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Smother
Welcome to the family.
Hannah thought she’d found her happily ever after. Marrying Ethan, the man of her dreams, felt like the start of a perfect new life. But with Ethan came his family, and with his family came Margaret. She welcomes Hannah with warmth, insisting she sees in her not just a daughter-in-law, but the daughter she never had.
Yet as the honeymoon bliss fades, Margaret’s affection unfurls into something much darker. Ethan, ever the devoted son, remains disarmingly blind to his mother’s covert manipulations. He insists Margaret means well, attributing her intrusions to love and concern. But Hannah feels a different truth in her bones.
Hannah is forced to confront a chilling realization. She thought she had married the man of her dreams, only to discover that she’s also bound to the mother of her worst nightmares…
Hannah thought she’d found her happily ever after. Marrying Ethan, the man of her dreams, felt like the start of a perfect new life. But with Ethan came his family, and with his family came Margaret. She welcomes Hannah with warmth, insisting she sees in her not just a daughter-in-law, but the daughter she never had.
Yet as the honeymoon bliss fades, Margaret’s affection unfurls into something much darker. Ethan, ever the devoted son, remains disarmingly blind to his mother’s covert manipulations. He insists Margaret means well, attributing her intrusions to love and concern. But Hannah feels a different truth in her bones.
Hannah is forced to confront a chilling realization. She thought she had married the man of her dreams, only to discover that she’s also bound to the mother of her worst nightmares…
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
10 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Daya Winters
2 books28 followersDaya Winters lives in a small town with her husband and children. A lover of suspense and mind-bending mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of ARC!
Welcome to the Family!
Wow. This book absolutely got under my skin...in the best way....if there is such a thing!
From the very beginning, it pulls you into what feels like a dreamy, picture-perfect romance. Hannah believes she’s stepping into her happily ever after with Ethan but as we all know, when you marry someone, you marry their family too. And Margaret? Ohhh, Margaret......
The tension in this story builds so masterfully. What starts as warm, welcoming, slightly overbearing mother-in-law energy slowly tightens into something far more unsettling. I found myself getting genuinely frustrated (the good kind of frustrated!) at certain characters...you know, the kind where you want to shake them and yell, “Open your eyes!” That emotional reaction is exactly what made it so compelling. It means the author did their job.
And then the ending.......
When I say I didn’t see it coming...I mean I did not see it coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out...BOOM! Twist. And then another one. A double twist that completely reframed everything. I love when a book makes me rethink what I thought I knew.
Even though the ARC edition had a few minor errors (missing words mostly), they didn’t distract from the power of the story itself. The plot, pacing, and psychological tension carried it effortlessly.
At its core, this book is more than just a thriller. It’s a sharp, unsettling look at manipulation, boundaries, loyalty, and what happens when love gets tangled with control. It almost feels like a survival guide for navigating a complicated mother-in-law....exaggerated for fiction, of course but still uncomfortably relatable at times.
Brilliant, infuriating, twisty, and impossible to put down. Definitely a must-read if you enjoy domestic suspense that keeps you second-guessing everything. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Welcome to the Family!
Wow. This book absolutely got under my skin...in the best way....if there is such a thing!
From the very beginning, it pulls you into what feels like a dreamy, picture-perfect romance. Hannah believes she’s stepping into her happily ever after with Ethan but as we all know, when you marry someone, you marry their family too. And Margaret? Ohhh, Margaret......
The tension in this story builds so masterfully. What starts as warm, welcoming, slightly overbearing mother-in-law energy slowly tightens into something far more unsettling. I found myself getting genuinely frustrated (the good kind of frustrated!) at certain characters...you know, the kind where you want to shake them and yell, “Open your eyes!” That emotional reaction is exactly what made it so compelling. It means the author did their job.
And then the ending.......
When I say I didn’t see it coming...I mean I did not see it coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out...BOOM! Twist. And then another one. A double twist that completely reframed everything. I love when a book makes me rethink what I thought I knew.
Even though the ARC edition had a few minor errors (missing words mostly), they didn’t distract from the power of the story itself. The plot, pacing, and psychological tension carried it effortlessly.
At its core, this book is more than just a thriller. It’s a sharp, unsettling look at manipulation, boundaries, loyalty, and what happens when love gets tangled with control. It almost feels like a survival guide for navigating a complicated mother-in-law....exaggerated for fiction, of course but still uncomfortably relatable at times.
Brilliant, infuriating, twisty, and impossible to put down. Definitely a must-read if you enjoy domestic suspense that keeps you second-guessing everything. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
April 22, 2026
I got this book as an ARC and let me tell you, I couldn’t put it down! It grips you right from the start! A must read for thriller lovers! The subtle foreshadowing with things being said by Margaret, (one of the FMC’s), then you think you know what’s going to happen and I know it certainly didn’t go the direction I thought! Also- if you like creepy dolls the picture painted in this one is 🤌🏼As someone with an overbearing MIL who is harder to have a relationship with, I can really relate to Hannah (FMCs) struggles in trying to navigate her relationship with her new husband Ethan and his mother. I will say check your triggers because there is depicted child 💀 that pulled my heart strings as a mom and made me tear up so if tha is not something you can handle reading I would maybe pass or at the very least skip the rest of the chapter when it comes up towards the end of the book. Other than that, I absolutely loved this and ate it up! Thank you Daya for the physical Arc!!!🖤
April 12, 2026
Honored to have a chance to read an advanced copy as my first ARC Review! As someone with a mother in law that has been nothing but amazing, this was a page turner from start to finish!
ARC Review — Smother by Daya Winters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smother is a tense, slow-burn domestic thriller that perfectly captures the fear of marrying into the wrong family. The story builds unease gradually, with a chilling mother-in-law and a creeping sense that something isn’t quite right. The psychological tension kept me hooked, and the character dynamics made the suspense feel very real.
The pacing starts a bit slow, but once it picks up, the twists and mounting paranoia make it hard to put down. Fans of unsettling family drama and character-driven thrillers will definitely enjoy this one.
Looking forward to Daya’s novella as well!
ARC Review — Smother by Daya Winters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smother is a tense, slow-burn domestic thriller that perfectly captures the fear of marrying into the wrong family. The story builds unease gradually, with a chilling mother-in-law and a creeping sense that something isn’t quite right. The psychological tension kept me hooked, and the character dynamics made the suspense feel very real.
The pacing starts a bit slow, but once it picks up, the twists and mounting paranoia make it hard to put down. Fans of unsettling family drama and character-driven thrillers will definitely enjoy this one.
Looking forward to Daya’s novella as well!
May 7, 2026
I had the privilege of receiving an ARC copy Smother by Daya Winters and holy shit…
I have never had a book put me this on edge in my life. I was literally reading through my fingers because I was that stressed. And oh. My. God… the secondhand embarrassment I felt on behalf of some of these characters?? Criminal… 🫣
I have never said “what the fuck” out loud so many times while reading. You trust someone… Mistake. You think you figured something out… yeah right. Every time I got comfortable, this book basically laughed in my face and said… yeah that’s cute.
And the plot twist??? Are you actually fucking kidding me. I predicted so many possibilities of how this would end and was so confident in myself. Not once — NOT ONCE — did I see that coming. I just sat there jaw on the floor… staring at the page like an idiot.
When I tell you I fucking devoured this thing like it was popcorn. The mind games… Evil. The vibes… Unhinged. My sanity… yeah she left the building about 30% in. This book ruined me…and I am not even mad about it.
I have never had a book put me this on edge in my life. I was literally reading through my fingers because I was that stressed. And oh. My. God… the secondhand embarrassment I felt on behalf of some of these characters?? Criminal… 🫣
I have never said “what the fuck” out loud so many times while reading. You trust someone… Mistake. You think you figured something out… yeah right. Every time I got comfortable, this book basically laughed in my face and said… yeah that’s cute.
And the plot twist??? Are you actually fucking kidding me. I predicted so many possibilities of how this would end and was so confident in myself. Not once — NOT ONCE — did I see that coming. I just sat there jaw on the floor… staring at the page like an idiot.
When I tell you I fucking devoured this thing like it was popcorn. The mind games… Evil. The vibes… Unhinged. My sanity… yeah she left the building about 30% in. This book ruined me…and I am not even mad about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this book. It was so good and had me addicted. I had a hard time putting it down. I was definitely way to emotionally invested in these characters , you hate the Mother, you want to shake the son and scream at the wife to just run away from it all. I've already started recommending this book to friends and will definitely read more by this author.
March 19, 2026
Hanna is a sweet innocent girl who falls for love at first sight. I mean who wouldn’t want that it’s every girls dream to meet your Prince Charming. Upon meeting her mother-in-law, it’s nothing but red flags all over the place and the real trouble begins. New house, new keys and overbearing mom. Do you think she is watching them ?👀 Just when Hanna thinks she is getting a break from everything, the house rattles and a voice is heard. Who is this mysterious voice? The doll with lips 🧵 🪡?And why does the neighbor recognize Ethan who has lived his “whole” life in California? . I simply cannot put this book down. We all want to see those Karen moms who overstep everything no matter how many limits you put in place. I feel bad for Hanna she thought she found her new beginning filled with happiness; instead, she enter a new form of hell. At this point, I’m not even sure who is on her side it’s nothing but betrayal she faces. Like girl all the red flags are there, move out and find somewhere far away from his mom and her past. What are you waiting for, death? Overall, the mystery and drama is what motivates the storyline. No words left to convince you to read this book. Just simply get it 😏 And find out who gets smother at the end ?
March 11, 2026
3.5 (goodreads just give us fraction stars already)
Please, please, please, check the trigger warnings.
“I’ve encountered her kind before, timid little creature who underestimate just how far a mother will go to protect her son.”
After a whirlwind relationship springing into a quick elopement Hannah is forced with navigating the oppressiveness of her new mother in law and her new life married to the perfect man. But how does one handle a new husband so tightly wrapped around his mother’s finger, after you’re already married? Is Margaret simply a well meaning mother? Is Hannah overacting due to her own childhood trauma? Will they really all become one big happy family?
I do love a good dark psychological thriller, and this was a dark and twisted ride. There were a couple scenes that just hurt my heart as a mom so buckle up for those. Having personally experienced a mother in law that manipulated her children from childhood, this one hit close to home. Margaret is definitely a villain you’re going to hate.
There were a couple pacing issues for me in the beginning and I wasn’t a fan of the change to multiple perspectives halfway through but overall a good read. Definitely perfect for a psychological thriller fix.
Please, please, please, check the trigger warnings.
“I’ve encountered her kind before, timid little creature who underestimate just how far a mother will go to protect her son.”
After a whirlwind relationship springing into a quick elopement Hannah is forced with navigating the oppressiveness of her new mother in law and her new life married to the perfect man. But how does one handle a new husband so tightly wrapped around his mother’s finger, after you’re already married? Is Margaret simply a well meaning mother? Is Hannah overacting due to her own childhood trauma? Will they really all become one big happy family?
I do love a good dark psychological thriller, and this was a dark and twisted ride. There were a couple scenes that just hurt my heart as a mom so buckle up for those. Having personally experienced a mother in law that manipulated her children from childhood, this one hit close to home. Margaret is definitely a villain you’re going to hate.
There were a couple pacing issues for me in the beginning and I wasn’t a fan of the change to multiple perspectives halfway through but overall a good read. Definitely perfect for a psychological thriller fix.
February 27, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Author.
This book had me turning the pages. Not only because of the story line with the unhinged hovering mother-in-law and her obedient grown up son. But I also was intrigued to know more about the doll on the cover. And while the focus was not directly on the doll she was incorporated in the story providing those creepy vibes the cover gives. Also, the title of the book itself perfectly fits with the story sMOTHER. The mother-in-law went over and beyond at smothering. Literally. But there is a difficult part to read that I would suggest to check the trigger warnings.
The book contains so many twists and turns that left you wondering if the characters were mentally stable. Overall I enjoyed reading this book, and to those who like psychological thrillers… You’ll enjoy this one! This author has become one of my new favorite Indie Authors as I also enjoyed her other book, Ask Sam, which I highly recommend too.
This book had me turning the pages. Not only because of the story line with the unhinged hovering mother-in-law and her obedient grown up son. But I also was intrigued to know more about the doll on the cover. And while the focus was not directly on the doll she was incorporated in the story providing those creepy vibes the cover gives. Also, the title of the book itself perfectly fits with the story sMOTHER. The mother-in-law went over and beyond at smothering. Literally. But there is a difficult part to read that I would suggest to check the trigger warnings.
The book contains so many twists and turns that left you wondering if the characters were mentally stable. Overall I enjoyed reading this book, and to those who like psychological thrillers… You’ll enjoy this one! This author has become one of my new favorite Indie Authors as I also enjoyed her other book, Ask Sam, which I highly recommend too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a book I highly recommend trusting the process for. The story jumps a bit between the chapters so there are things that happens off the pages. Which leaves you with little gaps in context, HOWEVER, everything accumulates in the end and the choice to leave out things adds to the overall psychological torment, confusion also resolusion.
For a psychological thriller this was really, really good. Most definitely, in my top 5 for psychological thrillers. I devoured it. It had me hooked from the start. I was engaged and intrigued.
There were quite a few times where I physically had to put the book down. It felt like this book was consuming me. I was raging, frustrated, irritated, claustrophobic in the shear amount of emotional turmoil I was going through. Every sliver of reprieve Hannah got was like being able to take a breath.
The twist and turns had me shocked, spiraling, spinning. And the complete 180 that happens had me gobsmacked.
I recommend this.
For a psychological thriller this was really, really good. Most definitely, in my top 5 for psychological thrillers. I devoured it. It had me hooked from the start. I was engaged and intrigued.
There were quite a few times where I physically had to put the book down. It felt like this book was consuming me. I was raging, frustrated, irritated, claustrophobic in the shear amount of emotional turmoil I was going through. Every sliver of reprieve Hannah got was like being able to take a breath.
The twist and turns had me shocked, spiraling, spinning. And the complete 180 that happens had me gobsmacked.
I recommend this.
April 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
N/A - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Hannah, Ethan, & Margaret
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕psychological manipulation
📕child loss
📕graphic violence
📕reproductive coercion
📕mental health struggles
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“It’s just us now… free from them, free from her. You’re mine, Ethan, and no one will ever come between us again.”
“I did what she told me to do. Because I was a good son.”
“And for a little while, I let myself believe that it is enough—that love is enough, and we’ll find a way to be okay.
Even when, deep down, I know the worst is still coming.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
A boy’s best friend is his mother… this book takes that saying to a whole new meaning. This was my first book written by Winters and I can absolutely say, without a doubt, that it won’t be my last. The pacing. The characters. The plot. Everything draws you into this downward spiral into madness, taking you down with it. I was seated from the beginning and was holding onto my armchair with dear life as I passed the halfway point. I wouldn’t call it a slow burn. I’d call it a slow retaliation that was much needed. A riveting psychological thriller that gets under your skin.
*spoilers*
Hannah believes that she has met the love of her life after being in a relationship with Ethan for only a few months. He claims she was the woman of his dreams which solidified them taking off and getting hitched without telling anyone. To Hannah, this is the start of their lives together. The happily ever after she has always longed for
Until she meets his mother, Margaret. Now, there’s overbearing mothers… and then there’s Margaret. She has a way of pushing your buttons while wearing a plastered smile among her face. And the day she meets Hannah, she already knows that she is not good enough for her son. Margaret starts inserting herself in their lives soon after. It started with the overwhelming phone calls. Then it escalates to unannounced visits to their home. Even going so far as to invite one of Ethan’s ex’s to a dinner at his mother’s house alongside other invitees.
The more she pushes, the more Hannah desperately tries to get Ethan to stand up for himself more when she’s around. But as much as he wants to, it also feels as if he’s pulling away from the relationship and returning towards his family. Hannah feels alone until she discovers a diary within the walls. One that belonged to Margaret’s ex husband who died. One that has secrets that belong to her written among the pages. Secrets that even Ethan doesn’t know about.
What a shocking ending! I was drawn to this book from the synopsis. Anything that has to do with an evil mother-in-law, count me in. But this takes a different approach to the cliche and slaps you in the face during the climatic ending. This is absolutely a ‘good for you’ story as you read about the hardships of wanting to belong to the family you married into. I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for an eerie read to get you out of that reading slump.
N/A - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Hannah, Ethan, & Margaret
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕psychological manipulation
📕child loss
📕graphic violence
📕reproductive coercion
📕mental health struggles
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“It’s just us now… free from them, free from her. You’re mine, Ethan, and no one will ever come between us again.”
“I did what she told me to do. Because I was a good son.”
“And for a little while, I let myself believe that it is enough—that love is enough, and we’ll find a way to be okay.
Even when, deep down, I know the worst is still coming.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
A boy’s best friend is his mother… this book takes that saying to a whole new meaning. This was my first book written by Winters and I can absolutely say, without a doubt, that it won’t be my last. The pacing. The characters. The plot. Everything draws you into this downward spiral into madness, taking you down with it. I was seated from the beginning and was holding onto my armchair with dear life as I passed the halfway point. I wouldn’t call it a slow burn. I’d call it a slow retaliation that was much needed. A riveting psychological thriller that gets under your skin.
*spoilers*
Hannah believes that she has met the love of her life after being in a relationship with Ethan for only a few months. He claims she was the woman of his dreams which solidified them taking off and getting hitched without telling anyone. To Hannah, this is the start of their lives together. The happily ever after she has always longed for
Until she meets his mother, Margaret. Now, there’s overbearing mothers… and then there’s Margaret. She has a way of pushing your buttons while wearing a plastered smile among her face. And the day she meets Hannah, she already knows that she is not good enough for her son. Margaret starts inserting herself in their lives soon after. It started with the overwhelming phone calls. Then it escalates to unannounced visits to their home. Even going so far as to invite one of Ethan’s ex’s to a dinner at his mother’s house alongside other invitees.
The more she pushes, the more Hannah desperately tries to get Ethan to stand up for himself more when she’s around. But as much as he wants to, it also feels as if he’s pulling away from the relationship and returning towards his family. Hannah feels alone until she discovers a diary within the walls. One that belonged to Margaret’s ex husband who died. One that has secrets that belong to her written among the pages. Secrets that even Ethan doesn’t know about.
What a shocking ending! I was drawn to this book from the synopsis. Anything that has to do with an evil mother-in-law, count me in. But this takes a different approach to the cliche and slaps you in the face during the climatic ending. This is absolutely a ‘good for you’ story as you read about the hardships of wanting to belong to the family you married into. I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for an eerie read to get you out of that reading slump.
April 25, 2026
Thank you, Daya Winters.
Daya is a really talented author and I hope this book finds success because it successfully made me feel so many emotions 😂 If you have history with a narcissist and haven't gone to therapy, please be mindful of reading this book. Or reading it may help you process which is always great too.
We start with Hannah, an English major that sees Ethan in a coffee shop. They talk and it's like a whirlwind romance and elopment. They move into a house in a neighborhood and we meet Margaret, Ethan's mother.
His mother.
Who is bat shit crazy. She gets under Hannah's skin (as well as the readers) and I thoroughly enjoy that Hannah eventually stands up for herself. But I really wanna slap Ethan for making up empty promises (we later learn he's mommy's baby boy at 25 who is a victim of her enmeshment and emotional incest) and saying, "I'll talk to her. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The amount of TIMES I literally eye rolled has changed my vision.
Hannah finds out a lot of disturbing stuff. Margaret doesn't understand boundaries. Ethan gave his mom a house key without even talking to Hannah. He does a lot of shit without communicating to his wife ☠️ They live in a house SHE OWNED and Ethan grew up in. I don't know how much Maragret wanted her to find out all of this stuff as its lightly mentioned Margaret wanted to have Hannah find out certain things but its not elaborated on.
The last thing that made me wanna fucking throw my kindle into a Hawaiian volcano is Maragret tampering with Hannah's birth control.
Y'all, I'm seeing red. Ethan finally wakes the fuck up from being her victim when he finds out Hannah is pregnant ☠️🙄 BE SO FOR REAL???? It took THIS for you to have balls to stand up to your mother??? Therapy. Pls. OR THROW the whole man out??
No wonder they eloped. I would too, if my mom was a narcissist (she was).
Overall, pls read this is you want to a true psychological mind fuck. I need to recover with a non-alcoholic drink and pretend it's real alcohol cos I can't drink any for health purposes 😂😭 I'm sending this author my therapy bill.
Daya is a really talented author and I hope this book finds success because it successfully made me feel so many emotions 😂 If you have history with a narcissist and haven't gone to therapy, please be mindful of reading this book. Or reading it may help you process which is always great too.
We start with Hannah, an English major that sees Ethan in a coffee shop. They talk and it's like a whirlwind romance and elopment. They move into a house in a neighborhood and we meet Margaret, Ethan's mother.
His mother.
Who is bat shit crazy. She gets under Hannah's skin (as well as the readers) and I thoroughly enjoy that Hannah eventually stands up for herself. But I really wanna slap Ethan for making up empty promises (we later learn he's mommy's baby boy at 25 who is a victim of her enmeshment and emotional incest) and saying, "I'll talk to her. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The amount of TIMES I literally eye rolled has changed my vision.
Hannah finds out a lot of disturbing stuff. Margaret doesn't understand boundaries. Ethan gave his mom a house key without even talking to Hannah. He does a lot of shit without communicating to his wife ☠️ They live in a house SHE OWNED and Ethan grew up in. I don't know how much Maragret wanted her to find out all of this stuff as its lightly mentioned Margaret wanted to have Hannah find out certain things but its not elaborated on.
The last thing that made me wanna fucking throw my kindle into a Hawaiian volcano is Maragret tampering with Hannah's birth control.
Y'all, I'm seeing red. Ethan finally wakes the fuck up from being her victim when he finds out Hannah is pregnant ☠️🙄 BE SO FOR REAL???? It took THIS for you to have balls to stand up to your mother??? Therapy. Pls. OR THROW the whole man out??
No wonder they eloped. I would too, if my mom was a narcissist (she was).
Overall, pls read this is you want to a true psychological mind fuck. I need to recover with a non-alcoholic drink and pretend it's real alcohol cos I can't drink any for health purposes 😂😭 I'm sending this author my therapy bill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Smothered is a fun, fast-paced thriller about a husband and wife duo, and the husband's mother.
This book follows Hannah, a writing editor who works from home. Hannah's husband, Ethan, works out of the house as a project manager. Ethan's mother, Margaret, makes her job to torture Hannah. Ethan and Hannah met and married within a few months and immediately Margaret started to make her presence, and hatred for Hannah, known.
I was immediately drawn to the concept of this book. I love a fast-paced thriller, and even more I love when it stays in the family. Winters did an amazing job of bringing Hannah to the page and making her strong headed and fierce. Her love for Ethan remained unchanged, even in the face of the woman who made him. Margaret is the perfect villain, especially as we learn more about her character. She is cunning and manipulative in the best way possible. She loves her son in a way only a mother could.
Ethan was a very indecisive character for me. I didn't mind him, but he didn't speak to me as a character. His ending was a twist I never expected, and it was exciting to read. Up until page 300, he existed solely as a space between Hannah and Margaret. This made the twist at the end even less predictable.
The only part of the book that confused me was the multiple POVs at the end. We had been following Hannah until late in the book, where we received Margaret and Ethan's point of view. This left me confused, while also receiving the same scene with different feelings of it. This wasn't my favorite, but I don't think it ruined the book and I still enjoyed the ending.
This book follows Hannah, a writing editor who works from home. Hannah's husband, Ethan, works out of the house as a project manager. Ethan's mother, Margaret, makes her job to torture Hannah. Ethan and Hannah met and married within a few months and immediately Margaret started to make her presence, and hatred for Hannah, known.
I was immediately drawn to the concept of this book. I love a fast-paced thriller, and even more I love when it stays in the family. Winters did an amazing job of bringing Hannah to the page and making her strong headed and fierce. Her love for Ethan remained unchanged, even in the face of the woman who made him. Margaret is the perfect villain, especially as we learn more about her character. She is cunning and manipulative in the best way possible. She loves her son in a way only a mother could.
Ethan was a very indecisive character for me. I didn't mind him, but he didn't speak to me as a character. His ending was a twist I never expected, and it was exciting to read. Up until page 300, he existed solely as a space between Hannah and Margaret. This made the twist at the end even less predictable.
The only part of the book that confused me was the multiple POVs at the end. We had been following Hannah until late in the book, where we received Margaret and Ethan's point of view. This left me confused, while also receiving the same scene with different feelings of it. This wasn't my favorite, but I don't think it ruined the book and I still enjoyed the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
4.75
👩❤️👨 ARC Review 😱
"He's chosen me as the one thing to cling to in the storm that's tearing his world apart."
In this psychological thriller, Hannah meets Ethan. She's been an orphan for practically her whole life and when they fall madly in love, they decide to elope after knowing each other for just a few months.
When they're house hunting, Ethan's mother suggests a house she's seen that isn't too far from where she lives so that they can be close to each other.
The house is old, so it creaks and croaks as old houses tend to do. But, when doors start opening that Hannah knows she closed and when a doll she found in a closet mysteriously moves locations, it starts to freak her out. 🏚️
Little does she know - that's just the beginning of the creepiness. 😱
I love a good psychological thriller! Give me surprises and twists all day with an evil undertone. This one added a scary layer on top that had me stopping it from time to time because I'm just a scaredy cat. 🙀
But, when I would pick it back up again (in the daytime 😆), I would blast through the pages. I was so curious to know what was going to happen that I kept my nose in this book for two days.
And the end!!!!! Oh. My. Goodness. I did not expect what happened and multiply that by like 4x I didn't expect what was coming. I was bowled over again and again. Brava!
If you like twists, scary dolls, or books that make you want to turn on the lights when you're reading in bed, you may like this book.
Triggers: Murder, Death, Gore (minor), Infanticide (off page), Gaslighting, Manipulation, Abuse, Domestic Violence
👩❤️👨 ARC Review 😱
"He's chosen me as the one thing to cling to in the storm that's tearing his world apart."
In this psychological thriller, Hannah meets Ethan. She's been an orphan for practically her whole life and when they fall madly in love, they decide to elope after knowing each other for just a few months.
When they're house hunting, Ethan's mother suggests a house she's seen that isn't too far from where she lives so that they can be close to each other.
The house is old, so it creaks and croaks as old houses tend to do. But, when doors start opening that Hannah knows she closed and when a doll she found in a closet mysteriously moves locations, it starts to freak her out. 🏚️
Little does she know - that's just the beginning of the creepiness. 😱
I love a good psychological thriller! Give me surprises and twists all day with an evil undertone. This one added a scary layer on top that had me stopping it from time to time because I'm just a scaredy cat. 🙀
But, when I would pick it back up again (in the daytime 😆), I would blast through the pages. I was so curious to know what was going to happen that I kept my nose in this book for two days.
And the end!!!!! Oh. My. Goodness. I did not expect what happened and multiply that by like 4x I didn't expect what was coming. I was bowled over again and again. Brava!
If you like twists, scary dolls, or books that make you want to turn on the lights when you're reading in bed, you may like this book.
Triggers: Murder, Death, Gore (minor), Infanticide (off page), Gaslighting, Manipulation, Abuse, Domestic Violence
April 22, 2026
4.5
“He’s already decided which side he’s on. I stare at him, and for a moment, I don’t feel like I’m arguing with my husband. I feel like I’m arguing with Margaret.“
Thank you Daya Winters and IRIS for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was genuinely insane. I expected the outcome to an extent, but it still made me do a 180—I’m still shaken up. The pit in my stomach has not left. But all things considered, it means this book was gooddd.
I had a lot of traumatic fun reading this. I was talking to myself every five seconds, coming up with theories and getting annoyed at characters (in a good way). I read 83% of this in one sitting—that’s how captivating it was. I will note there were a few times where I’d get lost, some continuation issues, but it didn’t deter from the actual reading experience.
I loved Hannah so much. My heart and soul were with her during this entire novel—even Ethan. Ohhh and Margaret. She was genuinely the bane of my existence, and she was so well written. I’ve dealt with narcissists and unbearable family members before, and let me just tell you—this was insanely accurate. (My heart goes out to anyone with similar experiences.)
Not only did this book serve its psychological thriller purpose, but it also brings awareness. Guys, this does happen in real life—it’s not just fiction. We can all learn from the books we read and learn to empathize with people, or even just get some advice (depending on the character). All things considered, I applaud you, Daya Winters, for making my heart beat out of my chest and making me paranoid—this was a great read!
“He’s already decided which side he’s on. I stare at him, and for a moment, I don’t feel like I’m arguing with my husband. I feel like I’m arguing with Margaret.“
Thank you Daya Winters and IRIS for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was genuinely insane. I expected the outcome to an extent, but it still made me do a 180—I’m still shaken up. The pit in my stomach has not left. But all things considered, it means this book was gooddd.
I had a lot of traumatic fun reading this. I was talking to myself every five seconds, coming up with theories and getting annoyed at characters (in a good way). I read 83% of this in one sitting—that’s how captivating it was. I will note there were a few times where I’d get lost, some continuation issues, but it didn’t deter from the actual reading experience.
I loved Hannah so much. My heart and soul were with her during this entire novel—even Ethan. Ohhh and Margaret. She was genuinely the bane of my existence, and she was so well written. I’ve dealt with narcissists and unbearable family members before, and let me just tell you—this was insanely accurate. (My heart goes out to anyone with similar experiences.)
Not only did this book serve its psychological thriller purpose, but it also brings awareness. Guys, this does happen in real life—it’s not just fiction. We can all learn from the books we read and learn to empathize with people, or even just get some advice (depending on the character). All things considered, I applaud you, Daya Winters, for making my heart beat out of my chest and making me paranoid—this was a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book hits a little harder to anyone who had/has a manipulative and schemey mother-in-law. Or at the very least, a terrible experience with a boyfriend's mom. As a psychological thriller, I was definitely thrilled and feeling some psychological stress reading this. (In a good way)
This book was super easy to get into. Has a very simple plot and characters. You have your newly wed couple coming home straight out of college and the bride is meeting her new mother-in-law for the first time. Straight away, the bride starts to recognize strange things and behaviors that makes her feel uneasy.
What made this book so good for me was how believable a lot of these scenarios were and the pacing at which they were presented. It starts with the tone of voice, the unnecessary comment here or there. Soon, it's the insisting and crossing of boundaries. Gradually, the disrespect becomes louder but it's somehow so quietly done that calling it out makes you feel guilty/crazy. This is what it's truly like dealing with a narcissist. The only thing worse than your partner being one, is his closest family member being one. Add in some creepy/mysterious secrets and you got a great story.
Smother is a book that makes you question if you would do anything different than the characters in the story. Although I'd like to say yes, I'm not so sure given the backgrounds of the characters. It was artfully written and I am super happy to have had this book as my first introduction into the psychological thriller genre!
Thank you, Daya Winter's and Iris Influencer Society for giving me the chance to ARC read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was super easy to get into. Has a very simple plot and characters. You have your newly wed couple coming home straight out of college and the bride is meeting her new mother-in-law for the first time. Straight away, the bride starts to recognize strange things and behaviors that makes her feel uneasy.
What made this book so good for me was how believable a lot of these scenarios were and the pacing at which they were presented. It starts with the tone of voice, the unnecessary comment here or there. Soon, it's the insisting and crossing of boundaries. Gradually, the disrespect becomes louder but it's somehow so quietly done that calling it out makes you feel guilty/crazy. This is what it's truly like dealing with a narcissist. The only thing worse than your partner being one, is his closest family member being one. Add in some creepy/mysterious secrets and you got a great story.
Smother is a book that makes you question if you would do anything different than the characters in the story. Although I'd like to say yes, I'm not so sure given the backgrounds of the characters. It was artfully written and I am super happy to have had this book as my first introduction into the psychological thriller genre!
Thank you, Daya Winter's and Iris Influencer Society for giving me the chance to ARC read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Margaret, Ethan, Hannah – the three main characters.
Margaret – an overbearing, manipulative mother.
Ethan – Margaret’s son.
Hannah – the love of Ethan’s life.
I am not an overly sensitive reader, so I was not triggered by any of the scenarios portrayed in this tale. However, I do appreciate the author making note of them at the beginning of this tale.
I enjoyed the mentally psychological aspect of this gruesome tale, as it always interests me how people behave and why.
Margaret always wanted a son. I never really understood why she had an aversion to girls, but she got her boy in Ethan. She was so overbearing that her first and second husbands disappeared, but no one really knew how or why.
Ethan was stuck between how he was brought up by his mother and his love for Hannah, who only wanted Ethan to see the truth and set some boundaries. This is not always easy when you have been manipulated all your life, most especially by a parent whom you are supposed to trust and not question.
Hannah was stuck between Margaret’s overbearing nature and Ethan not being able to see the truth.
I was taken by part two of this tale which was told in three voices – those of Margaret, Ethan, and Hannah. That gave me more insight into how each of these characters ticked, so to speak. And that final decision that Ethan made? And what about Hannah and how her personality changed?
This is definitely not a book for the more sensitive readers, but if you like a pretty dark, twisted tale and aren’t afraid of creepy dolls and a long-buried journal, give it a try.
Margaret – an overbearing, manipulative mother.
Ethan – Margaret’s son.
Hannah – the love of Ethan’s life.
I am not an overly sensitive reader, so I was not triggered by any of the scenarios portrayed in this tale. However, I do appreciate the author making note of them at the beginning of this tale.
I enjoyed the mentally psychological aspect of this gruesome tale, as it always interests me how people behave and why.
Margaret always wanted a son. I never really understood why she had an aversion to girls, but she got her boy in Ethan. She was so overbearing that her first and second husbands disappeared, but no one really knew how or why.
Ethan was stuck between how he was brought up by his mother and his love for Hannah, who only wanted Ethan to see the truth and set some boundaries. This is not always easy when you have been manipulated all your life, most especially by a parent whom you are supposed to trust and not question.
Hannah was stuck between Margaret’s overbearing nature and Ethan not being able to see the truth.
I was taken by part two of this tale which was told in three voices – those of Margaret, Ethan, and Hannah. That gave me more insight into how each of these characters ticked, so to speak. And that final decision that Ethan made? And what about Hannah and how her personality changed?
This is definitely not a book for the more sensitive readers, but if you like a pretty dark, twisted tale and aren’t afraid of creepy dolls and a long-buried journal, give it a try.
April 21, 2026
Happy Release Day!
A mother’s love has never felt more sinister. 🖤💀
Fair warning: you will not find your next book boyfriend in these pages. Ethan is spineless, keeps his mouth shut, and refuses to stand up for his wife while his mother berates, belittles, undermines, and excludes her. That is the point, and Daya Winters leans all the way into it.
Hannah thought marrying Ethan was the beginning of her perfect life. What she didn’t account for was Margaret, who arrives with open arms, warm smiles, and an agenda that slowly, methodically poisons everything Hannah thought she knew.
The manipulation here is incremental and insidious, the kind that makes you question whose perception you can actually trust, and that question matters more than you realize until the very end.
I’ll be honest. A few chapters in, I caught myself thinking I had already mapped everyone’s angles and predicted where the big reveals would land. I’ve read enough psychological thrillers to feel confident in that pattern recognition. Daya Winters let me sit in that confidence and then completely flipped the table.
The final act had me slack-jawed. Mouth hanging open, rereading paragraphs, genuinely asking myself if that just happened.
And then the epilogue arrived and rewrote everything I thought I understood about the story and about Hannah herself. It’s the kind of ending that lingers.
Thank you to @iris.influencer.society and @dayawinters for the ARC and for having me as a stop on the book tour for Smother’s release! All opinions are my own 🖤
A mother’s love has never felt more sinister. 🖤💀
Fair warning: you will not find your next book boyfriend in these pages. Ethan is spineless, keeps his mouth shut, and refuses to stand up for his wife while his mother berates, belittles, undermines, and excludes her. That is the point, and Daya Winters leans all the way into it.
Hannah thought marrying Ethan was the beginning of her perfect life. What she didn’t account for was Margaret, who arrives with open arms, warm smiles, and an agenda that slowly, methodically poisons everything Hannah thought she knew.
The manipulation here is incremental and insidious, the kind that makes you question whose perception you can actually trust, and that question matters more than you realize until the very end.
I’ll be honest. A few chapters in, I caught myself thinking I had already mapped everyone’s angles and predicted where the big reveals would land. I’ve read enough psychological thrillers to feel confident in that pattern recognition. Daya Winters let me sit in that confidence and then completely flipped the table.
The final act had me slack-jawed. Mouth hanging open, rereading paragraphs, genuinely asking myself if that just happened.
And then the epilogue arrived and rewrote everything I thought I understood about the story and about Hannah herself. It’s the kind of ending that lingers.
Thank you to @iris.influencer.society and @dayawinters for the ARC and for having me as a stop on the book tour for Smother’s release! All opinions are my own 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
(I was given an advanced copy of this book from the author, and all thoughts/opinions are my own and voluntarily provided)
I love a good psychological thriller that feels like it puts my brain through a blender, and Smother really hit the spot! Reading this felt like watching a thriller movie in real-time, complete with eerie background music and shocking twists and turns.
About halfway through, I thought I had it all figured out. Ending pegged, plot locked down, and was ready to ride it out through the end. Boy, was I wrong! The ending of this book snuck in multiple plot twists and layers that I wasn’t expecting, and I love a book that surprises me. After the epilogue, I literally said “well, damn.” What a WILD story, in the best of ways! 👏
Hannah, Ethan and Margaret are all very distinct and intriguing characters for different reasons. But one things for sure: it’s impossible to know who to trust. You’ll find secrets hidden in the most unexpected places in this book.
Buckle up, and get ready for your next binge-worthy thriller! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the adrenaline rush of thrillers combined with a tad bit of psychological torture. 😉
Thank you for sharing an ARC with me, Daya! ❤️
”Margaret had to be stopped, one way or another. And deep down I knew that somehow, I had to be the one to stop her.”
I love a good psychological thriller that feels like it puts my brain through a blender, and Smother really hit the spot! Reading this felt like watching a thriller movie in real-time, complete with eerie background music and shocking twists and turns.
About halfway through, I thought I had it all figured out. Ending pegged, plot locked down, and was ready to ride it out through the end. Boy, was I wrong! The ending of this book snuck in multiple plot twists and layers that I wasn’t expecting, and I love a book that surprises me. After the epilogue, I literally said “well, damn.” What a WILD story, in the best of ways! 👏
Hannah, Ethan and Margaret are all very distinct and intriguing characters for different reasons. But one things for sure: it’s impossible to know who to trust. You’ll find secrets hidden in the most unexpected places in this book.
Buckle up, and get ready for your next binge-worthy thriller! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the adrenaline rush of thrillers combined with a tad bit of psychological torture. 😉
Thank you for sharing an ARC with me, Daya! ❤️
April 21, 2026
This is the kind of book that makes your skin itch in the most uncomfortable way possible… and then dares you to keep reading anyway. Ethan isn’t loud or cruel, which somehow makes it worse. He fades into the background when it matters most, choosing silence over confrontation while Hannah is left to carry the weight of everything his mother throws at her. It’s frustrating in that slow-burn, clench-your-teeth kind of way.
And Hannah? She’s stuck in a situation that feels way too real, slowly being picked apart by a mother-in-law who smiles sweetly while quietly dismantling her life piece by piece. Margaret is the definition of subtle, calculated manipulation and it’s genuinely suffocating to watch unfold.
The tension builds in this quiet, insidious way where you start questioning everything. I thought I had it figured out. I really did. And this book just… let me believe that. Then flipped everything so hard I had to sit there and process what just happened.
Emotionally? Draining. I was stressed, irritated, secondhand embarrassed, and fully locked in. There were moments I had to pause because it felt like too much… and then immediately went back for more like a menace.
And that ending?? Yeah. No. I did not see that coming. Not even close. The kind that rewires everything you thought you understood and lingers way after you’re done.
Uncomfortable. Twisted. Quietly devastating. I devoured it.
And Hannah? She’s stuck in a situation that feels way too real, slowly being picked apart by a mother-in-law who smiles sweetly while quietly dismantling her life piece by piece. Margaret is the definition of subtle, calculated manipulation and it’s genuinely suffocating to watch unfold.
The tension builds in this quiet, insidious way where you start questioning everything. I thought I had it figured out. I really did. And this book just… let me believe that. Then flipped everything so hard I had to sit there and process what just happened.
Emotionally? Draining. I was stressed, irritated, secondhand embarrassed, and fully locked in. There were moments I had to pause because it felt like too much… and then immediately went back for more like a menace.
And that ending?? Yeah. No. I did not see that coming. Not even close. The kind that rewires everything you thought you understood and lingers way after you’re done.
Uncomfortable. Twisted. Quietly devastating. I devoured it.
April 26, 2026
I picked up this book without another thought and it delivered all of the bone chilling aspects of a thriller novel that kept me glued to the pages!
I must say, Hannah’s mother in law was incredibly insufferable from start to finish. I despised her on the spot, but that’s how I knew I would become intrigued with this story. At one point I was becoming just as paranoid as Hannah and when the hints started making their way through the plot, I needed to know what her mother in law, Margaret, was hiding under her perfectly curated life.
There were moments in the story where the plot dragged on a bit, but they were completely necessary plot points that made up for the big twist.
It was refreshing to see that Hanna still had a backbone and stood up for herself when Margaret perfectly placed herself into their lives. The poor girl couldn’t enjoy her life as a newlywed without having her husband’s mother sneaking up on her and making sly comments.
I couldn’t believe Margaret had the nerve, even as a mother, to commit such heinous crimes. She is truly disgusting, obsessive and remorseful. Her entire life’s purpose was based on how much she could control others, her son included. Nonetheless, the ending was amazing and played a few tricks on my mind which had me questioning everything I read.
"Yes, this is how it was always meant to be. We will be a family. Forever."
I must say, Hannah’s mother in law was incredibly insufferable from start to finish. I despised her on the spot, but that’s how I knew I would become intrigued with this story. At one point I was becoming just as paranoid as Hannah and when the hints started making their way through the plot, I needed to know what her mother in law, Margaret, was hiding under her perfectly curated life.
There were moments in the story where the plot dragged on a bit, but they were completely necessary plot points that made up for the big twist.
It was refreshing to see that Hanna still had a backbone and stood up for herself when Margaret perfectly placed herself into their lives. The poor girl couldn’t enjoy her life as a newlywed without having her husband’s mother sneaking up on her and making sly comments.
I couldn’t believe Margaret had the nerve, even as a mother, to commit such heinous crimes. She is truly disgusting, obsessive and remorseful. Her entire life’s purpose was based on how much she could control others, her son included. Nonetheless, the ending was amazing and played a few tricks on my mind which had me questioning everything I read.
"Yes, this is how it was always meant to be. We will be a family. Forever."
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5/5 ⭐️
I need to start this by saying: the first 70% of this “psychological thriller” felt like a regular Tuesday with my mother 😅
Margaret’s behavior - calling constantly, showing up unannounced, commenting on Hannah’s body, inserting herself into every decision - was framed as disturbing… but for me, it was familiar. Because of that, I spent most of Part 1 siding with Ethan, which I don’t think was the intended reading experience.
And then… this book takes a HARD turn.
Part 2 shifts into multiple POVs (Ethan, Margaret, Hannah), and suddenly everything gets darker, more twisted, and way more morally unhinged. The reveals are shocking, but the transition from “toxic but realistic” to “fully deranged” felt a little too abrupt for me.
That said - this book is going to be AMAZING for discussion.
The most unsettling element wasn’t even the characters - it was the house. The way it holds onto its past, the violence tied to it, the sense that something is lingering there… it’s never fully explained, which somehow makes it worse.
And that ending??
Absolutely unhinged.
Also weirdly… symmetrical.
This is one of those books where your personal experiences will completely shape how you read it - and honestly, that makes it more interesting than a straightforward thriller.
I need to start this by saying: the first 70% of this “psychological thriller” felt like a regular Tuesday with my mother 😅
Margaret’s behavior - calling constantly, showing up unannounced, commenting on Hannah’s body, inserting herself into every decision - was framed as disturbing… but for me, it was familiar. Because of that, I spent most of Part 1 siding with Ethan, which I don’t think was the intended reading experience.
And then… this book takes a HARD turn.
Part 2 shifts into multiple POVs (Ethan, Margaret, Hannah), and suddenly everything gets darker, more twisted, and way more morally unhinged. The reveals are shocking, but the transition from “toxic but realistic” to “fully deranged” felt a little too abrupt for me.
That said - this book is going to be AMAZING for discussion.
The most unsettling element wasn’t even the characters - it was the house. The way it holds onto its past, the violence tied to it, the sense that something is lingering there… it’s never fully explained, which somehow makes it worse.
And that ending??
Absolutely unhinged.
Also weirdly… symmetrical.
This is one of those books where your personal experiences will completely shape how you read it - and honestly, that makes it more interesting than a straightforward thriller.
April 18, 2026
This book is a velvet gloved gut punch. Equal parts poison and obsession. If you like your thrillers soaked in domestic poison and cinematic, stomach-drop moments, buckle the hell up! Margaret is a monstrous, gilded terror and peak mother from hell energy and Ethan? He’s a beautiful ruin: cold, decisive, and catastrophically loyal in the way that makes you want to puke and clap at the same time. The ending hits like a brick in slow motion. Brutal, gorgeous, and absolutely unhinged in the best way. I screamed, then sat with my mouth open for ten minutes, I felt my stomach drop, and then a feral thrill. It’s wrong, it’s wicked, and god, it sings! Hannah’s numbness after the blade is the most bruised, honest reaction I’ve read. She’s not a melodrama prop, she’s the person left holding the aftermath of someone else’s violent devotion. The book doesn’t pander to neat morality, it wallows in messy consequences and lets you marinate in the horror of loving someone who will burn everything down for you. This is psychological trauma served cold, with needle-sharp pacing and a final act that will haunt your nightmares and your bookstagram. Five star chaos. Read it late at night with the lights off and a phone that you don’t answer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
👁 I’m hosting a stop on the Smother Book Tour with @iris.influencer.society, and I am still trying to decide… What did I just read?
💀 This story had me questioning every interaction, every motive, and every character! The tension in this one builds so quietly, and then suddenly you’re completely trapped in it. 💀
🔪 If you love psychological thrillers with messy family dynamics and unreliable perspectives, this one will get under your skin. 🔪
😨 This book is a perfect psychological thriller! The hair on the back of my neck actually was tingling! I sat down to read it and did not get up until I was done. There were so many twists that I got whiplash! 😨
Hannah and Ethan are the main characters and I loved them and hated them equally. They are both so flawed and vulnerable. Ethan's mother is creepy, think Mommy Dearest on steroids!
Hannah starts to hear noises, and see strange dolls that seem to move around on their own. Her mother-in-law continues to invade their lives and Ethan is torn between his domineering mother and his new wife.
👀 WHAT IS REAL??? WHAT IS HAPPENING?? 👀
There are true horror elements, dark secrets, manipulation, gaslighting, and so many twists. I absolutely LOVED this thriller.!
An easy 5 🌟 read for me!
💀 This story had me questioning every interaction, every motive, and every character! The tension in this one builds so quietly, and then suddenly you’re completely trapped in it. 💀
🔪 If you love psychological thrillers with messy family dynamics and unreliable perspectives, this one will get under your skin. 🔪
😨 This book is a perfect psychological thriller! The hair on the back of my neck actually was tingling! I sat down to read it and did not get up until I was done. There were so many twists that I got whiplash! 😨
Hannah and Ethan are the main characters and I loved them and hated them equally. They are both so flawed and vulnerable. Ethan's mother is creepy, think Mommy Dearest on steroids!
Hannah starts to hear noises, and see strange dolls that seem to move around on their own. Her mother-in-law continues to invade their lives and Ethan is torn between his domineering mother and his new wife.
👀 WHAT IS REAL??? WHAT IS HAPPENING?? 👀
There are true horror elements, dark secrets, manipulation, gaslighting, and so many twists. I absolutely LOVED this thriller.!
An easy 5 🌟 read for me!
April 21, 2026
Talk about a roller coaster ride I didn’t want to get off of!
From the beginning I knew this was going to be a great read! I wasn’t even halfway through and I was already texting my friend that she NEEDED to read this!
Everything Margaret says or does, even the most innocent or mundane of things has a subtle underlying of foreboding vileness.
I felt the foreshadowing and stress in my bones.
Is the house haunted? Is it Margaret? Is Hannah going crazy? What is happening?
I was on edge almost the whole book, in a good way.
I liked how normalcy and sweet times were peppered in between the darkness. Made the story more believable and made me keep reading waiting for the inevitable to happen.
I was not expecting the twists and whirlwind I was put through.
The ending was good! SO good!
I really was rooting for our Ethan. A little disappointed in him, but Hannah is a tough little cookie and she will get him in line. If anything, like the last line says “Margaret met her match” God, how I LOVED that! Bravo Hannah!
& now that I think about it, the evil voice in Hannah’s mind she tapped down, was her own, the one who did exactly what Ethan did to his parents. What a perfect couple. A match made in psycho heaven.
From the beginning I knew this was going to be a great read! I wasn’t even halfway through and I was already texting my friend that she NEEDED to read this!
Everything Margaret says or does, even the most innocent or mundane of things has a subtle underlying of foreboding vileness.
I felt the foreshadowing and stress in my bones.
Is the house haunted? Is it Margaret? Is Hannah going crazy? What is happening?
I was on edge almost the whole book, in a good way.
I liked how normalcy and sweet times were peppered in between the darkness. Made the story more believable and made me keep reading waiting for the inevitable to happen.
I was not expecting the twists and whirlwind I was put through.
The ending was good! SO good!
I really was rooting for our Ethan. A little disappointed in him, but Hannah is a tough little cookie and she will get him in line. If anything, like the last line says “Margaret met her match” God, how I LOVED that! Bravo Hannah!
& now that I think about it, the evil voice in Hannah’s mind she tapped down, was her own, the one who did exactly what Ethan did to his parents. What a perfect couple. A match made in psycho heaven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
“My only living child… The only one I was meant to have. I will protect him from the shadows, even if he doesn’t realize he needs protecting.”
This was my first Daya book, and after reading the blurb, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I devoured it in a single day. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns kept me completely hooked.
Hannah and Ethan’s relationship moves fast they meet, fall in love, and get married within months, convinced they’re ready for forever. Instead of meeting the family before the wedding, Hannah is thrown into it after… and it’s far from what she expected.
Margaret, Ethan’s mother, is now Hannah’s mother-in-law and she is intensely devoted to her son. The things she says and does had my jaw on the floor more than once.
As the story goes on, Ethan begins to realize he may have to choose between the love of his life and his mother. Hannah starts to find her voice and stand up for herself. And Margaret… well, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her son close.
This book is packed with twists, and I never knew what was coming next. The secrets Hannah uncovers added so much to the suspense and kept me turning the pages.
All I can say is… I’ll never complain about my mother-in-law again.
This was my first Daya book, and after reading the blurb, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I devoured it in a single day. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns kept me completely hooked.
Hannah and Ethan’s relationship moves fast they meet, fall in love, and get married within months, convinced they’re ready for forever. Instead of meeting the family before the wedding, Hannah is thrown into it after… and it’s far from what she expected.
Margaret, Ethan’s mother, is now Hannah’s mother-in-law and she is intensely devoted to her son. The things she says and does had my jaw on the floor more than once.
As the story goes on, Ethan begins to realize he may have to choose between the love of his life and his mother. Hannah starts to find her voice and stand up for herself. And Margaret… well, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her son close.
This book is packed with twists, and I never knew what was coming next. The secrets Hannah uncovers added so much to the suspense and kept me turning the pages.
All I can say is… I’ll never complain about my mother-in-law again.
April 19, 2026
Advanced readers copy review of Smother by Daya Winters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Holy crap. What did I just read? 😂
“I should run. God, I should run. Every survival instinct I have is screaming at me.”
Smother by Daya Winters is one of those books that sneaks up on you—unsettling throughout, plot gets thicker & thicker and then suddenly you’re completely consumed. From the very first pages, there’s this thick, almost suffocating atmosphere (cough* Margaret * cough) that just clings to everything, and it never really lets go.
The tension and psychological aspects are so well done. It builds slowly but intentionally, layering unease, emotion, and webs of mystery to keep you flipping pages way past when you meant to stop. The writing itself feels sharp and immersive, with moments that are both haunting and oddly beautiful. There’s a rawness to the story that makes it feel intimate, almost like you’re not just reading it—you’re experiencing it alongside the characters.
And when the DOLL comes in to play - lord! I almost threw my book 😜 😂
I did foresee the main twist coming but I had no idea the ending would be the end and I LOVED IT.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Holy crap. What did I just read? 😂
“I should run. God, I should run. Every survival instinct I have is screaming at me.”
Smother by Daya Winters is one of those books that sneaks up on you—unsettling throughout, plot gets thicker & thicker and then suddenly you’re completely consumed. From the very first pages, there’s this thick, almost suffocating atmosphere (cough* Margaret * cough) that just clings to everything, and it never really lets go.
The tension and psychological aspects are so well done. It builds slowly but intentionally, layering unease, emotion, and webs of mystery to keep you flipping pages way past when you meant to stop. The writing itself feels sharp and immersive, with moments that are both haunting and oddly beautiful. There’s a rawness to the story that makes it feel intimate, almost like you’re not just reading it—you’re experiencing it alongside the characters.
And when the DOLL comes in to play - lord! I almost threw my book 😜 😂
I did foresee the main twist coming but I had no idea the ending would be the end and I LOVED IT.
April 19, 2026
Hello, people!
The protagonists of the story are Hannah and Ethan.
In the country where I live, there are many stories with mothers-in-law of all kinds. Those who live here, I am sure, have seen the series "Seven Deadly Mothers-in-Law" or have heard stories about mothers-in-law as well as proverbs that exist about them. Now, let's move on to the inside of the book.
This is a subversive novel that will make you bite your nails with suspense.
The flow is fast, almost cinematic I would say. The characters are diverse and multidimensional. Some you love and others you hate. This combination is so difficult that I really take off my hat and bow to the writing greatness of Daya Winters. The plot is full of suspense and its twists and turns make the book fantastic. Another strong point of the story is the tension and psychological background that takes the breath away and freezes the reader's blood.
Finally, her writing is sharp, enjoyable, intoxicating and shocking.
Many thanks to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
The protagonists of the story are Hannah and Ethan.
In the country where I live, there are many stories with mothers-in-law of all kinds. Those who live here, I am sure, have seen the series "Seven Deadly Mothers-in-Law" or have heard stories about mothers-in-law as well as proverbs that exist about them. Now, let's move on to the inside of the book.
This is a subversive novel that will make you bite your nails with suspense.
The flow is fast, almost cinematic I would say. The characters are diverse and multidimensional. Some you love and others you hate. This combination is so difficult that I really take off my hat and bow to the writing greatness of Daya Winters. The plot is full of suspense and its twists and turns make the book fantastic. Another strong point of the story is the tension and psychological background that takes the breath away and freezes the reader's blood.
Finally, her writing is sharp, enjoyable, intoxicating and shocking.
Many thanks to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Y’all, Smother is the kind of thriller that gets under your skin quietly and then refuses to leave. It’s not just about fear—it’s about control, perception, emotional manipulation, and the horror of not being believed when you know something is wrong. It takes something as ordinary as marriage and family and turns it into a psychological cage match, and wow, does it land.
This book made me anxious, furious, and completely obsessed. I was side-eyeing every smile, every overly sweet comment, every “I’m just trying to help” moment like my life depended on it. It’s tense, smart, deeply uncomfortable, and honestly? So much fun to read if you love watching domestic tension turn absolutely poisonous.
Bottom line: if you love slow-burn dread, manipulative characters, and thrillers that turn everyday relationships into nightmare material, this one needs to be on your radar immediately.
Also, just for the record, I will now be suspicious of every too-nice mother-in-law in fiction and possibly real life. 😌
This book made me anxious, furious, and completely obsessed. I was side-eyeing every smile, every overly sweet comment, every “I’m just trying to help” moment like my life depended on it. It’s tense, smart, deeply uncomfortable, and honestly? So much fun to read if you love watching domestic tension turn absolutely poisonous.
Bottom line: if you love slow-burn dread, manipulative characters, and thrillers that turn everyday relationships into nightmare material, this one needs to be on your radar immediately.
Also, just for the record, I will now be suspicious of every too-nice mother-in-law in fiction and possibly real life. 😌
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75/4 ⭐️
This was such a whirlwind of fuckery (in the best way) to put it lightly, especially at the end. I was so focused on Margaret, that I did not anticipate everything else. 😅
I was quickly sucked in and couldn't put it down until I finished. I needed to know everything. It starts out sweet, but quickly turns sour. I was pointing fingers and speculating everyone, and everything, and STILL was blindsided! (This is a good thing, I swear.) The mind games, the vibes, the build up, it was all done so well. 👏
I personally loved the pov switch ups at the end, I had just been thinking I would love to get inside their heads and see what they're thinking and feeling. It didn't disappoint!
I truly enjoyed it & will definitely recommend it, and I know since I received an e-arc copy I'm probably not supposed to touch on this, but I hope it gets another hard edit or has already had one. There were a ton of errors and some parts that felt disjointed. Like at one moment the fmc is in the kitchen and the next sentence it's 3 am and she's waking up, and stuff like that just pulls me out of the story. Some parts just really needed a clear separation. However, I am not letting that reflect in my review rating. 🙂
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society for gifting me an e-arc copy!
This was such a whirlwind of fuckery (in the best way) to put it lightly, especially at the end. I was so focused on Margaret, that I did not anticipate everything else. 😅
I was quickly sucked in and couldn't put it down until I finished. I needed to know everything. It starts out sweet, but quickly turns sour. I was pointing fingers and speculating everyone, and everything, and STILL was blindsided! (This is a good thing, I swear.) The mind games, the vibes, the build up, it was all done so well. 👏
I personally loved the pov switch ups at the end, I had just been thinking I would love to get inside their heads and see what they're thinking and feeling. It didn't disappoint!
I truly enjoyed it & will definitely recommend it, and I know since I received an e-arc copy I'm probably not supposed to touch on this, but I hope it gets another hard edit or has already had one. There were a ton of errors and some parts that felt disjointed. Like at one moment the fmc is in the kitchen and the next sentence it's 3 am and she's waking up, and stuff like that just pulls me out of the story. Some parts just really needed a clear separation. However, I am not letting that reflect in my review rating. 🙂
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society for gifting me an e-arc copy!
Review of advance copy
As a boy mom, I can almost relate to Margaret. Almost.
I mean, I hope my DIL doesn't see me as the overbearing, gaslighting, manipulative, smothering psycho that is Margaret. Margaret is the mother-in-law who knows no boundaries. She uses her spare key freely. She talks to her son about his sex life and asks Hannah uncomfortable questions.
And then there's the house. Are the creaks and groans really just the house settling? What about the creepy doll Hannah finds? And why is Hannah's neighbor acting like she wants to say so much more about her house and her mother-in-law?
All those questions and more will be answered, unsettling as it might be, between the pages of Smother. This was a slow-burn psychological thriller, but the ending crept up on me so fast that it left me gasping, as in "what the heck just happened?"
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society for bringing me along on the book tour!
I mean, I hope my DIL doesn't see me as the overbearing, gaslighting, manipulative, smothering psycho that is Margaret. Margaret is the mother-in-law who knows no boundaries. She uses her spare key freely. She talks to her son about his sex life and asks Hannah uncomfortable questions.
And then there's the house. Are the creaks and groans really just the house settling? What about the creepy doll Hannah finds? And why is Hannah's neighbor acting like she wants to say so much more about her house and her mother-in-law?
All those questions and more will be answered, unsettling as it might be, between the pages of Smother. This was a slow-burn psychological thriller, but the ending crept up on me so fast that it left me gasping, as in "what the heck just happened?"
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society for bringing me along on the book tour!
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