is turned off. You’d think that would be a big scary deal, but it’s not actually all that dramatic, which surprised me. But the story still is, in other ways.
As the book starts, Georgia is going through something. We don’t really know what, which seems to be by design, as Nicole Hackett’s writing often left me wondering if I missed something. I would reread or rewind, pretty sure I didn’t miss whatever it was, usually right before the missing detail is revealed 😂. I got better at trusting my memory as the book went on.
I found this story engaging and entertaining overall. It’s pretty character driven, taking a deep dive into the crevices of Georgia’s mind. To like this, you need to be ok with flawed main characters who don’t always make the best choices. It’s also part domestic fiction, part mystery, and a little bit of a thriller.
As always, Saskia Maarleveld delivers a wonderful audiobook performance full of emotion and intensity.
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the gifted copies.
“A mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self sacrifice.” And this book explores what happens when that is turned off. You’d think that would be a big scary deal, but it’s not actually all that dramatic, which surprised me. But the story still is, in other ways.
As the book starts, Georgia is going through something. We don’t really know what, which seems to be by design, as Nicole Hackett’s writing often left me wondering if I missed something. I would reread or rewind, pretty sure I didn’t miss whatever it was, usually right before the missing detail is revealed 😂. I got better at trusting my memory as the book went on.
I found this story engaging and entertaining overall. It’s pretty character driven, taking a deep dive into the crevices of Georgia’s mind. To like this, you need to be ok with flawed main characters who don’t always make the best choices. It’s also part domestic fiction, part mystery, and a little bit of a thriller.
As always, Saskia Maarleveld delivers a wonderful audiobook performance full of emotion and intensity.
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the gifted copies.
April 27, 2026
Mom Brain 🧠 Book Review 📖 thank you @booksparks @harpermusebooks for the gifted book!
Mom Brain
by Nicole Hackett
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Welcome to The Program, an immersive week-long experience set to the backdrop of the breathtaking island of O'ahu, where mothers in all stages of crisis can come to take control of their lives. It's not exactly the type of thing Georgia Evans--a busy working mother of two--would usually consider. However, still spiraling from a debacle that crowned her "internet's worst mom," she is desperate enough to try anything.
💭 My thoughts:
Unsettling, addictive, and impossible to look away from! Wow wow wow. I loved this one so much. I split my time between the physical book and the audiobook and you can’t go wrong with either. The narration was incredible and added an immersive layer to the story. It made everything feel more intense. I found myself not wanting to stop no matter which format I was in. This one completely surprised me with how gripping it was and it had this underlying tension that just kept building. As a mom, parts of it felt a little too real in the best and unsettling way. I also really loved the science aspect. It added a unique layer that I personally enjoyed. Between the secrets, the atmosphere, and that constant sense that something isn’t quite right, there was just no way I was going to be able to stop once I started. This gets all the stars from me!
What to expect👇🏽
💐Motherhood + identity
‼️Psychological tension
🤫Secrets + unraveling truths
🔬Science driven elements
Happy reading 📖
Mom Brain
by Nicole Hackett
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Welcome to The Program, an immersive week-long experience set to the backdrop of the breathtaking island of O'ahu, where mothers in all stages of crisis can come to take control of their lives. It's not exactly the type of thing Georgia Evans--a busy working mother of two--would usually consider. However, still spiraling from a debacle that crowned her "internet's worst mom," she is desperate enough to try anything.
💭 My thoughts:
Unsettling, addictive, and impossible to look away from! Wow wow wow. I loved this one so much. I split my time between the physical book and the audiobook and you can’t go wrong with either. The narration was incredible and added an immersive layer to the story. It made everything feel more intense. I found myself not wanting to stop no matter which format I was in. This one completely surprised me with how gripping it was and it had this underlying tension that just kept building. As a mom, parts of it felt a little too real in the best and unsettling way. I also really loved the science aspect. It added a unique layer that I personally enjoyed. Between the secrets, the atmosphere, and that constant sense that something isn’t quite right, there was just no way I was going to be able to stop once I started. This gets all the stars from me!
What to expect👇🏽
💐Motherhood + identity
‼️Psychological tension
🤫Secrets + unraveling truths
🔬Science driven elements
Happy reading 📖
April 26, 2026
2.75⭐️ This story was unfortunately a miss for me. Despite being able to relate to the main character, Georgia, as a mom, the story was slow and I really struggled to want to pick it up. Georgia is a burnt out mom who’s experiencing some drama at work, that has carried into her personal life, so she’s off to a retreat called “The Program,” that helps mothers who are struggling. But is all as it seems?
I could see where the author was trying to go - shining a spotlight on motherhood and the mental toll it can take, but also trying to make it a thriller/suspenseful? I don’t know if she was trying to do too much, but for me I just don’t think the execution was successful. Georgia’s time at “The Program” was really just weird. There was so much alluding to things, build up, and then we’d just move on. I thought this was in an effort to build up to something bigger, which, I guess? But it just felt anti-climactic because “twists” were incredibly predictable, and frankly unoriginal. I also feel like additions of Georgia’s “me too” storyline and the scare/diagnosis for Georgia’s daughter both felt completely random. Yes, as a mother/parent, that experience would be terrifying, but it just felt odd and disconnected. And while another important topic to discuss, the “me too” bit felt like it was just thrown in there to add more pages?
The commentary on “mom brain” was incredibly important, and when focused on that piece, I think there were effective parts (and some very quotable lines). I am not sure I’ll be recommending this one, but if you like a predictable “thriller” with a good bit of social commentary, this could be for you. It did also give me similar vibes to Nine Perfect Strangers, if you liked that? I could see it creating some great discussions in a book club setting! While this wasn’t a favorite of mine, I’m so grateful I got the chance to read it!
Edited to add: I also received and was able to listen to the audio version of this story, and I did actually enjoy listening to it more than reading it - the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, was great, she definitely gave Georgia more depth and relatability, and also made Cecilia even more unlikable and villain-like - Unfortunately, many of my same feelings/criticisms remain about the story itself. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. I give the audio 3⭐️
Thank you, so much, to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the eARC, and to Harper Muse Audio for the ALC of Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett!
I could see where the author was trying to go - shining a spotlight on motherhood and the mental toll it can take, but also trying to make it a thriller/suspenseful? I don’t know if she was trying to do too much, but for me I just don’t think the execution was successful. Georgia’s time at “The Program” was really just weird. There was so much alluding to things, build up, and then we’d just move on. I thought this was in an effort to build up to something bigger, which, I guess? But it just felt anti-climactic because “twists” were incredibly predictable, and frankly unoriginal. I also feel like additions of Georgia’s “me too” storyline and the scare/diagnosis for Georgia’s daughter both felt completely random. Yes, as a mother/parent, that experience would be terrifying, but it just felt odd and disconnected. And while another important topic to discuss, the “me too” bit felt like it was just thrown in there to add more pages?
The commentary on “mom brain” was incredibly important, and when focused on that piece, I think there were effective parts (and some very quotable lines). I am not sure I’ll be recommending this one, but if you like a predictable “thriller” with a good bit of social commentary, this could be for you. It did also give me similar vibes to Nine Perfect Strangers, if you liked that? I could see it creating some great discussions in a book club setting! While this wasn’t a favorite of mine, I’m so grateful I got the chance to read it!
Edited to add: I also received and was able to listen to the audio version of this story, and I did actually enjoy listening to it more than reading it - the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, was great, she definitely gave Georgia more depth and relatability, and also made Cecilia even more unlikable and villain-like - Unfortunately, many of my same feelings/criticisms remain about the story itself. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. I give the audio 3⭐️
Thank you, so much, to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the eARC, and to Harper Muse Audio for the ALC of Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett!
May 1, 2026
Mom brain: a real or temporary phenomenon involving memory lapses,brain fog and reduced focus often during pregnancy and postpartum.
I will be the first to admit I suffer from some serious mom brain moments. And I thought that would be what the story focused on but it also seemed to also focus on "mom brain" in the sense that maybe mom brains are programmed/ wired differently.
Georgia, a mother of two goes to a retreat in Oahu that specializes in helping mothers regain control through technology and science. She wants to fix her mom brain after a recent public scandal but things get pretty crazy quickly and things aren't exactly as they seem.
It really shows just how far a mother would go to improve herself. It's no secret the pressure that is put on modern mothers.
This book was as much speculative fiction as it was satire. Is mom brain a challenge or a superpower? At this point, I'm not so sure.
I will be the first to admit I suffer from some serious mom brain moments. And I thought that would be what the story focused on but it also seemed to also focus on "mom brain" in the sense that maybe mom brains are programmed/ wired differently.
Georgia, a mother of two goes to a retreat in Oahu that specializes in helping mothers regain control through technology and science. She wants to fix her mom brain after a recent public scandal but things get pretty crazy quickly and things aren't exactly as they seem.
It really shows just how far a mother would go to improve herself. It's no secret the pressure that is put on modern mothers.
This book was as much speculative fiction as it was satire. Is mom brain a challenge or a superpower? At this point, I'm not so sure.
April 27, 2026
I wanted to like this one because the premise had a lot of potential, but the execution didn’t quite come together for me. Hackett clearly wanted to explore the pressures placed on mothers and the expectations society has for women once they have children, but the message felt heavy-handed rather than insightful. A lot of the characters felt flat, so I never fully connected with anyone or cared much about what happened.
What bothered me most aside from the lack of development in every corner of it was the book’s apparent assumption that maternal instinct is some gender based built-in biological certainty. That idea is presented like fact, when in reality it’s far more complicated and definitely not something universally proven or experienced. Or that’s the impression I got.
The pacing was slow for most of the book, then the ending suddenly became chaotic and over-the-top. Overall, I appreciated what it was trying to say, but it never fully developed its ideas in a believable or compelling way. Not for me, but others may connect with it more.
Thank you NetGalley/harper collins for the audio copy - I liked the readers voice a lot.
What bothered me most aside from the lack of development in every corner of it was the book’s apparent assumption that maternal instinct is some gender based built-in biological certainty. That idea is presented like fact, when in reality it’s far more complicated and definitely not something universally proven or experienced. Or that’s the impression I got.
The pacing was slow for most of the book, then the ending suddenly became chaotic and over-the-top. Overall, I appreciated what it was trying to say, but it never fully developed its ideas in a believable or compelling way. Not for me, but others may connect with it more.
Thank you NetGalley/harper collins for the audio copy - I liked the readers voice a lot.
April 16, 2026
"No one dies on an ordinary Thursday.
This is Georgia's first irrational thought."
Georgia is the mother of a toddler and an infant and she is a patent law lawyer. She has undergone some kind of public scandal, and as a result, her law firm is sending to her a retreat/seminar called The Program in Hawaii. The goal of the program is to essentially rewire "mom brains".
"'And what we've learned, thanks in part to mothers such as Rat Mother Number two, is that a mother's brain is as predictable as it is complex.' A pause, perhaps for theatrical effect, before he tells them, 'A mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self-sacrifice.'"
I lovedddd Hackett's first book, The Perfect Ones, so I was excited to get my hands on this--especially because it is about motherhood. And honestly it was super interesting. Because it's marketed as a thriller we know something is amiss from the beginning, and I was waiting with baited breath for the other shoe to drop. I was suspicious of every character--even Georgia our fmc. In the end, I never could have predicted what happened and there is scene near the end that I will replaying for a long time to come. Overall this was very atmospheric and cinematic and I could easily see this playing out on a big screen. I do wish there had been less build-up and we had gotten to the thrills sooner, but this worked well for me and Hackett is now an autobuy author!
This is Georgia's first irrational thought."
Georgia is the mother of a toddler and an infant and she is a patent law lawyer. She has undergone some kind of public scandal, and as a result, her law firm is sending to her a retreat/seminar called The Program in Hawaii. The goal of the program is to essentially rewire "mom brains".
"'And what we've learned, thanks in part to mothers such as Rat Mother Number two, is that a mother's brain is as predictable as it is complex.' A pause, perhaps for theatrical effect, before he tells them, 'A mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self-sacrifice.'"
I lovedddd Hackett's first book, The Perfect Ones, so I was excited to get my hands on this--especially because it is about motherhood. And honestly it was super interesting. Because it's marketed as a thriller we know something is amiss from the beginning, and I was waiting with baited breath for the other shoe to drop. I was suspicious of every character--even Georgia our fmc. In the end, I never could have predicted what happened and there is scene near the end that I will replaying for a long time to come. Overall this was very atmospheric and cinematic and I could easily see this playing out on a big screen. I do wish there had been less build-up and we had gotten to the thrills sooner, but this worked well for me and Hackett is now an autobuy author!
April 24, 2026
This gave off culty brain horror creepy sci-fi vibes. And it was weird and fun and creative in a a new way. I really liked how it made me think of brains, hormones, and free will in a completely different way.
Saskia Maarleveld narrates, which as usual, enhances the experience.
My one criticism is that I think there was a level of incongruence with the supposed intelligence level of the main female character and her actual behavior.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for providing the ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
Saskia Maarleveld narrates, which as usual, enhances the experience.
My one criticism is that I think there was a level of incongruence with the supposed intelligence level of the main female character and her actual behavior.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for providing the ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
April 25, 2026
I genuinely still don't know what the point of that book was. I'm just... confused. The intrigue itself isn't particularly original: a bunch of women pay for a week of relaxation with other mothers and end up in a cult run by a sociopathic scientist. Then the main character goes back to her normal life. I thought the mom thing was going to make it worth it: after all "mom brain" is a real thing. Or at least, I thought I would like the main character personality. I was expecting something moving, inventive, rebellious. Something that really interrogate how women experience motherhood today, you know. But no... This felt very (white) American and incoherent. I guess it was supposed to be a suspenseful kind of thriller but at no point did it feel that way. I frowned and rolled my eyes multiple times because of how slow it was. I found the story boring, same for the internal monologue of Georgia. Sometimes her thoughts/actions were just... stupid. Really. The characters interactions were unrealistic and lame, they don't get alarmed at all when being used for a giant experiment (it's obvious but Georgia and her PhD only realizes it at the end). They don't ask questions. How come their children look so real in the VR, even small behaviors or gestures, if Cecilia has never met them? What kind of technology is this? Governmental? Isn't it illegal? A lot of questions are unanswered. Everyone just follows, complaining once or twice without thinking further. Even when [spoilers!] two participants disappear, nobody cares. We are never told how Cecelia's program got famous, how she got rich to the point of owning a whole campus, or why the hell she would let the girls get in contact with the outside (considering what she's doing to them). Seriously, this doesn't make mothers justice at all, let alone women.
April 18, 2026
Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett was a bit of a crazy ride. Georgia Evans is a mom of two and dealing with a fall out at work. They have decided it would be best to enter The Program on the island of Oahu. Sounds like a fine type of place to take a week and reflect on her life. However, as the week unfolds she is grouped with strange people, asked to partake in rituals in order to become a better mother. As each day passes guests begin to disappear and she is unsure if she feels better or worse.
There were so many things about motherhood in the book that were relatable, all the directions one is pulled, how do we know if we are making the right choices, and when to ask for help.
This book publishes on April 21, 2026, grab a copy from your favorite bookseller.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
There were so many things about motherhood in the book that were relatable, all the directions one is pulled, how do we know if we are making the right choices, and when to ask for help.
This book publishes on April 21, 2026, grab a copy from your favorite bookseller.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2026
Mom Brain promises a thriller that delves into the mental load that a lot of women deal with as parents.
I thought the concept was so interesting, the chance to “turn off” your brain and your obsessive worries - that nagging feeling of never being a “good enough” mom.
Unfortunately for a thriller, I didn’t find there to be enough driving force. It’s a decent story but wasn’t very gripping. I don’t think we also got enough of an explanation of The Program and I was left feeling like the story wasn’t over.
It was ok but I honestly just felt like there wasn’t much of a point. I wanted to leave this book feeling somewhat cathartic but just feel a little perplexed.
2.5 stars rounded up because it was at least an easy read.
Thank you booksparks for a free copy of this book to review.
I thought the concept was so interesting, the chance to “turn off” your brain and your obsessive worries - that nagging feeling of never being a “good enough” mom.
Unfortunately for a thriller, I didn’t find there to be enough driving force. It’s a decent story but wasn’t very gripping. I don’t think we also got enough of an explanation of The Program and I was left feeling like the story wasn’t over.
It was ok but I honestly just felt like there wasn’t much of a point. I wanted to leave this book feeling somewhat cathartic but just feel a little perplexed.
2.5 stars rounded up because it was at least an easy read.
Thank you booksparks for a free copy of this book to review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 Stars Rounded up to 3
This convoluted storyline left me with more questions than answers.
Georgia Evans has become notorious and an embarrassment to her company through the publication of an interview that is revealed to be a lie. Under this cloud of shame, she also is being stalked by an unknown person and harassed in public. It is determined by her firm that she participate in a retreat run by a client on one of the Hawaiian Islands, which requires her leaving her husband and young children at home. While the details of the retreat are obscure, the purpose of “The Program” is related to deconditioning the “mom brain.” The condition is reportedly due to physiological changes in the brain due to pregnancy and motherhood – affecting a woman’s ability to think clearly and logically.
The Program is the creation of Cecelia Clements, a neuroscientist. Clements comes across as a shadowy figure with questionable motives. The retreat unfolds, day by day, with activities driven by technology and pharmaceuticals. Most of the descriptions were deeply disturbing as the women are exposed to a horrific video of animal cruelty and simulated experiences to confront their worst fears involving their children.
Overall, I did not find this an illuminating or enjoyable experience. None of the characters were appealing. I found it hard to imagine that Georgia, a woman who holds a PhD in Pharmacology and a doctorate in Jurisprudence, could be so naive in her participation as well as her poorly executed investigative escapades. Will, her husband, seems weak in his “do what you think is best” approach to all Georgia’s concerns. Georgia’s best friend has stayed silent in the face of her public humiliation. Finally, Cecelia comes across as a sociopath disguised as a respectable scientist. My final issue with the novel is that key elements of The Program are muddled leaving me wondering about the author’s intention in exploring this topic.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
This convoluted storyline left me with more questions than answers.
Georgia Evans has become notorious and an embarrassment to her company through the publication of an interview that is revealed to be a lie. Under this cloud of shame, she also is being stalked by an unknown person and harassed in public. It is determined by her firm that she participate in a retreat run by a client on one of the Hawaiian Islands, which requires her leaving her husband and young children at home. While the details of the retreat are obscure, the purpose of “The Program” is related to deconditioning the “mom brain.” The condition is reportedly due to physiological changes in the brain due to pregnancy and motherhood – affecting a woman’s ability to think clearly and logically.
The Program is the creation of Cecelia Clements, a neuroscientist. Clements comes across as a shadowy figure with questionable motives. The retreat unfolds, day by day, with activities driven by technology and pharmaceuticals. Most of the descriptions were deeply disturbing as the women are exposed to a horrific video of animal cruelty and simulated experiences to confront their worst fears involving their children.
Overall, I did not find this an illuminating or enjoyable experience. None of the characters were appealing. I found it hard to imagine that Georgia, a woman who holds a PhD in Pharmacology and a doctorate in Jurisprudence, could be so naive in her participation as well as her poorly executed investigative escapades. Will, her husband, seems weak in his “do what you think is best” approach to all Georgia’s concerns. Georgia’s best friend has stayed silent in the face of her public humiliation. Finally, Cecelia comes across as a sociopath disguised as a respectable scientist. My final issue with the novel is that key elements of The Program are muddled leaving me wondering about the author’s intention in exploring this topic.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
April 22, 2026
This was an entertaining novel that was relatively easy to read and get into, but I didn’t feel much once I finished it.
I liked the interesting synopsis— a woman named Georgia is in a bit of a precarious situation with her job and must go to a retreat in Hawaii to partake in ‘The Program’ in order to help rewire her ‘mom brain’ (which is a real thing, by the way) if she wishes to keep her job. However, not everything is as it seems at this lush resort. Mom Brain kept me entertained throughout, and I enjoyed both the writing style and pacing. ‘The Program’ Georgia goes to has weird Gwyneth-Paltrow-goop-culty-vibes from the very start, and I appreciate that the book committed to the bit with this particular aspect. The bits of psychology and neuroscience were interesting to read as well, though I can’t make any claims about their validity.
However, I found that the plot fell a bit flat for me. This is a book I would describe as having a psychological thriller skeleton with a literary fiction body, which is interesting, but perhaps made the story get in its own way. The twists you typically get in a thriller were heavily foreshadowed to the point that while I did not predict the exact way things unfolded, when I got to the reveal, my reaction was “oh, ok”. I think this may be because the novel spends so long building up to this big reveal, only for it to be very unoriginal, making it feel anticlimatic. There were also things that were alluded to that ended up being glossed over in a way that left me befuddled.
Ultimately, I think this was something I liked reading in the moment, but had no real impression of once finished. I think it was trying to be somewhat thought-provoking, but the message just didn’t land. Still, it was entertaining enough, and I think if you want a more predictable book-club-ready lite thriller, then you may appreciate this.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and HarperMuse in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I liked the interesting synopsis— a woman named Georgia is in a bit of a precarious situation with her job and must go to a retreat in Hawaii to partake in ‘The Program’ in order to help rewire her ‘mom brain’ (which is a real thing, by the way) if she wishes to keep her job. However, not everything is as it seems at this lush resort. Mom Brain kept me entertained throughout, and I enjoyed both the writing style and pacing. ‘The Program’ Georgia goes to has weird Gwyneth-Paltrow-goop-culty-vibes from the very start, and I appreciate that the book committed to the bit with this particular aspect. The bits of psychology and neuroscience were interesting to read as well, though I can’t make any claims about their validity.
However, I found that the plot fell a bit flat for me. This is a book I would describe as having a psychological thriller skeleton with a literary fiction body, which is interesting, but perhaps made the story get in its own way. The twists you typically get in a thriller were heavily foreshadowed to the point that while I did not predict the exact way things unfolded, when I got to the reveal, my reaction was “oh, ok”. I think this may be because the novel spends so long building up to this big reveal, only for it to be very unoriginal, making it feel anticlimatic. There were also things that were alluded to that ended up being glossed over in a way that left me befuddled.
Ultimately, I think this was something I liked reading in the moment, but had no real impression of once finished. I think it was trying to be somewhat thought-provoking, but the message just didn’t land. Still, it was entertaining enough, and I think if you want a more predictable book-club-ready lite thriller, then you may appreciate this.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and HarperMuse in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 1, 2026
3.5⭐️
Mom Brain is a unique examination of how decision making changes after becoming a mother. It is twisty and suspenseful with a cult-like atmosphere that drew me right in. It takes place partially in Hawaii following Georgia, a mother and participant in The Program, an immersive, week-long experience set in O’ahu. As the plot progresses, it becomes increasingly unsettling, leaning in favor of raising questions rather than providing answers. Red flags are everywhere. As a mother, I found it to hit unexpectedly close to home and this led me to feel shaken and unmoored. It takes a powerful plot to sweep the reader off their feet in such a way. Our main character doesn’t see herself for who she is, which is such a common theme in motherhood. So often, we doubt and question ourselves to death and Mom Brain showcased this in a way I’ve never seen before. It looked at that messiness in a new light and, somehow, despite all the shock value, left me feeling more secure and capable in my own mothering skills. For a work of fiction, I still experienced the kind of internal resolution one may find in the pages of a self-help book: it’s okay to rely on my own brain, my own morals, my own thoughts and to lean on my own ‘mom brain.’ This entire novel is built on a fascinating concept and Nicole Hackett navigated it beautifully.
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC and, wow, Saskia Maarleveld is such a talented narrator. Her vocal range had me questioning, time and time again, if this could possibly be the work of a single person. She was able to embody each character in a way that left me with no question of who was speaking, even when it wasn’t yet clear from the text. I will be keeping my eye on other books she narrates, because it was quite an experience.
Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Mom Brain is a unique examination of how decision making changes after becoming a mother. It is twisty and suspenseful with a cult-like atmosphere that drew me right in. It takes place partially in Hawaii following Georgia, a mother and participant in The Program, an immersive, week-long experience set in O’ahu. As the plot progresses, it becomes increasingly unsettling, leaning in favor of raising questions rather than providing answers. Red flags are everywhere. As a mother, I found it to hit unexpectedly close to home and this led me to feel shaken and unmoored. It takes a powerful plot to sweep the reader off their feet in such a way. Our main character doesn’t see herself for who she is, which is such a common theme in motherhood. So often, we doubt and question ourselves to death and Mom Brain showcased this in a way I’ve never seen before. It looked at that messiness in a new light and, somehow, despite all the shock value, left me feeling more secure and capable in my own mothering skills. For a work of fiction, I still experienced the kind of internal resolution one may find in the pages of a self-help book: it’s okay to rely on my own brain, my own morals, my own thoughts and to lean on my own ‘mom brain.’ This entire novel is built on a fascinating concept and Nicole Hackett navigated it beautifully.
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC and, wow, Saskia Maarleveld is such a talented narrator. Her vocal range had me questioning, time and time again, if this could possibly be the work of a single person. She was able to embody each character in a way that left me with no question of who was speaking, even when it wasn’t yet clear from the text. I will be keeping my eye on other books she narrates, because it was quite an experience.
Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 24, 2026
Thank you to HarperMuse Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review!
After seeing this book posted on Instagram by HarperMuse on pub day (April 21), I became intrigued and obsessed with getting my hands on this book. I absolutely love an unhinged read with wild energy. This book absolutely delivers! I loved Nine Perfect Strangers and this was somewhat similar with mothers all gathering in Hawai'i for a retreat called The Program to address their shortcomings and their "mom brain." As expected, The Program gets weird and ethically questionable. There are experiments with rats, magic mushrooms, and virtual reality challenges which are frighteningly realistic.
I binged this book as a buddy read with another unhinged-book-loving friend and we had a blast reading it together, digesting it in real time. We both binged it in less than two days! This book would make an EXCELLENT book club read, as there is so much to unpack.
Some of my favorite parts!:
"Mothers today are equipped with more tools and information than any other time in history and yet, modern motherhood leaves women feeling more drained than ever before. Mothers today are challenged by endless expectations and disproportionate burdens. To put it simply: mother's today are drowning. And despite this, they are one of the least supported groups."
"Mothers undergo countless profound changes throughout their journey into parenthood but perhaps none is as confounding as their willingness to disregard themselves when it comes to their children. It's antithetical to the most basic rules of evolution as we understand them. A puzzle to which only mothers hold the key...a mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self-sacrifice"
Creative writing and great premise! Recommend!
After seeing this book posted on Instagram by HarperMuse on pub day (April 21), I became intrigued and obsessed with getting my hands on this book. I absolutely love an unhinged read with wild energy. This book absolutely delivers! I loved Nine Perfect Strangers and this was somewhat similar with mothers all gathering in Hawai'i for a retreat called The Program to address their shortcomings and their "mom brain." As expected, The Program gets weird and ethically questionable. There are experiments with rats, magic mushrooms, and virtual reality challenges which are frighteningly realistic.
I binged this book as a buddy read with another unhinged-book-loving friend and we had a blast reading it together, digesting it in real time. We both binged it in less than two days! This book would make an EXCELLENT book club read, as there is so much to unpack.
Some of my favorite parts!:
"Mothers today are equipped with more tools and information than any other time in history and yet, modern motherhood leaves women feeling more drained than ever before. Mothers today are challenged by endless expectations and disproportionate burdens. To put it simply: mother's today are drowning. And despite this, they are one of the least supported groups."
"Mothers undergo countless profound changes throughout their journey into parenthood but perhaps none is as confounding as their willingness to disregard themselves when it comes to their children. It's antithetical to the most basic rules of evolution as we understand them. A puzzle to which only mothers hold the key...a mom brain is simply the neurological hardwiring for self-sacrifice"
Creative writing and great premise! Recommend!
April 5, 2026
After a viral news article makes Georgia Evans famous in all the worst ways, she goes to a week-long retreat for moms called The Program. It’s supposed to help her fix her mom brain. Or something like that?
This book was really confusing to me. I never fully understood the main character’s motivation for going to The Program. Trying to figure that out made me keep reading. The answer was less-than-satisfying, and still made no sense. If you want to understand the meaning behind the bras, it’s never fully clear. (At least it wasn’t to me.)
However, the story takes a wild turn in part 3, that made me go, “What the what??” The last several chapters kept me awake late into the night to get to the end.
Mom Brain wasn’t quite what I expected. I found myself wondering if the author has children, and if so, does she resent them as much as this character seemed to? As a mom, her actions made no sense to me, and I could not follow the reasoning. The best part of the book was her husband, a faithful, steady presence when Georgia seemed to be going off the rails.
Even though I had some negative thoughts and opinions about this book, I could not stop reading it. I had to get to the end to know the truth. Overall, the ending was satisfying.
There is some language in this book, which surprised me, since it does come from a “Christian” publishing house. Nothing crazy, though.
If you like reading a book with twisted characters that keep you guessing, you’ll probably like this. If you’ve ever been called a helicopter mom, you might like this. If you’ve ever wished you could jet away from your kids for a week to reprogram your brain…this book is definitely for you!
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book was really confusing to me. I never fully understood the main character’s motivation for going to The Program. Trying to figure that out made me keep reading. The answer was less-than-satisfying, and still made no sense. If you want to understand the meaning behind the bras, it’s never fully clear. (At least it wasn’t to me.)
However, the story takes a wild turn in part 3, that made me go, “What the what??” The last several chapters kept me awake late into the night to get to the end.
Mom Brain wasn’t quite what I expected. I found myself wondering if the author has children, and if so, does she resent them as much as this character seemed to? As a mom, her actions made no sense to me, and I could not follow the reasoning. The best part of the book was her husband, a faithful, steady presence when Georgia seemed to be going off the rails.
Even though I had some negative thoughts and opinions about this book, I could not stop reading it. I had to get to the end to know the truth. Overall, the ending was satisfying.
There is some language in this book, which surprised me, since it does come from a “Christian” publishing house. Nothing crazy, though.
If you like reading a book with twisted characters that keep you guessing, you’ll probably like this. If you’ve ever been called a helicopter mom, you might like this. If you’ve ever wished you could jet away from your kids for a week to reprogram your brain…this book is definitely for you!
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 24, 2026
I’m all over anything mombie, Goop, wellness-coded, so I was thrilled to snap this one up on NetGalley!
Premise - Georgia Evans, busy mom of two, is at her breaking point. Enter: the Program, a week-long retreat in O'ahu, where mothers in crisis convene to reassume control of their lives.
Once on the island, Georgia is quickly charmed by the Program's founder, Cecilia Clements. Cecilia claims to have a scientific solution for mom brain and all associated ailments. Georgia knows it sounds too good to be true, but why believe in yourself when you could f*ck around and find out instead?
I really enjoyed the bits on Hawaii at the wellness resort, though I expected this to get a lot more LORD OF THE FLIES than it did, so heads up: this isn’t that story. This one is surprisingly grounded given its topic.
I felt a little distanced from Georgia as a reader and hoped to connect more than I did, but she’s written very realistically — not particularly bad, nor particularly good, just a standard high performance mom floundering.
Georgia’s return home post retreat caught me by surprise only because I had NINE PERFECT STRANGERS expectations, whereas in this tale we spend a good bit of time back in Georgia’s everyday.
Overall, this book is best enjoyed if you go in without too many preset expectations and understanding it’s more literary than horror or thriller. Once I opened myself up to receiving the story as it is, it’s a really thoughtful exploration of the mom struggle.
For readers of:
💊THE GUILT PILL by Saumya Dave
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a great job with Georgia, making it an easy listen.
Thanks, NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Georgia Evans, busy mom of two, is at her breaking point. Enter: the Program, a week-long retreat in O'ahu, where mothers in crisis convene to reassume control of their lives.
Once on the island, Georgia is quickly charmed by the Program's founder, Cecilia Clements. Cecilia claims to have a scientific solution for mom brain and all associated ailments. Georgia knows it sounds too good to be true, but why believe in yourself when you could f*ck around and find out instead?
I really enjoyed the bits on Hawaii at the wellness resort, though I expected this to get a lot more LORD OF THE FLIES than it did, so heads up: this isn’t that story. This one is surprisingly grounded given its topic.
I felt a little distanced from Georgia as a reader and hoped to connect more than I did, but she’s written very realistically — not particularly bad, nor particularly good, just a standard high performance mom floundering.
Georgia’s return home post retreat caught me by surprise only because I had NINE PERFECT STRANGERS expectations, whereas in this tale we spend a good bit of time back in Georgia’s everyday.
Overall, this book is best enjoyed if you go in without too many preset expectations and understanding it’s more literary than horror or thriller. Once I opened myself up to receiving the story as it is, it’s a really thoughtful exploration of the mom struggle.
For readers of:
💊THE GUILT PILL by Saumya Dave
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a great job with Georgia, making it an easy listen.
Thanks, NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2026
I heard about this book and immediately added it to my must read upon release.
“Mom Brain” is a novel that explores what becoming a mom does to a woman’s brain, and answers the question: can anything be done about it?
Georgia Evans decides to attend a luxury retreat hosted in Hawaii that was created to help moms overcome the dreaded “mom brain”. But when strange things happen and Georgia starts to question if she needs this, the retreat seems to take a more sinister turn.
My favorite aspect of this novel was the exploration of this idea of “mom brain” and whether or not it needs “fixed”. A woman’s brain permanently changes when she becomes a mom, because it is biologically designed to do so. This is not a flaw, but rather a way for her to better care for her child. So if it is biology, why does society try so hard to shame women for their “mom brain” and offer solutions to fix it? This novel really highlights a potential cautionary tale of one unintended side effect if we try to tamper with biology. Spoiler alert: science will always win.
Georgia’s story of how she ended up on this retreat was a little weird to me, and as the full picture was painted I was all the more confused. I understand and empathize with what happened, but it just felt like a far-fetched reason to make her character end up at the retreat. I think the story could have had the same impact if Georgia’s character just wanted to go and signed up.
There was a scene involving rats that I found very difficult to read. Being a mom and having to watch rat moms be tested really upset me.
This is definitely a very interesting concept of a story, and I recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about what motherhood can do to a woman.
“Mom Brain” is a novel that explores what becoming a mom does to a woman’s brain, and answers the question: can anything be done about it?
Georgia Evans decides to attend a luxury retreat hosted in Hawaii that was created to help moms overcome the dreaded “mom brain”. But when strange things happen and Georgia starts to question if she needs this, the retreat seems to take a more sinister turn.
My favorite aspect of this novel was the exploration of this idea of “mom brain” and whether or not it needs “fixed”. A woman’s brain permanently changes when she becomes a mom, because it is biologically designed to do so. This is not a flaw, but rather a way for her to better care for her child. So if it is biology, why does society try so hard to shame women for their “mom brain” and offer solutions to fix it? This novel really highlights a potential cautionary tale of one unintended side effect if we try to tamper with biology. Spoiler alert: science will always win.
Georgia’s story of how she ended up on this retreat was a little weird to me, and as the full picture was painted I was all the more confused. I understand and empathize with what happened, but it just felt like a far-fetched reason to make her character end up at the retreat. I think the story could have had the same impact if Georgia’s character just wanted to go and signed up.
There was a scene involving rats that I found very difficult to read. Being a mom and having to watch rat moms be tested really upset me.
This is definitely a very interesting concept of a story, and I recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about what motherhood can do to a woman.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'Mothers...undergo countless profound changes throughout their journey into parenthood, but perhaps none as confounding as their willingness to disregard themselves when it comes to their children'.
Georgia's a busy working mother with two young daughters. Despite always being in a state of anxiety, trying to get things right as both a mother and an employee, an incident at work has her employer packing her off to attend The Program for a week. The Program is marketed as a revolution for mothers, 'We help mothers take back control of their lives with a ground breaking curriculum...'. Surely this must be the easiest way to get back into the company's good books and get her life back on track. However, as the week goes on and the treatments become more 'alternative', Georgia begins to wonder just what The Program is really trying to achieve.
I liked this book, and I wanted to love it, as the premise of wanting to control your ‘mom brain’ and create freedom of choice rather than often being wracked with the guilt and paranoia over making the right decisions, resonates. I also loved the chilling, thrilling vibe of The Program, and it definitely gave off Liane Moriarty, 'Nine Perfect Strangers' vibes. But ultimately, I felt this story couldn’t decide what it was: psychological thriller, character growth, or simply a satirical look at what so many mothers with young children feel like, resulting in the pace oscillating accordingly.
Overall, this is a good read with passages that will resonate with any mother and our desire to be appreciated for our 'mom brains' even if they can lead us towards being overwrought at times, and the thriller premise is a good one too.
'The goal here is not to get rid of motherhood...No. Our mission, the point...is freedom. Its freedom of choice...it allows mothers to opt out of what does not serve them'.
Georgia's a busy working mother with two young daughters. Despite always being in a state of anxiety, trying to get things right as both a mother and an employee, an incident at work has her employer packing her off to attend The Program for a week. The Program is marketed as a revolution for mothers, 'We help mothers take back control of their lives with a ground breaking curriculum...'. Surely this must be the easiest way to get back into the company's good books and get her life back on track. However, as the week goes on and the treatments become more 'alternative', Georgia begins to wonder just what The Program is really trying to achieve.
I liked this book, and I wanted to love it, as the premise of wanting to control your ‘mom brain’ and create freedom of choice rather than often being wracked with the guilt and paranoia over making the right decisions, resonates. I also loved the chilling, thrilling vibe of The Program, and it definitely gave off Liane Moriarty, 'Nine Perfect Strangers' vibes. But ultimately, I felt this story couldn’t decide what it was: psychological thriller, character growth, or simply a satirical look at what so many mothers with young children feel like, resulting in the pace oscillating accordingly.
Overall, this is a good read with passages that will resonate with any mother and our desire to be appreciated for our 'mom brains' even if they can lead us towards being overwrought at times, and the thriller premise is a good one too.
'The goal here is not to get rid of motherhood...No. Our mission, the point...is freedom. Its freedom of choice...it allows mothers to opt out of what does not serve them'.
May 5, 2026
I loved this! It is a little weird, but it's a compelling, intriguing, and very well-written story.
Georgia has a little mishap at work and as a consequence gets sent to a luxe intervention program in Hawaii to rewire her "mom brain". There she meets other moms also undergoing this rewiring, that supposedly will make them more relaxed and less unable to think clearly regarding their children. There's a dark and ominous undertone to the resort and experience, the director is creepy and superior, and we know something is amiss. This thriller-esque vibe slowly builds over the course of the story. What I enjoyed most was the juxtaposition of this eerie sort of vibe with the humor of the writing. Georgia is written with a realness and honesty, and her inner monologue made me laugh out loud many times.
I'm not really sure what to make of the author's take on motherhood, but I took from the story the commentary that though motherhood may make us a little whacky, it happens with good cause. I did appreciate that amidst this humorous thriller there was also something of a thoughtful theme and a bunch of unique ideas. The story does prompt a little thought and I appreciated the social commentary. I will absolutely look out for more fiction by this author in the future.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She is always phenomenal but this has to be one of her best performances. She portrayed the various characters with beautiful distinction as well as great depth.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advanced listener copy of this book.
Georgia has a little mishap at work and as a consequence gets sent to a luxe intervention program in Hawaii to rewire her "mom brain". There she meets other moms also undergoing this rewiring, that supposedly will make them more relaxed and less unable to think clearly regarding their children. There's a dark and ominous undertone to the resort and experience, the director is creepy and superior, and we know something is amiss. This thriller-esque vibe slowly builds over the course of the story. What I enjoyed most was the juxtaposition of this eerie sort of vibe with the humor of the writing. Georgia is written with a realness and honesty, and her inner monologue made me laugh out loud many times.
I'm not really sure what to make of the author's take on motherhood, but I took from the story the commentary that though motherhood may make us a little whacky, it happens with good cause. I did appreciate that amidst this humorous thriller there was also something of a thoughtful theme and a bunch of unique ideas. The story does prompt a little thought and I appreciated the social commentary. I will absolutely look out for more fiction by this author in the future.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She is always phenomenal but this has to be one of her best performances. She portrayed the various characters with beautiful distinction as well as great depth.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advanced listener copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Georgia Evans lied in an interview about sexual assault. The firm she works for decided to send her on a retreat to Hawaii while things calm down. This retreat follows a program called The Program, which is designed to help women with mom brain. A neuroscientist named Cecilia Clemets has designed a program that will rewire the mother's brain to think critically and logically, so that mother's no longer feel trapped in motherhood. Through a series of exercises and videos showing rats being tested and tortured, Georgia and the other attendees will learn how to deal with issues quickly and efficiently without over thinking or making it all about their children. As the program progresses, some women can't handle it and some succeed immediately. After the program ends, weird things start to happen. Georgia seems to be cured from mom brain but she still has questions about the program. When one of the women she met in the program goes missing and another has some serious concerns and allegations against Cecilia, Georgia will do everything she can to find out the truth. However, she may not like what she discovers.
I enjoyed reading about the scientific part of the program and how mom brain was explained. When the women did the Virtual Reality exercises, I felt like they were being tortured just like the rat experiment. The author did a great job in diving the book in parts, the last part was my favorite.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I enjoyed reading about the scientific part of the program and how mom brain was explained. When the women did the Virtual Reality exercises, I felt like they were being tortured just like the rat experiment. The author did a great job in diving the book in parts, the last part was my favorite.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
April 24, 2026
4.5
This was such a compelling, slightly unsettling read that kept me questioning everything and everyone, right to the end.
It definitely gave me Nine Perfect Strangers vibes, with that dreamy luxury retreat setting layered over something much darker simmering underneath.
The story follows Georgia Evans, a working mom trying to recover from a very public scandal, who signs up for an exclusive program in Hawaii designed to “fix” mom brain. At first, it all feels a little too perfect...beautiful setting, promising science, and a charismatic leader who seems to have all the answers. But as Georgia gets pulled deeper into the program, the cracks start to show, and that sense of unease builds in the best way.
Now I am not a mother, however, I really liked how the book explored the realities of motherhood. Especially the mental load, identity shifts, and pressure society places on women. There were so many moments that felt real, even while the story itself leaned into that eerie, almost cult-like atmosphere. Each woman’s reason for being there added another layer, and I found myself especially invested in Georgia’s storyline and the mystery surrounding her past.
It delivers tension and thought-provoking themes. The pacing kept me engaged, and I appreciated the way it reframed “mom brain” into something more powerful rather than something broken.
Overall, a sharp, immersive read with a strong message and just enough twists to keep you hooked.
Thank you so much Harper Muse & Nicole Hackett for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
This was such a compelling, slightly unsettling read that kept me questioning everything and everyone, right to the end.
It definitely gave me Nine Perfect Strangers vibes, with that dreamy luxury retreat setting layered over something much darker simmering underneath.
The story follows Georgia Evans, a working mom trying to recover from a very public scandal, who signs up for an exclusive program in Hawaii designed to “fix” mom brain. At first, it all feels a little too perfect...beautiful setting, promising science, and a charismatic leader who seems to have all the answers. But as Georgia gets pulled deeper into the program, the cracks start to show, and that sense of unease builds in the best way.
Now I am not a mother, however, I really liked how the book explored the realities of motherhood. Especially the mental load, identity shifts, and pressure society places on women. There were so many moments that felt real, even while the story itself leaned into that eerie, almost cult-like atmosphere. Each woman’s reason for being there added another layer, and I found myself especially invested in Georgia’s storyline and the mystery surrounding her past.
It delivers tension and thought-provoking themes. The pacing kept me engaged, and I appreciated the way it reframed “mom brain” into something more powerful rather than something broken.
Overall, a sharp, immersive read with a strong message and just enough twists to keep you hooked.
Thank you so much Harper Muse & Nicole Hackett for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
April 26, 2026
3.5⭐️Our main character Georgia heads off to Hawaii for a mom specific mental health retreat. Georgia is having issues at home as she did something to spark online hate and receive stalkers to her house. Her work and law firm think this week away will show people she’s trying to change. For what? We find out later in the book. The owner of the retreat has her own methods and ideas of how to help these women which is slowly revealed through the story.
This has “Nine perfect strangers” vibes but maybe less dramatic. Georgia was a really frustrating FMC with her naivety and constant second guessing, but it does make for a good story. When VR headsets were introduced I started coming up with all kids of theories (maybe a little too horror based lol) so was let down when they weren’t used more. That has such potential to mess with us. Overall the story is really engaging and fun. I wasn’t sure how it would end, so that kept me invested and I finished the audio in two days. I liked the build up and then the small little twist of information we get at the end.
This book discusses how motherhood impacts a woman’s brain. The changes and instincts that occur after giving birth, are these a good thing? Or negative? As a mother myself, I found this really impactful and an interesting premise.
The audio book is really good. The narration was perfectly done with emotion and intensity. Definitely recommend in this format.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for this Advanced copy
This has “Nine perfect strangers” vibes but maybe less dramatic. Georgia was a really frustrating FMC with her naivety and constant second guessing, but it does make for a good story. When VR headsets were introduced I started coming up with all kids of theories (maybe a little too horror based lol) so was let down when they weren’t used more. That has such potential to mess with us. Overall the story is really engaging and fun. I wasn’t sure how it would end, so that kept me invested and I finished the audio in two days. I liked the build up and then the small little twist of information we get at the end.
This book discusses how motherhood impacts a woman’s brain. The changes and instincts that occur after giving birth, are these a good thing? Or negative? As a mother myself, I found this really impactful and an interesting premise.
The audio book is really good. The narration was perfectly done with emotion and intensity. Definitely recommend in this format.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for this Advanced copy
May 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5/5)
ARC Review — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett (no spoilers)
A Big Thank You to NetGalley from where I received my ARC from!
I’m honestly still sitting with my feelings on this one.
Mom Brain leans much more into the psychological/emotional side than I expected, and it really focuses on the mental load of motherhood—exhaustion, anxiety, identity shifts, and that constant second-guessing that can spiral quickly. The writing style reflects that, which made it feel immersive but also a little disorienting at times (very intentional, I think).
This isn’t a fast-paced, twist-heavy thriller. It’s more of a slow-burn that builds tension through atmosphere and internal conflict rather than big, shocking moments. Because of that, I can see this being a hit-or-miss depending on what you’re going in expecting.
What I appreciated most was how unsettlingly real parts of it felt—especially the internal dialogue and emotional pressure. It definitely made me pause and think, which I always like in a book. That said, I did find myself wanting just a little more clarity and payoff in certain areas.
Overall, this is one of those books that’s less about what happens and more about how it feels while you’re reading it.
If you like:
– slow-burn psychological fiction
– unreliable or introspective narrators
– stories that focus on mental/emotional tension over action
Final thoughts: Thought-provoking, a bit heavy, and not the easiest read emotionally—but definitely one that sticks with you.
ARC Review — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett (no spoilers)
A Big Thank You to NetGalley from where I received my ARC from!
I’m honestly still sitting with my feelings on this one.
Mom Brain leans much more into the psychological/emotional side than I expected, and it really focuses on the mental load of motherhood—exhaustion, anxiety, identity shifts, and that constant second-guessing that can spiral quickly. The writing style reflects that, which made it feel immersive but also a little disorienting at times (very intentional, I think).
This isn’t a fast-paced, twist-heavy thriller. It’s more of a slow-burn that builds tension through atmosphere and internal conflict rather than big, shocking moments. Because of that, I can see this being a hit-or-miss depending on what you’re going in expecting.
What I appreciated most was how unsettlingly real parts of it felt—especially the internal dialogue and emotional pressure. It definitely made me pause and think, which I always like in a book. That said, I did find myself wanting just a little more clarity and payoff in certain areas.
Overall, this is one of those books that’s less about what happens and more about how it feels while you’re reading it.
If you like:
– slow-burn psychological fiction
– unreliable or introspective narrators
– stories that focus on mental/emotional tension over action
Final thoughts: Thought-provoking, a bit heavy, and not the easiest read emotionally—but definitely one that sticks with you.
April 22, 2026
Thank you @booksparks for an early copy of this book. If you’re a mom then you know what mom brain is! The beginning of this book was so interesting and I was pretty hooked. There were so many references with motherhood I related to right away. I liked the mysteriousness in the beginning when things were mentioned that we didn’t know all the details about. Georgia is a mom of two and she’s burnt out and tired. After an incident at work she goes to Hawaii for a weeklong experience for mothers. The tasks that the women do are extremely questionable and start to make Georgia think something isn’t right. Sometimes Georgia’s character would frustrate me with not being able to make full sentences and say what she wants to say. I was wondering if that was her personality or her mom brain being all scrambled and stressed. Everything that starts to unfold with The Program is pretty wild. It’s like a big mystery the entire story until Georgia presses for answers. My heart felt for Georgia the minute her daughter was sick. I wanted to reach out and hug her through the book. This book was suspenseful, relatable at times and a page turner. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew what would happen.
This book hit the nail on the head when they were describing how your brain changes when you become a mother. You no longer think of yourself first and you get lost sometimes in the motherhood journey. This was such an interesting book!
This book hit the nail on the head when they were describing how your brain changes when you become a mother. You no longer think of yourself first and you get lost sometimes in the motherhood journey. This was such an interesting book!
April 29, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
Mom Brain takes a look at motherhood and the ways mothers change when they become responsible for a teeny person (or, in Georgia's case, two) and how the world outside treats them. The way mothers are constantly questioning whether they are doing the right thing or they could have done more. The way that mothers are forced to make impossible choices, in mothering and work.
The book begins as Georgia Evans has made a very public mess of a well-intended act at work and is being "sent" to a mysterious island experience to help moms in crisis through some mysterious means. Georgia is mesmerized by the glamorous leader with cult vibes, Cecilia. Turns out, Cecilia is using some pretty intense methods to rewire the self-sacrificing instincts of mom brains. Suffice it to say that this goes to some pretty dark places.
The ending is a bit open-ended but that didn't bother me. What bothered me was the dropping of some early plot devices without resolution. I can't explain because they are not in the blurb, but it's interesting that such a small (?) thing bugged me in the end.
If you loved Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, this one is definitely for you.
I thought the pacing worked as an audiobook and narrator Saskia Maarleveld is one of my must-listen narrators.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook. These are my honest opinions.
Mom Brain takes a look at motherhood and the ways mothers change when they become responsible for a teeny person (or, in Georgia's case, two) and how the world outside treats them. The way mothers are constantly questioning whether they are doing the right thing or they could have done more. The way that mothers are forced to make impossible choices, in mothering and work.
The book begins as Georgia Evans has made a very public mess of a well-intended act at work and is being "sent" to a mysterious island experience to help moms in crisis through some mysterious means. Georgia is mesmerized by the glamorous leader with cult vibes, Cecilia. Turns out, Cecilia is using some pretty intense methods to rewire the self-sacrificing instincts of mom brains. Suffice it to say that this goes to some pretty dark places.
The ending is a bit open-ended but that didn't bother me. What bothered me was the dropping of some early plot devices without resolution. I can't explain because they are not in the blurb, but it's interesting that such a small (?) thing bugged me in the end.
If you loved Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, this one is definitely for you.
I thought the pacing worked as an audiobook and narrator Saskia Maarleveld is one of my must-listen narrators.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook. These are my honest opinions.
May 2, 2026
*audio/paperback
“It’s a messy thing, the head of a mother, and thank God it is.”
Thanks to the lovely @nicolehackettbooks and @harpermusebooks for my #gifted audiobook and signed paperback.
As a fellow mom and Maryland resident I thought it was so cool to find a new to me author that lives so close.
The audiobook was well done and the voice of the narrator worked well for this novel.
Nicole Hackett doesn’t waste anytime setting the tone in this one, the atmosphere immediately feels “off” just something about it immediately created that unsettled feeling. The way she does this isn’t overly descriptive, it’s just right and keeps the story flowing rather than detracting from it. I always appreciate authors who do this well.
There were several times in the book when I thought the story was ending but then I looked at how many pages were left in the book and was like whoa there are a ton of pages left…so HOW is this story going to keep going? Well she found a way. I was into this one from start to finish.
I really enjoyed Georgia’s character and was so invested in her family’s wellbeing. She was a great protagonist and someone I liked rooting for.
It had some Black Mirror vibes which I liked. It’s not a page turner kind of thriller (which is what I usually gravitate towards) but it was just interesting to me from start to finish.
Also the book has a cool map for your reference.
This would be a cool limited series for Netflix, like 5 episodes or so.
“It’s a messy thing, the head of a mother, and thank God it is.”
Thanks to the lovely @nicolehackettbooks and @harpermusebooks for my #gifted audiobook and signed paperback.
As a fellow mom and Maryland resident I thought it was so cool to find a new to me author that lives so close.
The audiobook was well done and the voice of the narrator worked well for this novel.
Nicole Hackett doesn’t waste anytime setting the tone in this one, the atmosphere immediately feels “off” just something about it immediately created that unsettled feeling. The way she does this isn’t overly descriptive, it’s just right and keeps the story flowing rather than detracting from it. I always appreciate authors who do this well.
There were several times in the book when I thought the story was ending but then I looked at how many pages were left in the book and was like whoa there are a ton of pages left…so HOW is this story going to keep going? Well she found a way. I was into this one from start to finish.
I really enjoyed Georgia’s character and was so invested in her family’s wellbeing. She was a great protagonist and someone I liked rooting for.
It had some Black Mirror vibes which I liked. It’s not a page turner kind of thriller (which is what I usually gravitate towards) but it was just interesting to me from start to finish.
Also the book has a cool map for your reference.
This would be a cool limited series for Netflix, like 5 episodes or so.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse and author Nicole Hackett for an advanced copy of Mom Brain in exchange for an honest review.
Boy, was this book was a suspenseful little devil. Think Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers but with an emphasis on modern motherhood. After an incident at work, Georgia Evans attends ‘The Program’, an immersive experience located at a luxury resort in Hawaii with the goal to aid mothers in gaining control of their lives. Though, a sense of eeriness looms and it’s not long before bizarre things begin to transpire.
I’m surprised this read was labelled as fiction and I’d almost group it into the mystery or thriller genres due to the gripping and anxiety-provoking elements. For the most part I found this read exceptionally captivating and enjoyed the satirical look into motherhood. I was fond of the characters specifically the founder of The Program, Cecilia Clements who adopted a foreboding and enigmatic intensity.
As much as I enjoyed some of the uncomfortably unhinged scenes (the experiment with the rats sure was something) the story is not without its faults. The breakdown for me was the climax which was fairly lacklustre. However, it was still a solid read which I envision being a triumph upon its release.
Pub date: 21 April 2026
Boy, was this book was a suspenseful little devil. Think Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers but with an emphasis on modern motherhood. After an incident at work, Georgia Evans attends ‘The Program’, an immersive experience located at a luxury resort in Hawaii with the goal to aid mothers in gaining control of their lives. Though, a sense of eeriness looms and it’s not long before bizarre things begin to transpire.
I’m surprised this read was labelled as fiction and I’d almost group it into the mystery or thriller genres due to the gripping and anxiety-provoking elements. For the most part I found this read exceptionally captivating and enjoyed the satirical look into motherhood. I was fond of the characters specifically the founder of The Program, Cecilia Clements who adopted a foreboding and enigmatic intensity.
As much as I enjoyed some of the uncomfortably unhinged scenes (the experiment with the rats sure was something) the story is not without its faults. The breakdown for me was the climax which was fairly lacklustre. However, it was still a solid read which I envision being a triumph upon its release.
Pub date: 21 April 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Look at me branching out a little from romance! This was an unsettling, slightly unhinged story where you’re never quite sure who to trust or what’s really going on. The premise is completely different, but the overall vibe weirdly reminded me of the TV show The Sirens, with its balmy, almost dreamlike feel mixed with the underlying tension of something eventually coming to light.
Structured in parts, it follows Georgia Evans as she attends a luxurious program in Hawaii designed to rewire the brain of a mother, helping them regain control of their lives and redefine how they think and react in moments of stress. Of course, it quickly becomes clear that things might not be as perfect as they seem. I really liked how each woman had her own personal reason for being there, with Georgia in particular having a bit of a mysterious scandal surrounding her.
I’d call this more of a thriller-lite, focusing on the psychology of motherhood, and I enjoyed it so much. There were so many relatable moments about what it means to be a mother, how it literally changes your brain circuits, and the mental load that comes with it. If you're a mother, you'll feel so seen! And I loved the ending message. Perhaps “mom brain” isn’t a weakness after all ◡̈
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Structured in parts, it follows Georgia Evans as she attends a luxurious program in Hawaii designed to rewire the brain of a mother, helping them regain control of their lives and redefine how they think and react in moments of stress. Of course, it quickly becomes clear that things might not be as perfect as they seem. I really liked how each woman had her own personal reason for being there, with Georgia in particular having a bit of a mysterious scandal surrounding her.
I’d call this more of a thriller-lite, focusing on the psychology of motherhood, and I enjoyed it so much. There were so many relatable moments about what it means to be a mother, how it literally changes your brain circuits, and the mental load that comes with it. If you're a mother, you'll feel so seen! And I loved the ending message. Perhaps “mom brain” isn’t a weakness after all ◡̈
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Report: Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett
The Program…a luxe week long retreat on Oahu promising to “fix” overwhelmed mothers… which honestly sounds a little too good to be true. Georgia Evans…a working mom of two who’s still recovering from being labeled the “internet’s worst mom” signs up out of pure desperation. Once she arrives…she’s swept up by the resort’s sleek charm and the magnetic (if slightly unsettling) founder…Cecilia who insists that the biology of motherhood is a prison… and she has the key to set women free.
This cover and premise were an instant “yes” when I saw them on NG and I flew through the first 25% without even noticing. Hackett’s writing is dry…witty and deliciously sarcastic (my favorite combo) The vibes gave me Rachel Harrison and Katherine St. John (Wood)…satirical and slightly unhinged in the best way.
I loved the way this book digs into modern day motherhood…the pressure to be perfect and the way society weaponizes “mom brain”And honestly? I could totally see this wild story on screen…
☀️sun
🧬science
🤫secrets
🖤and a whole lot of tension
Thank you Harper Muse for the ecopy!
4.5 ⭐️
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
The Program…a luxe week long retreat on Oahu promising to “fix” overwhelmed mothers… which honestly sounds a little too good to be true. Georgia Evans…a working mom of two who’s still recovering from being labeled the “internet’s worst mom” signs up out of pure desperation. Once she arrives…she’s swept up by the resort’s sleek charm and the magnetic (if slightly unsettling) founder…Cecilia who insists that the biology of motherhood is a prison… and she has the key to set women free.
This cover and premise were an instant “yes” when I saw them on NG and I flew through the first 25% without even noticing. Hackett’s writing is dry…witty and deliciously sarcastic (my favorite combo) The vibes gave me Rachel Harrison and Katherine St. John (Wood)…satirical and slightly unhinged in the best way.
I loved the way this book digs into modern day motherhood…the pressure to be perfect and the way society weaponizes “mom brain”And honestly? I could totally see this wild story on screen…
☀️sun
🧬science
🤫secrets
🖤and a whole lot of tension
Thank you Harper Muse for the ecopy!
4.5 ⭐️
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
April 23, 2026
I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. You obviously know right off the bat when someone is sent off to a mysterious retreat, something nefarious is afoot so I enjoyed the mystery of figuring out what exactly that was. However, I didn’t feel invigorated by any of the characters really. I did enjoy Georgia’s husband, to a point. I liked that he wasn’t a hands off guy and knew how to take care of the kids even when they were sick. This shouldn’t deserve an award but unfortunately, it does. Later, though, he gave me bleh vibes with his “do whatever you want” attitude. They did have great communication I suppose but he didn’t seem to have any real opinions and I don’t know why that irked me but it did.
I did enjoy the backstory of why Georgia was sent to the retreat by her job to begin with. I feel that whole plot line was very powerful and important. I’m also embarrassed to say that it took me way too long to realize the connections of the bra on the door. I think maybe 80% in when they weren’t even talking about that I was like oh my God that’s why she got a bra on the door. 🤣. Also, what a weird stalker move lmao.
I did enjoy the read but I don’t think this is one that will stick with me, minus the bra situation. I might keep that one in my pocket.
I did enjoy the backstory of why Georgia was sent to the retreat by her job to begin with. I feel that whole plot line was very powerful and important. I’m also embarrassed to say that it took me way too long to realize the connections of the bra on the door. I think maybe 80% in when they weren’t even talking about that I was like oh my God that’s why she got a bra on the door. 🤣. Also, what a weird stalker move lmao.
I did enjoy the read but I don’t think this is one that will stick with me, minus the bra situation. I might keep that one in my pocket.
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