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The Perfect Mother
9 hours, 29 minutes
They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.
When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.
Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.
They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.
When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.
Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.
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First published May 1, 2018
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May 4, 2018
I enjoyed this quite a lot.
The Perfect Mother definitely has something of a Moriarty vibe (Liane, not Jim) but I personally found it better paced. I struggled with the slowness and tame domesticity of Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Truly Madly Guilty, though I enjoyed the HBO adaptation of Big Little Lies. I would say that this book is more like the latter. It's predominantly about women and the relationships between them, with the thriller aspect of a missing baby providing the stage on which these complex friendships and loyalties play out.
Molloy splits the narrative in an interesting way. The "present" of the story contains short, hard-hitting chapters that briefly reflect on the events leading up to that moment, and then the book moves to the past and explores what happens when an infant goes missing while his mother - Winnie - is getting a much-needed night out with other members of her "mommy group".
This colourful group of women drive the story, which is largely about the pressures put on mothers to be "perfect". As the case plays out, we see news articles and talk shows questioning Winnie's behaviour: how could she go out drinking while her poor baby was being kidnapped? Her friends from her group are also forced to question how much they really know Winnie, and each other.
Molloy captures what it is like to drive yourself a little crazy trying to be that elusive "perfect mother" and shows the dark events that can unfold in the wake of such impossible aspirations. Ultimately, though, there is something very uplifting about this group of mothers banding together and putting aside their doubts to help one of their own. These women - each from different backgrounds with very different financial situations - put strains on their relationships and careers to help find Winnie's baby.
The Perfect Mother is being called a "thriller", which I suppose technically it is, but it is far more a tale of motherhood and female friendship in all their beautiful, vicious glory.
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The Perfect Mother definitely has something of a Moriarty vibe (Liane, not Jim) but I personally found it better paced. I struggled with the slowness and tame domesticity of Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Truly Madly Guilty, though I enjoyed the HBO adaptation of Big Little Lies. I would say that this book is more like the latter. It's predominantly about women and the relationships between them, with the thriller aspect of a missing baby providing the stage on which these complex friendships and loyalties play out.
Molloy splits the narrative in an interesting way. The "present" of the story contains short, hard-hitting chapters that briefly reflect on the events leading up to that moment, and then the book moves to the past and explores what happens when an infant goes missing while his mother - Winnie - is getting a much-needed night out with other members of her "mommy group".
This colourful group of women drive the story, which is largely about the pressures put on mothers to be "perfect". As the case plays out, we see news articles and talk shows questioning Winnie's behaviour: how could she go out drinking while her poor baby was being kidnapped? Her friends from her group are also forced to question how much they really know Winnie, and each other.
Molloy captures what it is like to drive yourself a little crazy trying to be that elusive "perfect mother" and shows the dark events that can unfold in the wake of such impossible aspirations. Ultimately, though, there is something very uplifting about this group of mothers banding together and putting aside their doubts to help one of their own. These women - each from different backgrounds with very different financial situations - put strains on their relationships and careers to help find Winnie's baby.
The Perfect Mother is being called a "thriller", which I suppose technically it is, but it is far more a tale of motherhood and female friendship in all their beautiful, vicious glory.
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October 20, 2020
“Is this the definition of modern motherhood?”
The Perfect Mother epitomizes the reading experience I wish for every time I crack a new cover. Let’s be honest though, picking up any book is a crapshoot. Even with authors you’ve come to rely on, there’s still no telling what you’re in for. For me, turning that first page is often accompanied by a heady mix of excitement, cut with a sliver of apprehension, for good measure. Worst case scenario, things veer off into disappointed territory and fight or flight comes to a head. Best case, like me, with this book, reading nirvana. A storyline compelling enough to keep the pages turning at a rapid pace, and at those times when real life just wouldn’t let it happen, still managing to inhabit my thoughts.
Although marketed as a psychological thriller, I think women’s fiction is the more fitting category for Aimee Molloy’s fiction debut. Shelved alongside those authors who stretch the boundaries of the genre by weaving in threads of suspense—Liane Moriarty and Jessica Strawser come to mind. I think readers who pick this up strictly looking for tried and true suspense will find themselves among the disappointed. On the other hand, for readers like myself, who revel in the women’s fiction genre, this is a recommended pick.
Aimee Molloy shined in creating women whose storylines were compelling in their own right and yet collectively even stronger. The May Mothers—a group of Brooklynite first-timers who all gave birth in May—brings Francie, Nell, Colette, and Winnie together at a time when solidarity is essential. Because who can better understand what you’re going through than other first-timers? Balancing work, home life, self-care and relationships amidst their new role comes with plenty of advice, fodder and burgeoning expectation. Each May Mother confronts the anxiety and pressure that comes along with trying to be *the perfect mother*.
It’s around the six-week mark that the new moms step out to celebrate the Fourth and experience a little freedom. The mothers take a much-needed break from all of the swaddling, feedings and diaper changes in favor of laughs and a few drinks. Regret tinges everyone’s memory of that night when Winnie’s young son goes missing from his crib.
The May Mothers take readers along as they put their amateur sleuthing skills to use. Whether it's creating doubt, casting suspicion or garnering sympathy, each mother makes a contribution to this riveting read.
There are times in life, and as a reader, when digging a little deeper is a must. What people—and even characters—choose to share with the world often isn’t indicative of their reality.
Is anyone else as excited as I am to see this on the big screen with Kerry Washington? *hand-raised enthusiastically*
*Thanks to the FCPL for helping me rediscover the magic of the library and having such an extensive collection. One that has inspired me to browse until I find something that fits just right, like this gem.
May 21, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
As soon as I read the description for “The Perfect Mother” I immediately added it to my list of Most Anticipated Reads for 2018. The fact that it was already in production to be made into a major motion picture added to my intrigue. I couldn’t wait to read it.
The May Mothers are a group of mothers who gave birth in the same month. They joined the group online and eventually met in person. They met a couple of times a week and shared what was happening in their lives and with their babies. The group changed a lot, people came and went… but a small group of women stuck it out and continued to meet up often.
Then one night someone suggests that they get together for a Mommy only night out at a local bar. It would be a nice break from their daily routine.
“This will be great. A few hours out. A slice of freedom. Nothing we’ll regret. Just one drink.”
One mother was very hesitant about leaving her baby, but the other mothers insist that she come. They tell her everything will be fine.
But they were wrong….and now a baby is missing.
“bad things happen in heat like this”
Right away the police are involved and social media goes crazy as videos and photos from the night in question are released. Lives are turned upside down, judgments are made, and it seems everyone has something to hide. Is anyone who they claim to be?
Will a group of three determined mothers be able to help reunite mother and child?
I really enjoyed this interesting and unique story about motherhood, betrayals, secrets, and lies.
The author included “Today’s Advice” at the start of each chapter; a blurb with advice or information about the stages of emotional, social, or physical development. The kind of advice that seems helpful but can also make a new mother crazy at times, wondering if their baby is developing at the “right” pace. Of course, everyone wants to be “ The Perfect Mother ”. A lot of what the characters were going through was very relevant. How it sometimes feels like everyone knows where they are doing except for you.
The story was gripping. I did figure out one of the twists early on, but it didn’t bother me as I was really into each characters story-line as well as the mystery of the missing baby. There were a couple of times that I lost track of who was who but overall I was able to keep things straight.
All in all, I thought this was a very satisfying domestic suspense novel with excellent characters and a great plot that had me flipping pages at a rapid pace from start to finish.
I’m excited to see what Aimee Molloy comes up with next.
I'd like to thank HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
As soon as I read the description for “The Perfect Mother” I immediately added it to my list of Most Anticipated Reads for 2018. The fact that it was already in production to be made into a major motion picture added to my intrigue. I couldn’t wait to read it.
The May Mothers are a group of mothers who gave birth in the same month. They joined the group online and eventually met in person. They met a couple of times a week and shared what was happening in their lives and with their babies. The group changed a lot, people came and went… but a small group of women stuck it out and continued to meet up often.
Then one night someone suggests that they get together for a Mommy only night out at a local bar. It would be a nice break from their daily routine.
“This will be great. A few hours out. A slice of freedom. Nothing we’ll regret. Just one drink.”
One mother was very hesitant about leaving her baby, but the other mothers insist that she come. They tell her everything will be fine.
But they were wrong….and now a baby is missing.
“bad things happen in heat like this”
Right away the police are involved and social media goes crazy as videos and photos from the night in question are released. Lives are turned upside down, judgments are made, and it seems everyone has something to hide. Is anyone who they claim to be?
Will a group of three determined mothers be able to help reunite mother and child?
I really enjoyed this interesting and unique story about motherhood, betrayals, secrets, and lies.
The author included “Today’s Advice” at the start of each chapter; a blurb with advice or information about the stages of emotional, social, or physical development. The kind of advice that seems helpful but can also make a new mother crazy at times, wondering if their baby is developing at the “right” pace. Of course, everyone wants to be “ The Perfect Mother ”. A lot of what the characters were going through was very relevant. How it sometimes feels like everyone knows where they are doing except for you.
The story was gripping. I did figure out one of the twists early on, but it didn’t bother me as I was really into each characters story-line as well as the mystery of the missing baby. There were a couple of times that I lost track of who was who but overall I was able to keep things straight.
All in all, I thought this was a very satisfying domestic suspense novel with excellent characters and a great plot that had me flipping pages at a rapid pace from start to finish.
I’m excited to see what Aimee Molloy comes up with next.
I'd like to thank HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 15, 2021
*3.6ish Stars*...because I’m annoyingly indecisive with ratings!
They trade parenting tips, share undiluted birthing stories, vent about their constant lack of sleep...nothing glaringly out of the ordinary here.
Until one of their babies goes missing during a much-needed girl’s night out.
And suddenly these moms learn that the their newfound bonds merely skim the surfaces of deep connection—as none of them truly knows who the other is at heart.
This story took a while to grip me, and I’d say the second half fairly surpasses the first in its intrigue.
What ensues is an energizing string of amateur sleuthing, local news reports, police questioning, mommies with a mission, and suspicion sprinkled indiscriminately throughout.
This author did a fantastic job portraying the anxieties and concerns of first-time moms, all of whom host their own set of personal challenges: the guilt they feel working with their babies left at home, or those twinges of regret and pangs of insignificance that linger after giving up their careers entirely.
As mothers, we tend to doubt ourselves at times. We too often compare ourselves to other moms; our kids to other kids.
But the truth is, perfection isn’t attainable. Everyone’s situation is unique, and I could see these characters gradually reflecting that and evolving—caring less and less about what “looks” right and focusing more on what feels right for them.
The mystery circling this plot was pretty tight, but would have summoned more power had certain characters had more exposure.
Those characters in the forefront were entirely three-dimensional. But others, although important, felt hollow—like phantoms, never fully coming to life within the story.
The end scene, when everything finally comes to a head, had me divided: On the one hand, it offered a meaty dose of insanity that was both disturbing and richly entertaining, and not to be missed!
But on the flip side, there was a lot of information-dumping; a vocal unraveling of the entire mystery reminiscent of how a cartoon villain reveals the deranged details of his evil crusade in a step-by-step fashion, delighted with himself for pulling a fast one over on the “good guys”. It all felt a little Scooby Doo-ish.
I always find a finale of the nut-job-explains-all variety to be a rushed and awkward experience, whether in books or movies. I would much prefer having witnessed such lunacy play out, even if through flashbacks. The final “reveal” just didn’t have enough groundwork to convince me.
Overall, this was a good read with a very natural writing style, and realistic dialogue and interactions. I do think many readers will have a lot of fun with this one and I certainly look forward to more from this author!
*My first group read with my Traveling Sisters was a success! Thanks for the insightful conversations, ladies—many more to come!*
“Mothers and babies. You’re everywhere. I hope you appreciate everything you have.”Meet The May Mothers: A newly-acquainted group of first-time moms who’ve all delivered their babies in the month of May.
They trade parenting tips, share undiluted birthing stories, vent about their constant lack of sleep...nothing glaringly out of the ordinary here.
Until one of their babies goes missing during a much-needed girl’s night out.
And suddenly these moms learn that the their newfound bonds merely skim the surfaces of deep connection—as none of them truly knows who the other is at heart.
This story took a while to grip me, and I’d say the second half fairly surpasses the first in its intrigue.
What ensues is an energizing string of amateur sleuthing, local news reports, police questioning, mommies with a mission, and suspicion sprinkled indiscriminately throughout.
This author did a fantastic job portraying the anxieties and concerns of first-time moms, all of whom host their own set of personal challenges: the guilt they feel working with their babies left at home, or those twinges of regret and pangs of insignificance that linger after giving up their careers entirely.
As mothers, we tend to doubt ourselves at times. We too often compare ourselves to other moms; our kids to other kids.
But the truth is, perfection isn’t attainable. Everyone’s situation is unique, and I could see these characters gradually reflecting that and evolving—caring less and less about what “looks” right and focusing more on what feels right for them.
The mystery circling this plot was pretty tight, but would have summoned more power had certain characters had more exposure.
Those characters in the forefront were entirely three-dimensional. But others, although important, felt hollow—like phantoms, never fully coming to life within the story.
The end scene, when everything finally comes to a head, had me divided: On the one hand, it offered a meaty dose of insanity that was both disturbing and richly entertaining, and not to be missed!
But on the flip side, there was a lot of information-dumping; a vocal unraveling of the entire mystery reminiscent of how a cartoon villain reveals the deranged details of his evil crusade in a step-by-step fashion, delighted with himself for pulling a fast one over on the “good guys”. It all felt a little Scooby Doo-ish.
I always find a finale of the nut-job-explains-all variety to be a rushed and awkward experience, whether in books or movies. I would much prefer having witnessed such lunacy play out, even if through flashbacks. The final “reveal” just didn’t have enough groundwork to convince me.
Overall, this was a good read with a very natural writing style, and realistic dialogue and interactions. I do think many readers will have a lot of fun with this one and I certainly look forward to more from this author!
*My first group read with my Traveling Sisters was a success! Thanks for the insightful conversations, ladies—many more to come!*
August 4, 2020
*** NEW NOVEL COMING OUT IN OCTOBER, BUT YOU CAN READ THIS ONE NOW***
Finally a thriller that really delivers! Stayed up until 2:00 last night finishing this, I just had to know how it ended. It’s amazing that this is a debut novel and that it has already been picked up to be made into a movie, what a wonderful accomplishment for Ms. Molloy.
This novel is told from multiple points of view and I did have a little trouble at times keeping track of who was talking but that was probably just because I was reading too fast! The author also used a technique that worked very well to ratchet up the tension, “someone” was writing about what she was feeling and going through” at the beginning of the chapters, but we don’t know who.
The story is about a handful of first time moms who meet in what they call their “May Mothers” group because they are all due in May. The main characters are Francie, Nell, Collette, Scarlet, Winnie and Token (a well chosen name as he is the token male in the group). They meet twice a week in a park with babies in strollers sharing joyful times, stories of exhaustion seeking advice and assurance from each other. Everything is going along well until, as the blurb will tell you, they decide to have a single night out and during that time one of the newborns is abducted from his home, with the babysitter asleep on the couch when the police arrive. To add to the frustration and anger of the mothers the police seem to make so many mistakes, letting people into the crime scene before taking photos, fingerprints, etc.
The crime becomes a media circus with a particular woman reporter who is out to find the “dirt” on any of the women, and that she does. All of these women are unique, all have secrets and I had absolutely no idea who abducted baby Midas.
What really hit home for me is the fact that one of my daughters has a 2 and 4 year old and I can remember how flustered and upset she was with her first baby, particularly since she is in another state with no family close by. She turned to the internet which, in my opinion, just made things worse. Whatever worry or problem she had she seemed to be able to find some article that told her multiple ways of solving it. I think new mothers in today’s society are expected to be so much, the “perfect mother” doing everything right, the in-shape wife and most also have careers. I remember my pregnancies and early years with four daughters and I think things are worse now with too much information available on the internet. I remember I had two “baby books” both of which I ended up tossing!
The novel also hits upon sensationalism by the news media. We are all bombarded with it every time we turn on the TV, whether it is political or social, it always seems to be reported in a way that will get more viewers, no matter whom they hurt in the process or whose career they may destroy.
So this novel is a great thriller and a perfect analysis of our times. I would, however, not recommend this book to new mothers as this will just give them more to worry about!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
Finally a thriller that really delivers! Stayed up until 2:00 last night finishing this, I just had to know how it ended. It’s amazing that this is a debut novel and that it has already been picked up to be made into a movie, what a wonderful accomplishment for Ms. Molloy.
This novel is told from multiple points of view and I did have a little trouble at times keeping track of who was talking but that was probably just because I was reading too fast! The author also used a technique that worked very well to ratchet up the tension, “someone” was writing about what she was feeling and going through” at the beginning of the chapters, but we don’t know who.
The story is about a handful of first time moms who meet in what they call their “May Mothers” group because they are all due in May. The main characters are Francie, Nell, Collette, Scarlet, Winnie and Token (a well chosen name as he is the token male in the group). They meet twice a week in a park with babies in strollers sharing joyful times, stories of exhaustion seeking advice and assurance from each other. Everything is going along well until, as the blurb will tell you, they decide to have a single night out and during that time one of the newborns is abducted from his home, with the babysitter asleep on the couch when the police arrive. To add to the frustration and anger of the mothers the police seem to make so many mistakes, letting people into the crime scene before taking photos, fingerprints, etc.
The crime becomes a media circus with a particular woman reporter who is out to find the “dirt” on any of the women, and that she does. All of these women are unique, all have secrets and I had absolutely no idea who abducted baby Midas.
What really hit home for me is the fact that one of my daughters has a 2 and 4 year old and I can remember how flustered and upset she was with her first baby, particularly since she is in another state with no family close by. She turned to the internet which, in my opinion, just made things worse. Whatever worry or problem she had she seemed to be able to find some article that told her multiple ways of solving it. I think new mothers in today’s society are expected to be so much, the “perfect mother” doing everything right, the in-shape wife and most also have careers. I remember my pregnancies and early years with four daughters and I think things are worse now with too much information available on the internet. I remember I had two “baby books” both of which I ended up tossing!
The novel also hits upon sensationalism by the news media. We are all bombarded with it every time we turn on the TV, whether it is political or social, it always seems to be reported in a way that will get more viewers, no matter whom they hurt in the process or whose career they may destroy.
So this novel is a great thriller and a perfect analysis of our times. I would, however, not recommend this book to new mothers as this will just give them more to worry about!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
March 14, 2020
The Perfect Mother by Aimee Malloy is a 2018 Harper publication.
Here is another book that lingered around on my TBR list for a while. I think I might have grouped it in with the onslaught of psychological thrillers dominating the publishing world at the time, so I put it on a backburner, while I recovered from PT burnout.
The premise:
A group of new moms, all of whom gave birth in the month of May, joined a ‘Mommy Group’ they aptly named the "May Mothers". They didn’t know each other before they had their babies, only corresponding through email before meeting face to face at Prospect Park.
The group meets bi-weekly to support one another and chat about the joys and challenges of being a new mom. When it is discovered that Winnie, who is usually very quiet, is a single mom and may be feeling overwhelmed, the ladies plan a night out without the babies, and insist Winnie get a babysitter and join them.
But their child-free ladies night turns into a nightmare when Winnie’s son, Midas, disappears while they were out drinking. This turn of events affects the entire group, compounding their already stressful lives.
As the investigation deepens, the women all find themselves under the watchful eye of the police, the press, and social media.
The story follows the mommy group members, each of whom get a turn at controlling the narrative, as they deal with the fallout of Midas’ disappearance. As they navigate through the unknown territory of parenthood, deal with marital issues, family relationships, and career woes, they also find themselves bonding with each other, and even turn into amatuer sleuths, in an attempt to help Winnie find her son.
Because this book languished on my TBR list for so long, I had forgotten what the book was about, so I pretty much went into it blind, and as such, was completely taken off guard by the tone of the novel.
For one, I wouldn’t place this book in the psychological thriller category, per se. It is a crime story and a mystery, but the way the story develops, the missing child thread runs in the background.
The drama and demands of motherhood, family relationships, careers, and the pressure to be “The Perfect Mother” takes center stage, instead.
It took me a little while to decide how I felt about this novel. Despite the drama overpowering any semblance of suspense, I found myself wrapped up in the lives of these women.
It was only later, as I reflected on the book, that I realized how deeply the mystery was woven into the story, and how it played a big role in the way the new moms were coping.
The narrative shifts could be confusing at times, but surprisingly, I managed to keep up for the most part. Still, it took me out of the story on a few occasions, especially the parts I listened to on audio. It was probably just me, though, since I tend to struggle with a large cast of characters to begin with.
Other than that, I thought the story also made a little statement about the unrealistic expectations and pressures new mothers in contemporary times face, while at the same time giving these characters the option of doing what worked best for them, whether they were single moms, or had full time careers, or if they decided to be a stay at home mom. Not sure if that was what the author was going for, but it did give me something to ruminate on.
The mystery itself was the weakest element, unfortunately. It was a bit transparent to me. After decades of reading mystery and suspense novels, some plot lines appear to be recycling, only with a more modern spin. While those of you who missed out on all those awesome romantic suspense novels of the 80s and 90s might find the mystery thread to be completely original, I’m afraid I’ve encountered this one before. There were also a few highly implausible situations that almost made me laugh. However, because my attention was mostly on the drama, and the way the investigation was going to go, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.
Either way, the story took me away from all the bad news out there for a while. Sometimes getting involved in someone else’s high drama is just what you need to get your mind off things.
Although this book wasn’t exactly what I was anticipating, I ended up liking it, overall.
Here is another book that lingered around on my TBR list for a while. I think I might have grouped it in with the onslaught of psychological thrillers dominating the publishing world at the time, so I put it on a backburner, while I recovered from PT burnout.
The premise:
A group of new moms, all of whom gave birth in the month of May, joined a ‘Mommy Group’ they aptly named the "May Mothers". They didn’t know each other before they had their babies, only corresponding through email before meeting face to face at Prospect Park.
The group meets bi-weekly to support one another and chat about the joys and challenges of being a new mom. When it is discovered that Winnie, who is usually very quiet, is a single mom and may be feeling overwhelmed, the ladies plan a night out without the babies, and insist Winnie get a babysitter and join them.
But their child-free ladies night turns into a nightmare when Winnie’s son, Midas, disappears while they were out drinking. This turn of events affects the entire group, compounding their already stressful lives.
As the investigation deepens, the women all find themselves under the watchful eye of the police, the press, and social media.
The story follows the mommy group members, each of whom get a turn at controlling the narrative, as they deal with the fallout of Midas’ disappearance. As they navigate through the unknown territory of parenthood, deal with marital issues, family relationships, and career woes, they also find themselves bonding with each other, and even turn into amatuer sleuths, in an attempt to help Winnie find her son.
Because this book languished on my TBR list for so long, I had forgotten what the book was about, so I pretty much went into it blind, and as such, was completely taken off guard by the tone of the novel.
For one, I wouldn’t place this book in the psychological thriller category, per se. It is a crime story and a mystery, but the way the story develops, the missing child thread runs in the background.
The drama and demands of motherhood, family relationships, careers, and the pressure to be “The Perfect Mother” takes center stage, instead.
It took me a little while to decide how I felt about this novel. Despite the drama overpowering any semblance of suspense, I found myself wrapped up in the lives of these women.
It was only later, as I reflected on the book, that I realized how deeply the mystery was woven into the story, and how it played a big role in the way the new moms were coping.
The narrative shifts could be confusing at times, but surprisingly, I managed to keep up for the most part. Still, it took me out of the story on a few occasions, especially the parts I listened to on audio. It was probably just me, though, since I tend to struggle with a large cast of characters to begin with.
Other than that, I thought the story also made a little statement about the unrealistic expectations and pressures new mothers in contemporary times face, while at the same time giving these characters the option of doing what worked best for them, whether they were single moms, or had full time careers, or if they decided to be a stay at home mom. Not sure if that was what the author was going for, but it did give me something to ruminate on.
The mystery itself was the weakest element, unfortunately. It was a bit transparent to me. After decades of reading mystery and suspense novels, some plot lines appear to be recycling, only with a more modern spin. While those of you who missed out on all those awesome romantic suspense novels of the 80s and 90s might find the mystery thread to be completely original, I’m afraid I’ve encountered this one before. There were also a few highly implausible situations that almost made me laugh. However, because my attention was mostly on the drama, and the way the investigation was going to go, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.
Either way, the story took me away from all the bad news out there for a while. Sometimes getting involved in someone else’s high drama is just what you need to get your mind off things.
Although this book wasn’t exactly what I was anticipating, I ended up liking it, overall.
November 25, 2018
This was a mixed bag for me for the following reasons:
- I'm not a fan of the confession monologue as a means to solve a crime
- I found it difficult to keep the characters straight and needed to jot notes down as I read.
- But I loved the focus on motherhood and how difficult it is to balance those first few months.
- I liked the focus on the part the media plays in sensationalizing crimes and their rush to judgement.
- loved the the "Nancy Grace" character who vilified the moms for having a drink on a girl's night out. As if that makes them bad moms?
- Such a good point on how misleading one picture can be when taken out of context, yet that's the picture that is splashed across newspapers and TV screens. There's a lot to unpack here and discuss.
- the insensitivity of co-workers and bosses in the workplace when a new mom returns to work. I think our country could do better to support and enable women who return to work. What an awful position many women find themselves in. Again, a lot to unpack and discuss. - I found a character's story timely in this age of #MeToo and loved the point made of why do we call scandals by the woman's name, not the man's, especially when it's a young vulnerable woman who is preyed upon by a man in a position of power. The man pretty much gets away with it while the woman pays the price her entire life.
- there was a story arc for one of the male characters that didn't ring true for me.
- I was invested in the story the first half but the author lost me in the second half. I thought there was an opportunity lost - the author made much of some of the marital difficulties that often come with new parenthood but didn't really explore them in depth
- I know this wasn't a police procedural but I would have liked to have read the perspective from the detectives working the case. They seemed to be extremely inept.
Overall, I really liked the messages about new motherhood, the shaming of women caught in a scandal, the exploration of the media's role in sensationalizing a crime, and the rush to assign blame and convict in the court of public opinion. But the crime itself and the resolution left me feeling pretty meh. If I were rating that part only I'd give it a 2 (fair), but will bump it up because it's a debut novel and I did appreciate the point the author was trying to make on important and timely issues.
*many thanks to EW for an ARC of this novel given in exchange for an honest review.
*this was a traveling sister read. For this and other review please visit their blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
- I'm not a fan of the confession monologue as a means to solve a crime
- I found it difficult to keep the characters straight and needed to jot notes down as I read.
- But I loved the focus on motherhood and how difficult it is to balance those first few months.
- I liked the focus on the part the media plays in sensationalizing crimes and their rush to judgement.
- loved the the "Nancy Grace" character who vilified the moms for having a drink on a girl's night out. As if that makes them bad moms?
- Such a good point on how misleading one picture can be when taken out of context, yet that's the picture that is splashed across newspapers and TV screens. There's a lot to unpack here and discuss.
- the insensitivity of co-workers and bosses in the workplace when a new mom returns to work. I think our country could do better to support and enable women who return to work. What an awful position many women find themselves in. Again, a lot to unpack and discuss. - I found a character's story timely in this age of #MeToo and loved the point made of why do we call scandals by the woman's name, not the man's, especially when it's a young vulnerable woman who is preyed upon by a man in a position of power. The man pretty much gets away with it while the woman pays the price her entire life.
- there was a story arc for one of the male characters that didn't ring true for me.
- I was invested in the story the first half but the author lost me in the second half. I thought there was an opportunity lost - the author made much of some of the marital difficulties that often come with new parenthood but didn't really explore them in depth
- I know this wasn't a police procedural but I would have liked to have read the perspective from the detectives working the case. They seemed to be extremely inept.
Overall, I really liked the messages about new motherhood, the shaming of women caught in a scandal, the exploration of the media's role in sensationalizing a crime, and the rush to assign blame and convict in the court of public opinion. But the crime itself and the resolution left me feeling pretty meh. If I were rating that part only I'd give it a 2 (fair), but will bump it up because it's a debut novel and I did appreciate the point the author was trying to make on important and timely issues.
*many thanks to EW for an ARC of this novel given in exchange for an honest review.
*this was a traveling sister read. For this and other review please visit their blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
May 30, 2018
Oh my! Now that was one twisty read!!
The May Mothers – A group of new moms form a casual friendship, getting together to share their experiences and support one another. After all, they’re new parents…with lots of questions.
When the ladies plan an evening out without their babies in tow, no one could imagine the consequences of that innocent rendezvous.
There is a definite rhythm to this book, though it took me nearly half-way in to find the pace. I struggled a bit keeping a few of the characters apart. But once rolling, it flowed smoothly and I couldn’t put it down!
Told from multiple POV from those in the mommy’s group. Each with a story to tell and, maybe even a past to keep hidden. Here’s the challenge - you may think you have this one down. You may think you have it all figured out. HA! Are you in for a big surprise!
If you like domestic thrillers then don’t pass this one up!
A wonderful Traveling Sister read!!
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
The May Mothers – A group of new moms form a casual friendship, getting together to share their experiences and support one another. After all, they’re new parents…with lots of questions.
When the ladies plan an evening out without their babies in tow, no one could imagine the consequences of that innocent rendezvous.
There is a definite rhythm to this book, though it took me nearly half-way in to find the pace. I struggled a bit keeping a few of the characters apart. But once rolling, it flowed smoothly and I couldn’t put it down!
Told from multiple POV from those in the mommy’s group. Each with a story to tell and, maybe even a past to keep hidden. Here’s the challenge - you may think you have this one down. You may think you have it all figured out. HA! Are you in for a big surprise!
If you like domestic thrillers then don’t pass this one up!
A wonderful Traveling Sister read!!
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
May 16, 2019
"This will be great. A few hours out. A slice of freedom...Nothing we'll regret. Just one drink."
This story had me reading through the night. It was full of twists & turns and secrets & lies. Trying to unravel it all was difficult because the story is told via various (unreliable) points of view. At times it was difficult to tell where 1 character's thoughts began and another's ended. Things jumped from person to person but honestly, I felt that it added to the overall frantic pacing of the book.
The plot centers around a group of new mothers who form a friendship over the internet to share the joys & pressures of motherhood - the May Mothers. They decide to have a "Mom's Night Out" only to endure a mother's worst nightmare - one of the babies, Midas, goes missing.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the frank portrayal of motherhood. The sleepless nights, the uncertainty, the love, the hormones and the pressure to be the perfect mother. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between these group of women. It was portrayed realistically - the desire to fit in, the need to be accepted, wanting to have someone who gets it but also fearing being judged. These are all real emotions many new moms have & face in today's society with so much emphasis being placed on being the "perfect mother".
Molloy did a wonderful job layering this story. Everyone had secrets, told lies and added to the twists. I had suspicions about who was responsible but I hadn't figured it all out which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a suspenseful read that grabbed my attention from page 1 and kept it throughout.
This story had me reading through the night. It was full of twists & turns and secrets & lies. Trying to unravel it all was difficult because the story is told via various (unreliable) points of view. At times it was difficult to tell where 1 character's thoughts began and another's ended. Things jumped from person to person but honestly, I felt that it added to the overall frantic pacing of the book.
The plot centers around a group of new mothers who form a friendship over the internet to share the joys & pressures of motherhood - the May Mothers. They decide to have a "Mom's Night Out" only to endure a mother's worst nightmare - one of the babies, Midas, goes missing.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the frank portrayal of motherhood. The sleepless nights, the uncertainty, the love, the hormones and the pressure to be the perfect mother. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between these group of women. It was portrayed realistically - the desire to fit in, the need to be accepted, wanting to have someone who gets it but also fearing being judged. These are all real emotions many new moms have & face in today's society with so much emphasis being placed on being the "perfect mother".
Molloy did a wonderful job layering this story. Everyone had secrets, told lies and added to the twists. I had suspicions about who was responsible but I hadn't figured it all out which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a suspenseful read that grabbed my attention from page 1 and kept it throughout.
June 8, 2018
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. One moment you have your baby, and in a blink of an eye, they’re gone, taken from you.
When I read the plot summary for this book, I was instantly hooked. Whenever a novel has some sort of abduction or kidnapping theme, I’m all in. I eagerly try to use my amateur sleuthing skills to figure out the “who-dunnit” before it’s revealed. However, I am also pleasantly surprised when I’m completely stumped, as was the case in The Perfect Mother. I tend to look a little like this:
While, I found this to be a very light and easy read, I was also letdown. Perhaps I had really high expectations, and I was a little disappointed as a result. In a psychological thriller, I value character development, and while this book had some characterization elements, it was overall lacking. There were too many characters involved for that to be wholly achieved.
If you are looking for a great beach read and you like psychological thrillers, this would a perfect match. For me, I think I was just wanting more, expecting more. I’m giving this an overall rating of 3 stars.
When I read the plot summary for this book, I was instantly hooked. Whenever a novel has some sort of abduction or kidnapping theme, I’m all in. I eagerly try to use my amateur sleuthing skills to figure out the “who-dunnit” before it’s revealed. However, I am also pleasantly surprised when I’m completely stumped, as was the case in The Perfect Mother. I tend to look a little like this:
While, I found this to be a very light and easy read, I was also letdown. Perhaps I had really high expectations, and I was a little disappointed as a result. In a psychological thriller, I value character development, and while this book had some characterization elements, it was overall lacking. There were too many characters involved for that to be wholly achieved.
If you are looking for a great beach read and you like psychological thrillers, this would a perfect match. For me, I think I was just wanting more, expecting more. I’m giving this an overall rating of 3 stars.
May 11, 2018
Books seem to be published according to trends. The one I've noticed lately are about groups of women, who have children or are expecting a child. I've read many of these in recent months with varying degrees of success. This is one of the better ones in that grouping. For one reason the writing style is suspenseful but not overly dramatic, soap opera style, and for another I found these women realistically portrayed the many aspects, trials if you will of being a new mother.
They begin meeting when they are still expecting, a group of mothers all whom will be giving birth in May. The babies are then called May babies, and we get to hear some of their birth stories and the struggles they have trying to balance the mxny different facets of life while trending to s newborn. One of the women suggest a night off sand babies, a night for themselves, an opportunity to destress. Whilevout one of the women's baby is kidnapped.
What this book does so well is showing how the press distorts reality, doing anything to get and keep a story in the publics eye. It also shows how just being part of a tragedy makes one fair game. All these women are shown in the press in the worst possibly light. The high standards mothers are held to, as if they stop being people in and of themselves. All these woman have secrets from the past that will now be exposed. It also shows how strong a bond female friendships can be, how they try to help each other.
So for me this was different because it carried a strong message while being well written and entertaining. Never guessed the ending so that is another plus. I did come to care about these flawed women and everything they went through. Apparently this book is being made into a movie, as it seems so many books are, especially lately.
ARC from Edelweiss.
They begin meeting when they are still expecting, a group of mothers all whom will be giving birth in May. The babies are then called May babies, and we get to hear some of their birth stories and the struggles they have trying to balance the mxny different facets of life while trending to s newborn. One of the women suggest a night off sand babies, a night for themselves, an opportunity to destress. Whilevout one of the women's baby is kidnapped.
What this book does so well is showing how the press distorts reality, doing anything to get and keep a story in the publics eye. It also shows how just being part of a tragedy makes one fair game. All these women are shown in the press in the worst possibly light. The high standards mothers are held to, as if they stop being people in and of themselves. All these woman have secrets from the past that will now be exposed. It also shows how strong a bond female friendships can be, how they try to help each other.
So for me this was different because it carried a strong message while being well written and entertaining. Never guessed the ending so that is another plus. I did come to care about these flawed women and everything they went through. Apparently this book is being made into a movie, as it seems so many books are, especially lately.
ARC from Edelweiss.
May 11, 2019
A clever page-turner!
A mother’s group goes out for a fun get together at the local bar. Then one mom gets a call from the babysitter.
I love the thought of a mommy group and meeting to support each other. This mommy group (May Mothers) is going through hell after one of the babies goes missing.
This book got me out of my reading slump. Perfectly paced with plenty of twists, it kept me engaged as the moms put on their detective hats (along with me).
I loved the camaraderie of the moms and could relate to the situations that new moms are often juggling. The ladies have a strong bond and are supportive of each other. They are also shrewd and had me tensing up at some of their antics.
A clever ending that surprised me. This would be a perfect summer/beach read.
A mother’s group goes out for a fun get together at the local bar. Then one mom gets a call from the babysitter.
I love the thought of a mommy group and meeting to support each other. This mommy group (May Mothers) is going through hell after one of the babies goes missing.
This book got me out of my reading slump. Perfectly paced with plenty of twists, it kept me engaged as the moms put on their detective hats (along with me).
I loved the camaraderie of the moms and could relate to the situations that new moms are often juggling. The ladies have a strong bond and are supportive of each other. They are also shrewd and had me tensing up at some of their antics.
A clever ending that surprised me. This would be a perfect summer/beach read.
January 30, 2018
I literally have no idea how I am going to write this review. I’ve had my eye on The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy for MONTHS. I saw this pretty little gem on edelweiss and was completely obsessed! I knew I had to read it. Then, to find out The Perfect Mother is going to be a movie with Kerry Washington? Um, SOLD. Though, I am seriously wondering how they will do this book justice.
So, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I signed up for babycenter.com. It is a website with facts about your growing baby, has forums for questions or just general conversations. I was on babycenter.com ALL the time. As a soon to be first time mom, I wanted all the facts. You can also join a group based on your due date month. My DD was due in August so I had joined the group and met a bunch of moms with the same due month. (crazy crazy, let me tell you!)
Well, in The Perfect Mother we have the May Mothers, they were all due in May. The May Mothers meet through their village website and have been emailing each other for some time. After all the babies have been born, they decide to meet up IRL. All the moms and babies head to the local park to talk, compare and just have some mom time. One of the moms suggests a girl’s night out on July 4th to have some real fun. During the May Mothers big night out, a baby goes missing.
This was told through many perspectives and I’ll admit I had to back up sometimes to figure out who I was reading. BUT, that did not stop me. I read this within a day. I loved the characters, the writing, and the mystery. This book is so relevant and just so damn good. I honestly feel like I have nothing to read after this now.
This story is amazing. I was so absorbed with the main characters that I was THROWN with what happened. I had no idea it was going that way, NONE. And, the whole deal about the pickles and beans, omg I was dying. This is out May 1st and you NEED this. Thank you to Aimee and Harper books for sending me a free copy for a review. 5 amazing stars!
So, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I signed up for babycenter.com. It is a website with facts about your growing baby, has forums for questions or just general conversations. I was on babycenter.com ALL the time. As a soon to be first time mom, I wanted all the facts. You can also join a group based on your due date month. My DD was due in August so I had joined the group and met a bunch of moms with the same due month. (crazy crazy, let me tell you!)
Well, in The Perfect Mother we have the May Mothers, they were all due in May. The May Mothers meet through their village website and have been emailing each other for some time. After all the babies have been born, they decide to meet up IRL. All the moms and babies head to the local park to talk, compare and just have some mom time. One of the moms suggests a girl’s night out on July 4th to have some real fun. During the May Mothers big night out, a baby goes missing.
This was told through many perspectives and I’ll admit I had to back up sometimes to figure out who I was reading. BUT, that did not stop me. I read this within a day. I loved the characters, the writing, and the mystery. This book is so relevant and just so damn good. I honestly feel like I have nothing to read after this now.
This story is amazing. I was so absorbed with the main characters that I was THROWN with what happened. I had no idea it was going that way, NONE. And, the whole deal about the pickles and beans, omg I was dying. This is out May 1st and you NEED this. Thank you to Aimee and Harper books for sending me a free copy for a review. 5 amazing stars!
May 15, 2018
"Wanna know something?" Nell leans in and lifts the bottom of her shirt. "These are maternity pants. The baby is two months old, and I'm still wearing maternity pants."
This, folks, is reality. The soon-after-birth reality that visits the "May Mothers" (with little hatchlings all born in the month of May). Brooklyn's Prospect Park is the site for all to meet with their caravans of strollers and baby carriers. A place to embrace a once far distant sanity welcomed into this new state of chaos. Mommas and babies usually wear an aura of vulnerability naturally. But what will transpire in the following chapters will set everyone concerned on a precipice of heightening fear and the sudden jolt of abrupt tension.
With the Fourth of July holiday upon them, our ladies decide to strike a deal for a women's night out at a local bar sans babies and with opportunities for adult beverages. Loose ends are straightened with single mom, Winnie, having to choose a newly hired babysitter. With PeekABoo app on her phone, Winnie is able to glance in on her sleeping Midas in his crib. But something goes tragically wrong when Midas ends up missing in his crib. An unspeakable nightmare.
Aimee Molloy swings her storyline in a variation of directions. We, as readers, observe the meltdown of the May Mothers as more and more backstories come to light regarding each one. Each woman appears to wear a veneer with lies seeping across the skin's surface. All is not what it appears here. Molloy keeps Winnie in the shadows for most of the story with brief entries here and there. Each woman sifts through the past hours in search of the truth......or their version of the truth.
The Perfect Mother is scheduled for a film starring Kerry Washington. This should be interesting to see just how they will portray the dichotomy of strong, independent women wrapped in the throws of hormones and breast feeding. As we know, it's accomplished on a daily real people schedule, with or without film and hair and makeup standing by. Throw in a full-tilt mystery and we have quite the casserole here.
This, folks, is reality. The soon-after-birth reality that visits the "May Mothers" (with little hatchlings all born in the month of May). Brooklyn's Prospect Park is the site for all to meet with their caravans of strollers and baby carriers. A place to embrace a once far distant sanity welcomed into this new state of chaos. Mommas and babies usually wear an aura of vulnerability naturally. But what will transpire in the following chapters will set everyone concerned on a precipice of heightening fear and the sudden jolt of abrupt tension.
With the Fourth of July holiday upon them, our ladies decide to strike a deal for a women's night out at a local bar sans babies and with opportunities for adult beverages. Loose ends are straightened with single mom, Winnie, having to choose a newly hired babysitter. With PeekABoo app on her phone, Winnie is able to glance in on her sleeping Midas in his crib. But something goes tragically wrong when Midas ends up missing in his crib. An unspeakable nightmare.
Aimee Molloy swings her storyline in a variation of directions. We, as readers, observe the meltdown of the May Mothers as more and more backstories come to light regarding each one. Each woman appears to wear a veneer with lies seeping across the skin's surface. All is not what it appears here. Molloy keeps Winnie in the shadows for most of the story with brief entries here and there. Each woman sifts through the past hours in search of the truth......or their version of the truth.
The Perfect Mother is scheduled for a film starring Kerry Washington. This should be interesting to see just how they will portray the dichotomy of strong, independent women wrapped in the throws of hormones and breast feeding. As we know, it's accomplished on a daily real people schedule, with or without film and hair and makeup standing by. Throw in a full-tilt mystery and we have quite the casserole here.
April 18, 2018
The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy is a psychological thriller that easily will have readers on the edge of their seat as the story involves a missing infant. This one is told from multiple points of view including an unknown voice involved in the story.
Several women have formed a group that they are calling the May Mothers after the fact that they all met because they were all due to have their babies that May. After the births the ladies would get together to share stories of their children and various parenting tips to try to help each other along the way.
On the Fourth of July the May Mothers organized a girls night out insisting that they all needed a break away from the babies just for a few hours. Nothing would happen they said. Everything will be fine they said. Of course things did not turn out fine when one of the mothers returns to find her baby has been kidnapped.
As a reader I've often said there is nothing more intense than that of a missing child so when I saw this one I knew I should be in for an exciting ride. And to hear that the book has already had offers of a movie deal with a big name actress even before it's published, sign me up please.
Just as I had expected the story is one that is easy to get lost in as you read and the only reason I found myself not giving five stars really was a few times during the book I'd lose track a bit of the point of view. It actually was done pretty well though so I wouldn't let the multiple points of view scare anyone away. I also had a slight idea of the outcome fairly early on but never figured the actual who/how it all came about. But when it was all said and done I do think readers are really going to enjoy this one and can't wait to see how the movie turns out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Several women have formed a group that they are calling the May Mothers after the fact that they all met because they were all due to have their babies that May. After the births the ladies would get together to share stories of their children and various parenting tips to try to help each other along the way.
On the Fourth of July the May Mothers organized a girls night out insisting that they all needed a break away from the babies just for a few hours. Nothing would happen they said. Everything will be fine they said. Of course things did not turn out fine when one of the mothers returns to find her baby has been kidnapped.
As a reader I've often said there is nothing more intense than that of a missing child so when I saw this one I knew I should be in for an exciting ride. And to hear that the book has already had offers of a movie deal with a big name actress even before it's published, sign me up please.
Just as I had expected the story is one that is easy to get lost in as you read and the only reason I found myself not giving five stars really was a few times during the book I'd lose track a bit of the point of view. It actually was done pretty well though so I wouldn't let the multiple points of view scare anyone away. I also had a slight idea of the outcome fairly early on but never figured the actual who/how it all came about. But when it was all said and done I do think readers are really going to enjoy this one and can't wait to see how the movie turns out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 24, 2018
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is one of those books that works to confuse you. With constantly switching perspectives, it’s not an easy story to figure out. Think Big, Little Lies with all the swirling confusion. If you like that style, you’ll like this.
A group of new mothers opt for a night out and during that time, one of their babies goes missing. They don’t know each other well. These aren’t long time friends, they all met through a website for new parents in Brooklyn and bonded because their due dates were all in the same month.
The other mothers don’t think the police are doing a good job with their investigation and start their own. But at the same time, they aren’t all being entirely honest. And each has her own secrets. Molloy perfectly gets the strain of new motherhood, the angst and the fears.
What grabbed me about the book is how it correctly paints our current news atmosphere with its need to look for villains from the get go. All sorts of people, including the mother, are accused with no known facts.
And I give the author credit. I had no idea who was responsible or how this was going to turn out.
My thanks to Harper for an advance copy of this book.
This is one of those books that works to confuse you. With constantly switching perspectives, it’s not an easy story to figure out. Think Big, Little Lies with all the swirling confusion. If you like that style, you’ll like this.
A group of new mothers opt for a night out and during that time, one of their babies goes missing. They don’t know each other well. These aren’t long time friends, they all met through a website for new parents in Brooklyn and bonded because their due dates were all in the same month.
The other mothers don’t think the police are doing a good job with their investigation and start their own. But at the same time, they aren’t all being entirely honest. And each has her own secrets. Molloy perfectly gets the strain of new motherhood, the angst and the fears.
What grabbed me about the book is how it correctly paints our current news atmosphere with its need to look for villains from the get go. All sorts of people, including the mother, are accused with no known facts.
And I give the author credit. I had no idea who was responsible or how this was going to turn out.
My thanks to Harper for an advance copy of this book.
April 25, 2018
In “The Perfect Mother” a group of expectant mothers gather frequently to discuss pregnancy and raising their newborns. These women were not previously acquainted, but soon find themselves forming strong bonds over their shared experiences. Strong bonds and a closeness that belie the somewhat superficial nature of their relationships. When one of their babies goes missing, they discover how little they really know about each other and Molloy excels at slowing revealing their secrets through clever misdirection and surprising plot twists. A very realistic look at the lives of new parents and a suspenseful and riveting plot make this a definite recommendation.
June 21, 2018
2 Stars
I wanted to like The Perfect Mother. NO! I wanted to love it. This book seemed so promising a story about a mommy group entitled the May Mother's for the very obvious fact that they all gave birth in May. Decide to go out a few short months after their babies are born to blow off steam, let their hair down, and have one (or quite a few) drinks. BUT (I know there is always a but) the outing takes a dark turn when one of the Mother's returns home to an empty cradle.
The Perfect Mother is told through alternative perspectives of what we are to believe is the core group of the May Mothers, some mothers flicker in and out of this group but these four seem to be permanent fixtures at the weekly gatherings. We have the Brit, the brazen, the zero filter Nell; the effortlessly beautiful, lucky, and highly stressed Collette; the frazzled, disheveled, and nosey Francie; and last but certainly not least our victim of baby kidnapping the stunning, elegant and mysterious Scarlet. We are introduced to a few side characters like Token (nicknamed that for being the only male in a all women baby support group) and a few other Mother's that reappear in this novel but we are mostly focused on the core 4 throughout this thriller.
The Perfect Mother's for me at least, fell short of my high expectations. I found it to be almost a whiney anthem to Motherhood and all it's difficulties. Each woman had a problem with being a new parent and those problems were consistently circled around in a repetitive manner that just made me dislike the new Mothers and label them as self-involved and boring. I also found it weirdly frustrating with how they involved themselves in the case, a majority of this story had me questioning the Mother's and their obsessive interest in the missing child and who did it. Especially with the most annoying Mother of them all Francie, she became almost deranged with her need to involve herself in every aspect. At one point she goes to the police station and demands to know what's happening with the missing child case? Like What? I don't even understand the mindset that thinks that's any of her business. I get the author needed to make the rest of the May Mother's part of the case somehow but the way she went about it just painted them as gossipy busy bodies that had too much time on their hands.
All and all, the book had all the ingredients I love in my thrillers but in the hands of Aimee Molloy it came together in a messy and boring manner that had me forcing myself to finish this read. I know this book is in production to be a movie starring Kerry Washington. I just hope the actors are able to to elevate the source material and make the character a lot more likeable... but needless to say I will watch the film because I will watch anything with Kerry Washington.
I wanted to like The Perfect Mother. NO! I wanted to love it. This book seemed so promising a story about a mommy group entitled the May Mother's for the very obvious fact that they all gave birth in May. Decide to go out a few short months after their babies are born to blow off steam, let their hair down, and have one (or quite a few) drinks. BUT (I know there is always a but) the outing takes a dark turn when one of the Mother's returns home to an empty cradle.
The Perfect Mother is told through alternative perspectives of what we are to believe is the core group of the May Mothers, some mothers flicker in and out of this group but these four seem to be permanent fixtures at the weekly gatherings. We have the Brit, the brazen, the zero filter Nell; the effortlessly beautiful, lucky, and highly stressed Collette; the frazzled, disheveled, and nosey Francie; and last but certainly not least our victim of baby kidnapping the stunning, elegant and mysterious Scarlet. We are introduced to a few side characters like Token (nicknamed that for being the only male in a all women baby support group) and a few other Mother's that reappear in this novel but we are mostly focused on the core 4 throughout this thriller.
The Perfect Mother's for me at least, fell short of my high expectations. I found it to be almost a whiney anthem to Motherhood and all it's difficulties. Each woman had a problem with being a new parent and those problems were consistently circled around in a repetitive manner that just made me dislike the new Mothers and label them as self-involved and boring. I also found it weirdly frustrating with how they involved themselves in the case, a majority of this story had me questioning the Mother's and their obsessive interest in the missing child and who did it. Especially with the most annoying Mother of them all Francie, she became almost deranged with her need to involve herself in every aspect. At one point she goes to the police station and demands to know what's happening with the missing child case? Like What? I don't even understand the mindset that thinks that's any of her business. I get the author needed to make the rest of the May Mother's part of the case somehow but the way she went about it just painted them as gossipy busy bodies that had too much time on their hands.
All and all, the book had all the ingredients I love in my thrillers but in the hands of Aimee Molloy it came together in a messy and boring manner that had me forcing myself to finish this read. I know this book is in production to be a movie starring Kerry Washington. I just hope the actors are able to to elevate the source material and make the character a lot more likeable... but needless to say I will watch the film because I will watch anything with Kerry Washington.
September 5, 2018
FOUR STARS
File this under NM for New Mommies. The new mommy character is in sweet abundance in Aimee Molloy's debut The Perfect Mother. She has assembled a group of women that all gave birth in May and met months earlier online to trade stories and offer support to each other. The online friends all live in Brooklyn and begin meeting IRL just a few weeks after the babies are born. This is where the plot really begins.
The mommies decide to go out for a well-deserved girls' night and it is on this night that one of their infants is abducted at home right out of the baby's crib. The story is told from the different women and, I admit, it can be a little confusing at first if you are strictly listening to the audio book. I also have the Kindle version so I would whip it out every so often to make sure I was on track with the characters. The narrator is absolutely perfect and consistent in her performance of all the varied personalities--so she makes it easy to recognize who is speaking. Of course, you have a bit of a learning curve at first.
I think Molloy perfectly captures the angst, insecurity and need for perfection most new moms go through in 2018. This novel feels current and on point with the way the media obsesses over every bit of true crime and scandal. There is a snarky Nancy Grace style reporter who is determined to shame the baby mamas for having a fun time out when they should be home with their children. She is a hoot. The narrator even nailed that signature Nancy Grace voice. LOVE IT.
Molloy's writing style is fast paced and packed with realistic dialogue- HOORAY! And once you get in a few pages, I promise you won't be able to put it down....it is a real whodunit with a crazy ending scene. Oh my gosh, the beans and pickles scene is.... so fun to read!
If you are a fan of Big Little Lies, you will love this book, too. I can't wait to see Kerry Washington star in the movie!
File this under NM for New Mommies. The new mommy character is in sweet abundance in Aimee Molloy's debut The Perfect Mother. She has assembled a group of women that all gave birth in May and met months earlier online to trade stories and offer support to each other. The online friends all live in Brooklyn and begin meeting IRL just a few weeks after the babies are born. This is where the plot really begins.
The mommies decide to go out for a well-deserved girls' night and it is on this night that one of their infants is abducted at home right out of the baby's crib. The story is told from the different women and, I admit, it can be a little confusing at first if you are strictly listening to the audio book. I also have the Kindle version so I would whip it out every so often to make sure I was on track with the characters. The narrator is absolutely perfect and consistent in her performance of all the varied personalities--so she makes it easy to recognize who is speaking. Of course, you have a bit of a learning curve at first.
I think Molloy perfectly captures the angst, insecurity and need for perfection most new moms go through in 2018. This novel feels current and on point with the way the media obsesses over every bit of true crime and scandal. There is a snarky Nancy Grace style reporter who is determined to shame the baby mamas for having a fun time out when they should be home with their children. She is a hoot. The narrator even nailed that signature Nancy Grace voice. LOVE IT.
Molloy's writing style is fast paced and packed with realistic dialogue- HOORAY! And once you get in a few pages, I promise you won't be able to put it down....it is a real whodunit with a crazy ending scene. Oh my gosh, the beans and pickles scene is.... so fun to read!
If you are a fan of Big Little Lies, you will love this book, too. I can't wait to see Kerry Washington star in the movie!
May 16, 2018
EXCERPT: Why? Why did she do that? Hadn't she learned her lesson? One impulsive decision can destroy an entire life. If anyone should know that, it's her.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.
They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.
When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.
Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.
MY THOUGHTS: First time motherhood is one of, if not the most, difficult jobs in the world. Where is the training? Expectations are so high. The reality is harsh. New mums tend to band together in mutual support, and why not? They can relate to one another's experiences, give advice, provide a shoulder to lean on, cry on, or someone to laugh with, all in the quest to be the perfect mother. But what happens when one of those mums is not who she seems, has an agenda of her own, when one of these mothers lies, betrays the others to fulfill her own needs?
This is a compelling read that kept me turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, which sometimes got a bit messy as it was not always immediately obvious whose point of view it was, the author explores the dynamics of a group of women and one 'token' man, most of whom are concealing a secret of some sort, who inadvertently become involved in the abduction of a baby.
There are a lot of current issues used to great effect in The Perfect Mother. Firstly the Internet, a wonderful research tool that can easily put information into the wrong hands. Then there is the issue of media sensationalism and manipulation. It is not always about the truth, but often what is going to attract the most viewers or readers that prevails. Molloy cleverly uses these modern phenomenon to enhance the tension in her plot.
Although a previously published author, this is Molloy's first novel. I can't wait for her second.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.
They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.
When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.
Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.
MY THOUGHTS: First time motherhood is one of, if not the most, difficult jobs in the world. Where is the training? Expectations are so high. The reality is harsh. New mums tend to band together in mutual support, and why not? They can relate to one another's experiences, give advice, provide a shoulder to lean on, cry on, or someone to laugh with, all in the quest to be the perfect mother. But what happens when one of those mums is not who she seems, has an agenda of her own, when one of these mothers lies, betrays the others to fulfill her own needs?
This is a compelling read that kept me turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, which sometimes got a bit messy as it was not always immediately obvious whose point of view it was, the author explores the dynamics of a group of women and one 'token' man, most of whom are concealing a secret of some sort, who inadvertently become involved in the abduction of a baby.
There are a lot of current issues used to great effect in The Perfect Mother. Firstly the Internet, a wonderful research tool that can easily put information into the wrong hands. Then there is the issue of media sensationalism and manipulation. It is not always about the truth, but often what is going to attract the most viewers or readers that prevails. Molloy cleverly uses these modern phenomenon to enhance the tension in her plot.
Although a previously published author, this is Molloy's first novel. I can't wait for her second.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 17, 2025
3 Stars! I wish I would have loved this one a little more!
This book was chosen to read as a Traveling Sisters Group Read and what originally attracted me to this book was the title and the cover - which is pretty much how I choose all my books to read!
THE PERFECT MOTHER by AIMEE MOLLOY is a steady-paced, insightful, character-driven, and a twisty psychological domestic thriller that is filled with interesting characters that I really appreciated. The voices and dynamics of these women really rang true to me! At times I did find it hard to keep the characters straight and I had a hard time focusing on this story. Unfortunately, this did affect my enjoyment for the story and therefore lowered my overall rating.
AIMEE MOLLOY delivers a well-written read here with an interesting and unique storyline told from multiple perspectives which focuses mainly on a group of women who stop at nothing as they come together to investigate the disappearance of Baby Midas. The portrayal of these women and their angst was portrayed extremely well.
Overall, it was a mostly enjoyable, quick and easy read with an ending the totally took me by surprise. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Aimee Molloy, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book was chosen to read as a Traveling Sisters Group Read and what originally attracted me to this book was the title and the cover - which is pretty much how I choose all my books to read!
THE PERFECT MOTHER by AIMEE MOLLOY is a steady-paced, insightful, character-driven, and a twisty psychological domestic thriller that is filled with interesting characters that I really appreciated. The voices and dynamics of these women really rang true to me! At times I did find it hard to keep the characters straight and I had a hard time focusing on this story. Unfortunately, this did affect my enjoyment for the story and therefore lowered my overall rating.
AIMEE MOLLOY delivers a well-written read here with an interesting and unique storyline told from multiple perspectives which focuses mainly on a group of women who stop at nothing as they come together to investigate the disappearance of Baby Midas. The portrayal of these women and their angst was portrayed extremely well.
Overall, it was a mostly enjoyable, quick and easy read with an ending the totally took me by surprise. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Aimee Molloy, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
May 28, 2018
3.75 Stars.
In Brooklyn, a group of mothers to-be, all due in the month of May, coined “The May Mothers” start a meet-up, sharing stories and bonding over impending motherhood.
Being the perfect mother seems unattainable and yet these mothers strive for it. Receiving monthly emails about what to expect each month, exchanging messages with helpful suggestions, gaining support from each other whenever the need arises.
After their babies are a few months old, their bond deepens unexpectedly. Frannie, Nell, Colette, Winnie & Token decide to take a “night off.” What starts out as an innocent night having drinks at a pub, ends with a bang when Winnie’s son, Midas, goes missing, disappearing from their home without a trace.
Thereafter, the May Mothers come together, investigating. What happened that night, in addition to investigating each other. They can’t help it. They don’t really know each other that well, and yet, they desperately want to trust each other. Yet, can they? Should they?
“The Perfect Mother” is told from several different perspectives, some of which are confusing at first. Though it starts off a little slow, the novel picks up at the mid-way point and takes off so quickly that I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. The ending was quite the shocker - which frankly, I’m still not sure I get. I’m hoping it’ll come to me one of these days! “The Perfect Mother” is a slow burn, character driven suspense novel that definitely kept my interest. It was my book of the month pick and was a great choice.
This was a traveling sister read - our discussions were lots of fun. Thanks sisters! For full Traveling Sister group reviews, please see Brenda an Norma’s Blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Published on Goodreads.
In Brooklyn, a group of mothers to-be, all due in the month of May, coined “The May Mothers” start a meet-up, sharing stories and bonding over impending motherhood.
Being the perfect mother seems unattainable and yet these mothers strive for it. Receiving monthly emails about what to expect each month, exchanging messages with helpful suggestions, gaining support from each other whenever the need arises.
After their babies are a few months old, their bond deepens unexpectedly. Frannie, Nell, Colette, Winnie & Token decide to take a “night off.” What starts out as an innocent night having drinks at a pub, ends with a bang when Winnie’s son, Midas, goes missing, disappearing from their home without a trace.
Thereafter, the May Mothers come together, investigating. What happened that night, in addition to investigating each other. They can’t help it. They don’t really know each other that well, and yet, they desperately want to trust each other. Yet, can they? Should they?
“The Perfect Mother” is told from several different perspectives, some of which are confusing at first. Though it starts off a little slow, the novel picks up at the mid-way point and takes off so quickly that I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. The ending was quite the shocker - which frankly, I’m still not sure I get. I’m hoping it’ll come to me one of these days! “The Perfect Mother” is a slow burn, character driven suspense novel that definitely kept my interest. It was my book of the month pick and was a great choice.
This was a traveling sister read - our discussions were lots of fun. Thanks sisters! For full Traveling Sister group reviews, please see Brenda an Norma’s Blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Published on Goodreads.
January 31, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
Bad Things Happen In Heat Like This..
The “MAY Mothers” are a group of new moms, who all have babies born in the month of May!
They start out as each other’s support group online, and after the babies are born begin to meet in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
One member suggests a night out, without the babies, to drink and relax. Most love the idea, but single mom, Winnie is reluctant.
She doesn’t have anyone she can trust to babysit her son, Midas.
The other moms assure her that she will only be gone for a few hours, and set her up with childcare, so that she has no excuse to say “no” and then baby Midas gets abducted.
Was it a set up?
As each mommy’s secrets are revealed, you have to wonder.
The police seem to be focusing on the easy targets, and the media is playing the blame game, but the group bands together to investigate on their own.
Aimee Molloy has a way of writing that has you making certain assumptions and we know how dangerous doing that can be!
I enjoyed the sleuthing they do in the second half, more than I enjoyed the first half, but I was only lukewarm on the story.
The reveals just didn’t come quick enough for my taste.
And as a woman who didn’t have children by choice there was just too much talk of mothering and breast milk for me....yawn.
But, I loved “Goodnight Beautiful” , Ms. Molloy’s 2020 effort, and I will definitely be eagerly watching for her next release!
Bad Things Happen In Heat Like This..
The “MAY Mothers” are a group of new moms, who all have babies born in the month of May!
They start out as each other’s support group online, and after the babies are born begin to meet in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
One member suggests a night out, without the babies, to drink and relax. Most love the idea, but single mom, Winnie is reluctant.
She doesn’t have anyone she can trust to babysit her son, Midas.
The other moms assure her that she will only be gone for a few hours, and set her up with childcare, so that she has no excuse to say “no” and then baby Midas gets abducted.
Was it a set up?
As each mommy’s secrets are revealed, you have to wonder.
The police seem to be focusing on the easy targets, and the media is playing the blame game, but the group bands together to investigate on their own.
Aimee Molloy has a way of writing that has you making certain assumptions and we know how dangerous doing that can be!
I enjoyed the sleuthing they do in the second half, more than I enjoyed the first half, but I was only lukewarm on the story.
The reveals just didn’t come quick enough for my taste.
And as a woman who didn’t have children by choice there was just too much talk of mothering and breast milk for me....yawn.
But, I loved “Goodnight Beautiful” , Ms. Molloy’s 2020 effort, and I will definitely be eagerly watching for her next release!
April 26, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 red herring filled stars!
I read The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy as a buddy read with Heather from @nature.books.and.coffee, Shannon from @givemeallthebooks, Emily from @book.happy, and Jamie from @beauty_andthebooks_ and I think it is safe to say that we all really enjoyed this thriller, and it was a complete binge read for almost all of us.
I didn’t really know what to think of this book as I was reading it, but then I got towards the end and WHAM, it changed the entire book for me. The Perfect Mother is about a mommy group called The May Mothers, named for the fact they all have babies born in May. One night – the 4th of July of all days – the May Mothers go out without their babies and one of the babies gets taken from home out of his crib and disappears. What happens next is a wild ride of moms snooping and meddling, and doing their best to help their friend Winnie find her little boy Midas.
There are quite a few times that the book jumps around between characters with no clear definition of where one starts and the other ends. I actually started a list in my phone of who everyone was and distinguishing characteristics so I could keep track of them all. However, it didn’t really take away from the book too much for me. Once I got used to the names and each character popped up more, I was able to stop consulting my list.
The chapters in this book aren’t all that short, but they sure read very quickly. Some chapters focused on a couple characters viewpoints, but for the most part the chapters touched on most, if not all, of the characters POVs. There is also a mystery person thrown in there which was a nice touch. Those sections are just for that POV.
The fact that I’m not a mother didn’t make this read any less enjoyable for me. I can’t always relate to viewpoints from mom’s, but Molloy made it easy for someone without kids of their own to enjoy this whole book no matter whose POV you were reading. Each chapter starts out with an email to the May Mothers about where your baby should be at in regard to how old he/she is. I even enjoyed that part! It was nice too because it was something different.
I think Molloy did a great job on all these characters too. I felt like I was becoming a part of their lives throughout this book. Nell was definitely my favorite character and May Mother. She was hilarious, and of course, she likes to drink!
Final Thought: I think that even if you aren’t a mom you will appreciate this book. Molloy really gets all those social stigmas of new moms out there. They shouldn’t drink, they need to dress a certain way, they need to raise their babies a certain way, etc., so many silly things that constitute the “perfect mother”. I can appreciate what she was trying to do here even though I’m not a mom and not planning to be one. I loved Nell’s 'F them' attitude about all this stuff too. Secrets will surely be revealed in this fast-paced psychological thriller, and I highly recommend it. I seriously can’t even believe this is a debut novel!
The Perfect Mother in 3-ish words: Fast-paced, Meaningful & Fun
I read The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy as a buddy read with Heather from @nature.books.and.coffee, Shannon from @givemeallthebooks, Emily from @book.happy, and Jamie from @beauty_andthebooks_ and I think it is safe to say that we all really enjoyed this thriller, and it was a complete binge read for almost all of us.
I didn’t really know what to think of this book as I was reading it, but then I got towards the end and WHAM, it changed the entire book for me. The Perfect Mother is about a mommy group called The May Mothers, named for the fact they all have babies born in May. One night – the 4th of July of all days – the May Mothers go out without their babies and one of the babies gets taken from home out of his crib and disappears. What happens next is a wild ride of moms snooping and meddling, and doing their best to help their friend Winnie find her little boy Midas.
There are quite a few times that the book jumps around between characters with no clear definition of where one starts and the other ends. I actually started a list in my phone of who everyone was and distinguishing characteristics so I could keep track of them all. However, it didn’t really take away from the book too much for me. Once I got used to the names and each character popped up more, I was able to stop consulting my list.
The chapters in this book aren’t all that short, but they sure read very quickly. Some chapters focused on a couple characters viewpoints, but for the most part the chapters touched on most, if not all, of the characters POVs. There is also a mystery person thrown in there which was a nice touch. Those sections are just for that POV.
The fact that I’m not a mother didn’t make this read any less enjoyable for me. I can’t always relate to viewpoints from mom’s, but Molloy made it easy for someone without kids of their own to enjoy this whole book no matter whose POV you were reading. Each chapter starts out with an email to the May Mothers about where your baby should be at in regard to how old he/she is. I even enjoyed that part! It was nice too because it was something different.
I think Molloy did a great job on all these characters too. I felt like I was becoming a part of their lives throughout this book. Nell was definitely my favorite character and May Mother. She was hilarious, and of course, she likes to drink!
Final Thought: I think that even if you aren’t a mom you will appreciate this book. Molloy really gets all those social stigmas of new moms out there. They shouldn’t drink, they need to dress a certain way, they need to raise their babies a certain way, etc., so many silly things that constitute the “perfect mother”. I can appreciate what she was trying to do here even though I’m not a mom and not planning to be one. I loved Nell’s 'F them' attitude about all this stuff too. Secrets will surely be revealed in this fast-paced psychological thriller, and I highly recommend it. I seriously can’t even believe this is a debut novel!
The Perfect Mother in 3-ish words: Fast-paced, Meaningful & Fun
April 9, 2018
The Perfect Mother: Try to do it all and chances are you will fail at something or feel like you’re failing even if you’re not. During the first and only night out at a local hot spot, the unthinkable happens when one of the “May Mothers’” infants goes missing. What follows is a well-plotted, fast-moving story focusing on how little these friends really know about each other. And, there is a lot that is unknown despite bonding over the significant stresses of new motherhood. This book will give mothers (and others) nightmares. Kerry Washington’s intent to bring this to big screen aside, this book has all of the hallmarks of being this summer’s “must read.”
May 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
Norma and I were lost in the sunny, grassy lush coulee with five of our Traveling Sisters reading The Perfect Mother and we really enjoyed our reading experience and discussion on this story.
The Perfect Mother is a fun, entertaining and engaging story with a bit of dark to it that had us feeling comfortable in our sunny, grassy coulee from any unsettling scenes from this story. We meet a group of Brooklyn new mothers all with their own secrets who meet regularly to support each other through their new experiences of motherhood.
Aimee Molloy creates some interesting characters here with the group of “May Mothers”. Each with a common bond but different from each other with their own personal conflicts related to motherhood. At times we did become confused and found it hard to keep them apart. On a Mom’s night out one of the “May Mother’s” baby is kidnapped and the friends come together to try and piece the mystery of the baby’s disappearance. At times we did feel that the story lacked some emotion that we needed to feel to connect with the grieving Mom, Winnie. We didn’t feel the pain Winnie felt for her missing child. We didn’t really feel we got to know her.
Aimee Molloy touches on some judgments of society here with what new Moms face. She does a good job layering a good mystery with the right amount of drama for us. However, the coulee we started in, wasn't the one we ended up in as things did go a bit sideways for us. We weren’t quite satisfied with the way things wrapped up for us and for some of us that affected part of our enjoyment of this story. Overall we highly recommend this well-written story that has some real substance to the issues these interesting Moms face, making this a very interesting read.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley
Norma and I were lost in the sunny, grassy lush coulee with five of our Traveling Sisters reading The Perfect Mother and we really enjoyed our reading experience and discussion on this story.
The Perfect Mother is a fun, entertaining and engaging story with a bit of dark to it that had us feeling comfortable in our sunny, grassy coulee from any unsettling scenes from this story. We meet a group of Brooklyn new mothers all with their own secrets who meet regularly to support each other through their new experiences of motherhood.
Aimee Molloy creates some interesting characters here with the group of “May Mothers”. Each with a common bond but different from each other with their own personal conflicts related to motherhood. At times we did become confused and found it hard to keep them apart. On a Mom’s night out one of the “May Mother’s” baby is kidnapped and the friends come together to try and piece the mystery of the baby’s disappearance. At times we did feel that the story lacked some emotion that we needed to feel to connect with the grieving Mom, Winnie. We didn’t feel the pain Winnie felt for her missing child. We didn’t really feel we got to know her.
Aimee Molloy touches on some judgments of society here with what new Moms face. She does a good job layering a good mystery with the right amount of drama for us. However, the coulee we started in, wasn't the one we ended up in as things did go a bit sideways for us. We weren’t quite satisfied with the way things wrapped up for us and for some of us that affected part of our enjoyment of this story. Overall we highly recommend this well-written story that has some real substance to the issues these interesting Moms face, making this a very interesting read.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley
September 12, 2018
Library Audiobook...read by Christin Milioti
Maybe the screen version will be more entertaining. I like Kerry Washington who will be in the cast.
I admit to liking the screen time to “Big Little Lies”
better than the book. The A- rated cast made it very entertaining.
I was enjoying this book
for awhile....but soon became bored ....
Although....
I enjoyed it enough to finish it -
Breaks were definitely needed though. Newborn-mommy struggles in small doses is plenty for me. After living through my own sleepless nights 34 years ago - I don’t need hours of non-stop Audiobook listening reminders.
So... with ‘breaks’ ... I’m still glad I read it for the basic story - before seeing the film.
The mom I was most interested in knowing more as a person was ‘Winnie’ .... the mother whose baby went missing - yet her character was the least developed..... compared to the other moms and single dad. We get a rap sheet on Winnie....
Long legs
Single mom
Once a hit movie star
etc.
but very little about her as a person.
So... I don’t think this is the best thriller of the year ....
“Jar of Heart” is sure darn great....
but as they say....”This was an ok read”.
Enjoyable- in parts - sleepy draggy in parts - yet curious enough to want to know the ending.
Maybe the screen version will be more entertaining. I like Kerry Washington who will be in the cast.
I admit to liking the screen time to “Big Little Lies”
better than the book. The A- rated cast made it very entertaining.
I was enjoying this book
for awhile....but soon became bored ....
Although....
I enjoyed it enough to finish it -
Breaks were definitely needed though. Newborn-mommy struggles in small doses is plenty for me. After living through my own sleepless nights 34 years ago - I don’t need hours of non-stop Audiobook listening reminders.
So... with ‘breaks’ ... I’m still glad I read it for the basic story - before seeing the film.
The mom I was most interested in knowing more as a person was ‘Winnie’ .... the mother whose baby went missing - yet her character was the least developed..... compared to the other moms and single dad. We get a rap sheet on Winnie....
Long legs
Single mom
Once a hit movie star
etc.
but very little about her as a person.
So... I don’t think this is the best thriller of the year ....
“Jar of Heart” is sure darn great....
but as they say....”This was an ok read”.
Enjoyable- in parts - sleepy draggy in parts - yet curious enough to want to know the ending.
June 19, 2023
Oh no! After having loved Aimee Molloy's Goodnight Beautiful (one of the few thrillers to have genuinely surprised me), I was ready to cancel my life and get into this one.
Which I did (shout-out to my boss, family and friends for being understanding. (Also if you're reading this, Bob, please call me back, I really need this job.)).
And with each passing page the excitement was wrung out of me like clean, soapy water from a sponge, and I was filled with the murky slime of disappointment.
I must be one of the few people who don't love reading about baby abductions, because nowadays seemingly 1 out of 3 thrillers starts with that exact set-up.
So contentwise this book and I were already not a great match.
The writing was immersive though and the characters well rounded, so I was still on board.
Sadly the ending was uninspired, leading up to a long villain monologue that fell oh so flat for me.
I will still pick up her next one and hope for her to reconnect with the demon who possessed her to write the mind-bending joyride that was Goodnight Beautiful.
Which I did (shout-out to my boss, family and friends for being understanding. (Also if you're reading this, Bob, please call me back, I really need this job.)).
And with each passing page the excitement was wrung out of me like clean, soapy water from a sponge, and I was filled with the murky slime of disappointment.
I must be one of the few people who don't love reading about baby abductions, because nowadays seemingly 1 out of 3 thrillers starts with that exact set-up.
So contentwise this book and I were already not a great match.
The writing was immersive though and the characters well rounded, so I was still on board.
Sadly the ending was uninspired, leading up to a long villain monologue that fell oh so flat for me.
I will still pick up her next one and hope for her to reconnect with the demon who possessed her to write the mind-bending joyride that was Goodnight Beautiful.
January 24, 2018
4.5/5 stars for this addictive, engaging read! Find my full review here: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2018/1...
This is a fantastic "popcorn read" - aka the kind of suspense novel you just want to binge on! Fans of Liane Moriarty and B.A. Paris will love this pacey, engrossing story of secrets, group dynamics, and interpersonal tension. Couple this with a cast of compelling female leads, and you've got a winner! Highly recommended for addictive, unputdownable spring reading.
This is a fantastic "popcorn read" - aka the kind of suspense novel you just want to binge on! Fans of Liane Moriarty and B.A. Paris will love this pacey, engrossing story of secrets, group dynamics, and interpersonal tension. Couple this with a cast of compelling female leads, and you've got a winner! Highly recommended for addictive, unputdownable spring reading.
February 4, 2019
When I picked up this book I was hoping it would just be one of those fun, mindless vacation type reads. And for the most part it was, but I also was impressed the author explored society's expectations of mothers within the story. An entertaining read that also makes you think a bit after you are finished.
The May Mothers are a group of new moms, and one dad, who get together at a park a couple times a week for some much needed adult conversation. They never seem to discuss anything more than their babies when they meet so they decide to have a proper mom's night out without their children. They meet for drinks at a bar but by the end of the night something goes horribly wrong. Winnie's baby, Midas, was left with a babysitter and he is now missing. What exactly happened?
The mystery of where is baby Midas and who is responsible for his disappearance is obviously what drives the story. At times I thought the pacing was slow but overall it held my interest. There were a few times I side-eyed what was going on in the story and the actions of certain characters as it didn't seem entirely realistic but there was nothing that was so bad it ruined the book for me. When it came time for the "big reveal" I had this mixed feeling of being surprised but also not surprised. I don't like giving away spoilers in my reviews so I will just leave it at that even though my statement probably makes no sense to most people.
No matter what a mother does, there will always be a critic and this book definitely showcased that fact. Even though at times the scenes of each character dealing with new motherhood and relationships kinda bogged down the mystery parts of the story, I'm glad the author included them. I'm not a parent, but it's not difficult to feel for parents, especially mothers, and how quick people are to judge them on every parenting decision.
Overall, a good read and I recommend to anyone looking for a decent mystery with a little bit of real-life issues thrown in there. I would definitely read another book by this author.
The May Mothers are a group of new moms, and one dad, who get together at a park a couple times a week for some much needed adult conversation. They never seem to discuss anything more than their babies when they meet so they decide to have a proper mom's night out without their children. They meet for drinks at a bar but by the end of the night something goes horribly wrong. Winnie's baby, Midas, was left with a babysitter and he is now missing. What exactly happened?
The mystery of where is baby Midas and who is responsible for his disappearance is obviously what drives the story. At times I thought the pacing was slow but overall it held my interest. There were a few times I side-eyed what was going on in the story and the actions of certain characters as it didn't seem entirely realistic but there was nothing that was so bad it ruined the book for me. When it came time for the "big reveal" I had this mixed feeling of being surprised but also not surprised. I don't like giving away spoilers in my reviews so I will just leave it at that even though my statement probably makes no sense to most people.
No matter what a mother does, there will always be a critic and this book definitely showcased that fact. Even though at times the scenes of each character dealing with new motherhood and relationships kinda bogged down the mystery parts of the story, I'm glad the author included them. I'm not a parent, but it's not difficult to feel for parents, especially mothers, and how quick people are to judge them on every parenting decision.
Overall, a good read and I recommend to anyone looking for a decent mystery with a little bit of real-life issues thrown in there. I would definitely read another book by this author.
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