A Mother Would Never: A Psychological Thriller

by Laura Bensick

Everyone says I killed my own daughter. My gut tells me she's still alive. I will stop at nothing to find her.

Thirteen years ago, Rebecca was convicted of murdering her daughter during a devastating episode of postpartum psychosis. Now, she’s finally being released from the psychiatric hospital and returning to the small Texas town she once called home.

But Rebecca has a secret.

She is convinced her daughter is still alive. No one will believe her without proof -- not the town, not her ex-husband, not her younger daughter who has spent her whole life thinking her mom killed her big sister.

As Rebecca desperately digs through fractured memories and long-buried family secrets in search of what really happened that night, she begins to question what she actually remembers -- and what she doesn't. Then another child vanishes and all eyes are on Rebecca.

Is her mother’s intuition correct or is she the monster everyone thinks she is?

“A heart-pounding descent into memory, guilt, and a mother's refusal to let go. The mystery kept me guessing, but it's the family relationships, as real as they are devastating, that made the ending land with such explosive force. A Mother Would Never is a stellar debut!"
—Kelsey Cox, USA Today bestselling author of Party of Liars

A MOTHER WOULD NEVER is a gripping domestic psychological thriller that explores motherhood and mental health in a fast-paced story packed with family secrets and jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of Stacy Willingham, Lisa Jewell, and Freida McFadden.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 26, 2027

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Well, this debut author came to play! Did Rebecca kill her daughter, or is she innocent? I had questions, lots of them, and apparently Bensick had no intention of making things easy for me.

Told through multiple POVs, this thriller is packed with secrets, twists, and enough suspicion to make you question just about everyone. I kept trying to connect the dots, only to find myself looking for new ones.

But what makes this story more than just a good thriller is what's underneath all the mystery. At its heart is a beautiful, heartbreaking look at motherhood, the lengths we'd go to for our children, and the struggles of mental health.

A fantastic debut that delivers both suspense and emotion. Laura Bensick, you've got my attention! I'll definitely be looking for what's next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackburn Ink for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Kelly Veit · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Firstly, how is this a debut novel??? Laura penned this story like a seasoned author. Secondly, my daily to-do list just got way longer because I couldn’t put this book down. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I let everything go and kept reading til I reached the final page. I was completely and utterly captivated from start to finish. It was only at the last sentence that I was finally able to “let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding”😂

Rebecca is a new mother struggling to take care of her newborn and her three year old daughter. She starts to have an altered perception of reality that causes her to do something that lands her in a mental hospital. Everyone thinks she is guilty of a heinous crime (including her family) but is she?

There were so many lies and secrets, along with delusional thinking, that I never quite knew who or what to believe - I mean the entire time up until the final twist. And boy was it twisty! I changed my mind several times throughout the story as to what I thought was actually happening, who might be guilty of murder and who had their hands dirty. I did figure out one of the twists but it didn’t help me puzzle out the rest. I followed the bread crumbs that were being dropped along the way only to find myself at a dead end.

The story, to me, is heartbreaking on so many levels. But Laura shines a light on postpartum psychosis in a way that feels authentic and empathetic. It is apparent in the way that she so carefully writes about this condition from which many women suffer. It’s so impressive how she was able to weave all of that into a psychological thriller.

I loved every minute of this story. You do not want to miss this one folks! I can’t wait to see what Laura comes up with next.

✨Many thanks to Laura Bensick via NetGalley for the advance copy and for having me on her team.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother Would Never by Laura Bensick. Thanks to thrillerbookloverspulse and the author for the gifted copies ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rebecca has just released from the psychiatric hospital after thirteen years. Her small Texan town knows she was convicted of murdering her daughter during a post partum psychosis episode. But Rebecca still doesn’t believe she did it and she’s determined to prove it.

While very suspenseful, with lots of tension,
it was also a super fast and easy read due to short chapters and multiple perspectives. Every chapter is labeled by that chapter’s narrator relation to another character: “the mother, the grandmother, etc”. I loved how that was done and how somehow, it added to the suspense. You’re really not sure what to believe, even as the story unfolds. There’s lots to uncover and a few surprises at the end.

“All it takes is one moment where we forget that the other person is human because we’re so lost in our own narratives.”

Read if you like:
-Missing child or murder investigations
-Small town stories
-Mother/daughter tropes

A Mother Would Never comes out 1/26.

[Kristen (kristens.killer.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly could not put this book down. What a captivating, heartbreaking story!

This thriller is very character driven, with complex, authentic characters whose emotions you can feel jumping off the page through the author's immersive writing.

I felt so much for our FMC who had lost her daughter and truly did not know if she was part of the reason she was gone. Could she trust her own mind and the things she thinks she remembers from the night her daughter went missing?

EVERYONE who has mental health issues, and especially in crisis, deserves care and compassion. We are all human underneath the individual challenges we may struggle with. This book gave an innocuous viewpoint of a woman dealing with severe mental health issues, without making light of the severity or focusing too long on the darkness.

I also really enjoyed getting to know the family in this story, even though I was suspicious of every single one! What makes them tick, what influences their present decisions because of what happened in the past, and how do they hold the pain in their heart? This thriller reiterates that we all show our love for others differently, but it doesn't mean that the love isn't there.

I was truly SHOCKED by the ending, and while it was maybe a little far fetched for me, I was so so impressed by the writing in this debut and can't wait to read the next book by this author!

[Thrillerswineandchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

😵‍💫 F O R E S A K E N F R I D A Y book tour & review 😵‍💫 featuring “A Mother Never Would” by Laura Bensick!

Rebecca is finally released from a psychiatric hospital after 13 long years. Back then she was convicted of killing her 2 year old daughter Amelia during an episode of postpartum psychosis.

Rebecca never accepted that she killed her daughter or that Amelia was actually dead … and now that she is out of the hospital, she sure as hell is going to prove it. No one believes her innocence, but then again they also never found Amelia’s body.

Now that Rebecca is back home, memories and flash backs of THAT night start flooding her mind. Snippets of timelines, clues and visions taunt her as she desperately tries to put all the puzzle pieces together.

When another child goes missing in her small hometown, everyone points at Rebecca. Is she really sick? Could she have done this? Now Rebecca starts to question herself after all this time …

💭 MIC DROP! What do you mean this is a DEBUT novel? Laura Bensick takes you through every emotion as you try to steady yourself from the never ending twists and turns. I felt disorientated and unsettled as all of the red herrings kept throwing me off my game. My mind was on overdrive jumping from character to character trying to figure out really happened to Amelia! Each chapter will grip you with all of the shocking events, messy characters and unhinged behaviour! This story is beautifully written and pays homage to such heavy, sensitive and triggering topics. If you are a fan of Noelle Ihli’s books, then definitely check this one out! 5 shining stars!

Thank you kindly to @laurabensick @thrillerbookloversthepulse for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on January 26, 2027!

[Merlyn Fereira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Blackburn Ink and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book was marked as Request on NetGalley and I'm so glad that I was able to read this book at the correct time. This book may include spoilers that will be marked with (Spoiler) tag.

Who would love reading this book?:
- a 40 year old FMC who is let out of a facility after 13 years.
- something happened 13 years ago and the FMC is piecing together every tiny bit of information.
- Daddy is my mommy crazy? Did she __ my __ 13 years ago?

The good:
- An incredible start to this mystery thriller and the writing was so moving it made me cry.
- I could feel every emotion from the FMC and the courtroom scenes were so brilliantly written
- The FMC's younger daughter was a typical troubled kid who was taunted by a racoon eyeliner teenager.
- I liked how each chapter is not named by the character's name but by what relation they serve to the FMC.
- The story does a good thing of throwing people off. When one character seems suspicious for too long more are added and it keeps the story going.

What I didn't connect with or found unusual or didn't like:
- I think the pacing of the story is a problem because too little happens in the scene and then it cuts and moves on to the next.
- In chapter 61, it was odd seeing that Rebecca immediately trusts Stuart after the lie he fed to her. Her sudden mood change made it seem unlike her. She clearly didn't trust him and then suddenly she feels that since he laid his feelings bare I need to tell him.
- I wish I could continue reading the book but after the 70% mark too much was happening at very little time and it threw everything off balance

[Ree ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading a debut novel and not even realizing that it’s a debut novel. The writing in this was phenomenal and I loved the twist. It had me guessing right up until the end. The chapters were pretty short too and it’s fast paced so I felt like I was flying through it and couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know where the story was going. I can’t wait to read more of Laura’s work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Amber (TheAmbersBookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you mean this is a debut novel?! Because it was absolutely full of suspense and had me at the edge of my seat the entire time!!! I was hooked from the get go.. It had me in a complete choke hold.. That was such a perfect twist!!!

[coffeebooktess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca has been in a psychiatric hospital for killing her daughter, Amelia. She is released when she finally comes to grips with the fact that during her postpartum psychosis she killed her child. However, Rebecca believes her daughter is still alive, and she is going to prove it. This is a one-sitting thriller. I was hooked from page one. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which gives so much insight into the mystery. I was 15% into the book on Saturday morning, and I knew I'd finish it in one sitting! Every chapter makes you change your mind on what is going on and who killed Amelia.
I couldn't stick with one theory, and I couldn't decide if Rebecca was sick. This story takes you through every emotion, from anger to sadness. I also loved how the story was told from Rebecca’s parents' perspective. At the end of the book, I was holding my breath as I read. I suspected some of the twists, and it still knocked me off my feet. You won't see the ending coming! This is thriller perfection! The writing is top-notch, and you will feel all the emotions written on the page. The characters are flawed and real! This is a debut novel you do not want to miss! If you love unhinged characters, unstoppable mothers, and a mystery that you can not solve, then this is your next read.

[Marlei Faull · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother Would Never is such an incredibly immersive read. The storyline felt believable, the pacing was consistently strong, and there was just the right amount of suspense to keep me turning the pages.

One of the things I appreciated most was the portrayal of Rebecca's mental health. I felt the author handled such a complex and sensitive subject with genuine care and nuance. Rebecca wasn't necessarily a character I always liked or agreed with, but she felt incredibly human. Her struggles, flaws and emotions were written with such authenticity that I found myself completely invested in her story.

I had a slight inkling about where things might be heading, but I certainly hadn't figured everything out. And the ending? Everything came together so beautifully. I love when a story manages to tie up its loose ends without feeling forced, and this one did exactly that.

The writing was fantastic, the characters felt authentic, and I was completely absorbed in the story from start to finish.

An easy five stars from me. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Aleesha Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this is a banging debut! I requested this book after stumbling across the author’s post on my feed, and by 25% I was already completely obsessed. Like ma’am, where did you come from and why am I already emotionally invested in this entire family?!

So Rachel has spent the last 13 years locked in a psychiatric unit for killing her oldest daughter, Amelia. Now she’s out and returning home to a small town where Confederate flags are apparently part of the decor, LOVELY. The emotions this story put me thru….I felt so much for Rachel, but JOYCE?! That woman had me feeling ALL the things. Their mother daughter relationship was one of my favorite parts of this book.

One thing I absolutely loved was how she structured the POVs. We get “the mother” “the daughter” & more, with only Rachel’s chapters told in first person while everyone else is in third. The daughter’s chapters, the tone was SCREAMING teenager! She really captured how differently these characters think and experience everything happening around them.

The suspense was INTENSE, the emotions were emotioning, and I loved how all these different perspectives slowly wove together. You can tell she put serious time into researching the topics she tackled, and I appreciated how much thought went into this story.

[Corinne Soares · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a thought provoking read on so many levels!

First, from a mental health perspective, this book really struck a chord with me. Women struggling with postpartum depression or more serious postpartum mental health conditions are still too often dismissed when asking for help. Yet when things reach a crisis point, those same women can suddenly be demonized and labeled unfit mothers. Talk about a no win situation for a mother who is already struggling.

At the center of this story is Rebecca, a mother who was convicted of murdering her daughter 13 years ago during an episode of postpartum psychosis. Now, after years in a psychiatric hospital, she’s back in her hometown and convinced her daughter is still alive. But is she uncovering the truth, or can she trust her own mind?

And that brings me to another thing I loved about this book: I genuinely didn’t know who or what to believe! At times, Rebecca seems like an unreliable narrator. She’s still experiencing symptoms that raise questions about trauma, delusions, and what is actually happening versus what everyone around her insists is true. The multiple POVs only add to that uncertainty, constantly leaving you wondering who is telling the truth and what everyone might be hiding.

But beneath all the twists and mystery, this is ultimately a story about a mother’s love. And not just Rebecca’s. There are several mothers in this book whose love for their children is all consuming, sometimes beautiful and sometimes a little problematic. I really appreciated how the author explored those complexities rather than presenting motherhood as something simple or one dimensional.

A huge thank you to Laura Bensick for not only delivering a beautifully written, twisty mystery, but also for shining a light on the complexities of women’s mental health. As both a therapist and a reader, I appreciated what this story brought to the table.

Highly recommend adding this one to your TBR when it hits shelves in January 2027!

[Wild and Wise Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reason: ARC

Review:
Sometimes, a book finds you at a season in your life that feels like it was written just for you. A mother would absolutely never give up on her children and this was the most pure form of that.

As a recently postpartum mother myself, who had my own battles, this book took me back through all of those emotions - tears, heartbreak, gasps, frustration, confusion, understanding and back again - talk about a page-turner - I couldn’t find the end fast enough so I knew how this all worked out for this family.

The multiple points of view added a depth to the story that I found interesting, as a way to experience the behind-the-scenes narrative which further complicated the twisty path to whether Rebecca was on the right track or not.

The storyline with Rebecca and her different recollections - whether accurate or not - feels as if it is portraying exactly what it’s like being inside the mind of someone struggling like her. It can be any number of emotions frightening, chaotic, disorienting - and Laura walked that line in the most realistic sense.

I commend Laura for the delicate way she handled this heavy storyline, the development and perspective of a perfectly timed concept, as this feels to be discussed and debated everywhere you turn lately, as well as the weaving of these characters together through their own beauty and brokenness. I also appreciated the way she chose to end this emotional journey!

Phenomenal work! I cannot wait to devour future work of yours!

[Stephanie Winchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to be accepted into @laurabensick ARC team for her psychological thriller A Mother Would Never! This book was a fantastic debut - 4⭐️. I was deeply invested in the characters, the hidden connections that were revealed, and how this family coped after such a huge tragedy.
Rebecca had finally admitted, after years of being sentenced to a psychiatric hospital, that she murdered her oldest daughter. But she hasn’t healed during her time away, instead she is convinced that Amelia is still alive. With no contact from her other daughter, she is dying to reconnect with her. Rebecca is released to the custody of her parents and has to deal with a town full of people who don’t trust her, hide their children from her, and are all trying to keep their own secrets buried. Only one friend, Stuart, is even willing to consider her innocence and help her find out what really happened.
I love a multiple POV and each chapter was titled with whose POV we were reading. The way each character was struggling in their own way and the way they all handled the same situations was so unique. Bensick took the very heavy medical issue of postpartum depression and showed us a very real picture of what some women go through. Rebecca had my whole heart throughout this book and the ending was perfection. 4 ⭐️ - add this one to your TBR today!

[Katie Lavoie · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wow - what a great debut full of suspense and unpredicted plot twists!

Overall, I found this a really easy read to get pulled into. Somewhere between the short chapters, fast moving plot, and all the suspicious characters, I just didn’t want to put it down.

I think the emotion and experience Laura Bensick was able to capture in Rebecca’s character was really well done. There were high and lows, complete confidence in herself and utter confusion in what was real, fake hallucinations and real memories. Everything swirled together to create an ever present question of what, if anything, was real vs imaginary in Rebecca’s mind.

I also enjoyed that while everyone was a bit shady, I never saw the final few twists coming! I loved learning about all the secrets and it just goes to prove, nothing stays secret in a small town.

My biggest qualm with the book was how I felt it was too far over done on the ‘Rebecca is a killer’ baseline. I don’t understand how the police brought such charges without a body and how everyone (especially people once close to her) kept calling her a killer. Yes - she was negligent. But also she was in a psychosis and it just… seemed like no one had any empathy for her nor her fragile mental state. It might be an issue more with society than the book (given it’s probably realistic that everyone would be judging and mean towards her) but still, I felt she deserved more support and compassion.

Thank you to Laura Bensick, Blackburn Ink, Thrillers Book Lover The Pulse, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Staci · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the mystery in A Mother Would Never! I needed to know what really happened, and the red herrings threw me off along the way. While I figured out part of the truth, I didn't piece everything together. I was happy with how the story ended.

I also appreciated how Laura Bensick portrayed the mother's postpartum psychosis. It felt realistic, and I found myself sympathizing with her, especially as she went back and forth questioning her own guilt.

The beginning took me a little while to get into. I'm used to more descriptive writing from authors like Karin Slaughter, so this writing style was different from what I normally read. Once I adjusted, though, I really appreciated how quickly the story moved. The author established the foundation of the story and then let the mystery unfold without dwelling too much on the postpartum aspect.

Overall, this was an engaging mystery that kept me reading because I needed to know what really happened.

I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

[Jenns_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca was convicted 13 years ago of murdering her 2 year old daughter during an episode of post partum psychosis. After being released from the psychiatric hospital, she returns to her small home town convinced that her daughter Amelia is still alive. No one believes her: not her ex-husband, not her daughter Eve, not even her parents. When she starts to experience repressed memories, she sets out to uncover the truth from that fateful night. She will stop at nothing to prove her innocence. When another child goes missing, Rebecca is the main suspect. Is she innocent? Or is she the unstable monster everyone thinks she is?

Holy shit! How is this a debut novel?! This book held me captive from the very first page. It was fast paced & I may have ignored responsibilities to finish this book 😆 I needed to know the truth! My heart was literally skipping a beat during the final chapters. This book deals with heavy topics (post partum psychosis, child death) but is done extremely well with care. My heart ached for Rebecca. Without giving away anything, there were some characters who pissed me off so badly that I wanted to reach through my kindle & slap them (IYKYK). When I get this worked up about fictional characters, I know this is a five star read. The ending? Character development? Pure perfection.

I am excited to see what Laura writes next.

Perfect for fans of
Psychological suspense that keeps you guessing
Multiple points of view
Small town secrets
Maternal mental health topics
Short, fast paced chapters

Add this book to your TBR!
Pub Date 01.26.2027

Thank you to the author & Blackburn Ink for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

[Joanna Lardie · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wow. What an insane ride.

From the beginning, Laura Bensick gives you just enough information to make you question everything. I spent most of the book not knowing if Rebecca was lying, telling the truth, or losing her grip on reality. I loved not knowing who to trust!

I absolutely loved the multiple POVs in this one. Every perspective added something meaningful to the story and made it clear that everyone was an unreliable narrator. Not just the "crazy" one! I especially loved how the chapters were labeled by each character's relationship to Rebecca rather than their names. Mother, Grandmother, Friend. Such a clever little detail that made the storytelling even more interesting!

The writing was so enthralling, and the pacing was fantastic. Sometimes I wanted it to move faster, but that was just because I couldn't handle not knowing anymore! Also, those twists were never-ending in the best way possible. Good luck figuring this one out before it's over!

This story also tackles some incredibly difficult subject matter surrounding motherhood and mental health, particularly postpartum psychosis. It's a frightening and heartbreaking topic, but I thought Bensick handled it really well while still delivering an incredibly entertaining psychological thriller.

Such an impressive debut, and I can't wait to see what Laura Bensick writes next!

A huge thank you to Laura Bensick and Blackburn Ink for the advance reading copy and for inviting me to be part of the ARC team. All opinions are my own.

[Vanina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The story follows Rebecca, who has spent 13 years in a mental asylum for the murder of her daughter. Now finally released, she’s trying to adjust to a world that has completely changed. But as fragments of memories begin to resurface, Rebecca starts questioning everything. What if she didn’t kill her daughter? What if her daughter is still alive? As she desperately tries to piece together the truth, everyone around her remains convinced that she’s still mentally unstable.

This was such a gripping and captivating read! I was completely drawn into Rebecca’s story, and the more the pieces came together, the more invested I became. When I finished, I was literally staring at the wall in shock. I did NOT see that coming! 😳

If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR. It’s a fast-paced read with short chapters that make it impossible to put down!

[Angie Brylowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Laura Bensick & NetGalley for the digital arc and the opportunity to read this amazing book before it is out for everyone!

Wow just wow!🤯 What a fantastic debut 👏👏

I love when authors tackle hard topics; topics that are hushed, diminished, and forbidden and there are a lot of those forbidden and hard topics in this book. Laura nailed every single one. I could feel all the emotions every character was feeling and the ones they were suppressing. I could feel the fear and intensity of the moments, the heartbreak, and the overwhelmingness of acceptance. I was rooting for Rebecca and was praying with each page she’d get her happy ending. The twists were unexpected and so good. This book is so beautifully written and will have people talking for a long time!!!

[Rachel | probablymidchapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A DEBUT!!! I was wrong, wrong, WRONG in attempting to guess the ending of this one!

I had so many suspects on my list, and somehow I still couldn't figure out where this story was going. The last 40 pages had me ignoring every responsibility because I absolutely needed to know how it ended.

As a mom, this one hit deep. Rebecca's experiences with postpartum psychosis were heartbreaking, and I found myself constantly questioning whether she was capable of killing Amelia or if she really was innocent. The fact that she couldn't seem to rely on anyone to believe her made it even more emotional. And Tim? What an absolute dick.

Laura Bensick did such a beautiful job weaving together the realities of postpartum life, the severity of maternal mental health struggles, and the anger and desperation of a mother determined to prove her innocence.

The twists, the emotions, the constant second-guessing... I loved every bit of this one. I genuinely cannot believe this is a debut!

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackburn Ink Publishing, and Laura Bensick for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Anya Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca has spent 13 years in prison for the murder of her young daughter, Amelia, despite her body never being found. Now that she’s finally been released, she’s determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.
With her surviving daughter Eve, an ex-husband who has moved on with a new wife, and a family full of complicated relationships, Rebecca’s return brings old secrets and suspicions back to the surface. When another young girl goes missing, the mystery becomes even more unsettling.

[Mónica Mancillas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a psychological thriller, and oh my goodness, I was hooked! I literally read it page to page in one sitting because I couldn't put it down! I just HAD to know how it ended! I loved the multi-POV approach, and short, fast paced chapters (which like I said, kept me turning pages). I also really appreciated the male-female dynamics and subtle critique of the systemic misogyny that often leads to both the neglect and condemnation/criminalization of women suffering from PPP/PPD. As a mother, this story spoke to me on so many levels, harkening back to my own postpartum struggles, and that almost indescribably all-consuming love a mother holds for her child. Highly recommend this one!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I could hardly put this book down, yet I didn’t want it to end! The characters were so well developed that I felt like I personally knew each one. The twists and turns kept me guessing right up until the end! If I could give it more stars I would! Definitely put this one on your “must read” list!

[Michelle Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOMENAL!!!
5 plus stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Bensick and the publisher for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

It was incredible from page one all the way to the end. No way would I have guessed this was her debut novel.

Cannot wait to see what her next novel will hold.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Holly Wielenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- what did I just read? It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. There are so many twists & turns that it was hard to put it down. I can’t wait to read more by Laura Bensick 🩷

[Ree · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚
🗓PUB DATE: JANUARY 26, 2027

A psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. And just when you think you've got it figured out, you've fallen flat on your a— you know what! I had no idea this was the author's debut novel. This reminded me a little of Her Silence by S.T. Ashman, since both are psych thrillers moved forward by a mother's love. If you liked that one, you should definitely give this a shot.

The pacing was great. The short chapters made is super bingeable, read 75% in a day. I did sort of guess the ending twist, it was one of my theories. It did have me for a moment thinking that it was wrong, (and I was shocked when I thought I was wrong lol) but then it ended up being right. There are things that made me second guess that theory as well, so i wasn't 100% sure I was correct which is why I say I sort of guessed it. I did get tossed around a bit with the few theories I had.

Sometimes in thrillers I get frustrated when the character is written with such a lack of common sense to excuse their very poor decisions. While sometimes Rebecca was making frustrating choices, it was because she is actually mentally ill. So it's easier to look over because she has a valid reason. But I really liked that even though the reader KNOWS she has a mental illness, it's written in a way that you still wanna believe her. And you get to know the difference between her hallucinations and what's real, because her character is written so well that as the reader, you do feel like you know her. Overall, an impressive debut.

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

[Theo Wynn · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A Mother Would Never by Laura Bensick had me changing my mind more than once, and I mean that in the best possible way!

Rebecca’s story is one that immediately makes you question what really happened and whether the truth is anything like what everyone believes. After spending thirteen years in a psychiatric institution for the alleged murder of her daughter, Rebecca is released and determined to find answers. But the more you learn, the harder it becomes to know what to believe.

I really enjoyed the way the author kept me second-guessing myself. I would settle on one theory, feel pretty confident about it, and then something would happen that sent me in an entirely different direction. I honestly wasn’t sure what to think for much of the book, and I love when a psychological thriller can pull that off.

The pacing was good overall, although there were moments that moved a little faster than others, and a few slower stretches along the way. Still, there was enough mystery and uncertainty to keep me invested and wanting to know how everything would come together.

I also appreciated the multiple perspectives and the way the story explored the complicated relationships within this family, along with the struggles surrounding postpartum mental health. There is quite a bit more going on beneath the surface than you might initially expect.

Overall, a solid psychological thriller that kept me guessing, shifting my suspicions, and questioning my own theories. A very promising debut from Laura Bensick, and I’ll definitely be interested to see what she writes next!

[Suchalady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t LOVE this one, but I didn’t hate it either. It was a solid thriller, just not one that completely worked for me.

The story explores missing memories and a mother’s struggle with postpartum mental illness and recovery, which I thought was an interesting premise with a lot of potential.

My biggest issue was the pacing and execution. For roughly the first 30%, the story felt a little one-note and repetitive. Then, once things started happening, it felt like EVERYTHING was happening.

There were so many twists, turns, and new developments introduced that I didn’t feel like they were all given enough room to breathe or be fully explored.

I also prefer when an author plants little clues throughout the story and lets me connect the dots myself. Here, some of the revelations felt more convenient than earned, and a lot of things were spelled out rather than left for the reader to piece together.

And that’s really just a personal preference! I love a twisty thriller, but I want those twists to feel carefully built into the story, not just thrown at me one after another.

Overall, it’s a decent read, and I can absolutely see other thriller readers enjoying it more than I did. It just wasn’t a standout for me.

3 stars. Not a bad book, just not entirely my cup of tea!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a few days since I finished A Mother Would Never, and I still can't stop thinking about it. I initially rated it 4.5 stars, but atter sitting with the story, ve officially bumped it up to 5. A book that stays with you long after the final page deserves every star.

From the very beginning, Bensick pulls you into a mystery filled with twists, secrets, and suspicion. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, each identified by their relationship to the main character, Rebecca. Just when you think you've figured things out, another twist has you questioning everything and everyone all over again.

What sets this thriller apart is how thoughttully Bensick explores sensitive topics like motherhood, mental health, and postpartum psychosis. She handles these subjects with compassion and respect, giving readers a deeper understanding of the complexities of motherhood.
At its heart, this is more than a psychological thriller. It's a story about a mother's love and just how far she go to uncover the truth.

As someone who loves the twists and suspense of Freida McFadden and Noelle W. Ihli, I can confidently say. Laura Bensick has earned a spot alongside them on my list of favorite thriller authors. If you love the kind of thriller that ‹eeps you guessing and stays on your mind long arter you've finished, this is one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

I finished this book days ago, but clearly, this book isn't finished with me.