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The Mother-in-Law
Today is my wedding day. And I don’t know if I’ll make it out alive…
As I put my beautiful white wedding dress on, I try not to ignore my fears. I look in the mirror and feel more beautiful than I ever have before. I know marrying Sam is the right choice. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I reach for my bright yellow roses, and I force myself to be as cheerful and sunny as those flowers. I won’t dwell on everything that’s happened recently – ever since we agreed to stay with his parents for the weeks ahead of the wedding.
Glancing down at my sparkling engagement ring, I pretend to myself I can forget about the ‘accidents’ I keep having, that I can’t believe are coincidental. Or about his mother’s barbed comments, and the dark looks she gives me.
And, just for today, while I walk down the aisle towards the man of my dreams, while I say ‘I do’, I’ll try to put the secret I know about the family I am marrying into right out of my mind.
Even though that’s one secret that – if I was my soon-to-be mother-in-law – I might just kill to keep…
An absolutely thrilling and gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Shari Lapena, and The Woman in the Window.
As I put my beautiful white wedding dress on, I try not to ignore my fears. I look in the mirror and feel more beautiful than I ever have before. I know marrying Sam is the right choice. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I reach for my bright yellow roses, and I force myself to be as cheerful and sunny as those flowers. I won’t dwell on everything that’s happened recently – ever since we agreed to stay with his parents for the weeks ahead of the wedding.
Glancing down at my sparkling engagement ring, I pretend to myself I can forget about the ‘accidents’ I keep having, that I can’t believe are coincidental. Or about his mother’s barbed comments, and the dark looks she gives me.
And, just for today, while I walk down the aisle towards the man of my dreams, while I say ‘I do’, I’ll try to put the secret I know about the family I am marrying into right out of my mind.
Even though that’s one secret that – if I was my soon-to-be mother-in-law – I might just kill to keep…
An absolutely thrilling and gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Shari Lapena, and The Woman in the Window.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2022
1819 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
About the author
Karen King
132 books268 followersKaren King is an Amazon international bestselling author of psychological suspense and women's fiction.
Her 7th psychological suspense novel, Don't Trust Him, was published on 3 April 2025 by Bookouture and her 'golden years' novel, The Runaway Wives, was published by Boldwood on 24th March 2025. This was her 12th woman's fiction novel.
Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her early writing career was spent working on various teenage and children's magazines.
Her suspense novels The Mother In Law, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea all became International Amazon bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
August 2, 2022
I did really enjoy this one! Read in 2 sittings.
Really fast paced, and a gripping plot to keep the reader engaged throughout. There were constant twists, and I loved the warning lines at the end of each chapter, although I felt at times they gave the reader a spoiler as to forthcoming events.
The characters were all fantastically written, and I loved how each of the characters were written so that at times the reader suspected everyone!
The ending was well-thought out, and whilst I did suspect what happened, I still enjoyed the reveal.
Perfect for thriller fans to curl up with on a lazy afternoon!
Really fast paced, and a gripping plot to keep the reader engaged throughout. There were constant twists, and I loved the warning lines at the end of each chapter, although I felt at times they gave the reader a spoiler as to forthcoming events.
The characters were all fantastically written, and I loved how each of the characters were written so that at times the reader suspected everyone!
The ending was well-thought out, and whilst I did suspect what happened, I still enjoyed the reveal.
Perfect for thriller fans to curl up with on a lazy afternoon!
July 5, 2022
Popcorn thriller lovers, this is your book! I don’t know why I expected something amazing, because the whole mother-in-law trope is pretty overdone, but I was definitely not blown away by this book.
As these things usually go, Dana has met the man of her dreams, Sam. He’s perfect, he says all the right things, he has money but isn’t pretentious, and he loves her back. After a whirlwind romance, they decide to get married.
Then comes Evelyn, the evil mother-in-law. Overbearing, a little unstable, a lot intrusive, Evelyn is pretty much the mom that wives dread. Still, Sam is so great … anyone who raised him has to be a good person, right?
This has the stereotypical tension, a few twists (most not necessary, just added in for the sake of surprise) and the requisite dramatic ending. This was decent, and entertaining, but that’s about it. A perfect beach read, I give this three stars for being fine, but formulaic.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Karen King, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
As these things usually go, Dana has met the man of her dreams, Sam. He’s perfect, he says all the right things, he has money but isn’t pretentious, and he loves her back. After a whirlwind romance, they decide to get married.
Then comes Evelyn, the evil mother-in-law. Overbearing, a little unstable, a lot intrusive, Evelyn is pretty much the mom that wives dread. Still, Sam is so great … anyone who raised him has to be a good person, right?
This has the stereotypical tension, a few twists (most not necessary, just added in for the sake of surprise) and the requisite dramatic ending. This was decent, and entertaining, but that’s about it. A perfect beach read, I give this three stars for being fine, but formulaic.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Karen King, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
January 11, 2023
"He loves you now. He loved her first"
..
Karen King is a new to me author, who seems equally as adept and confident when writing contemporary romantic fiction, as she is when upping the ante with a heart-stopping psychological mystery. This is the first book I have read from her extensive catalogue, however, I have no doubt that it will not be the last.
So, meet Dana...
..
Out of work and away from a bad relationship, Dana is on the interview trail. On a particularly windy and chilly January day, she has just come from an accountancy firm, almost hoping that she doesn't get offered the job, when a flyaway hat looks set to distract her. When she sees the wearer of the offending headgear, it wouldn't really have mattered what had happened in the last couple of hours, as with one look, she is bitten by the instant attraction bug. It seems as though the owner of the stray trilby, Sam, feels the same way about Dana and they are soon planning their whirlwind wedding day for June of the same year.
Dana comes from a very troubled, working class background, her parents having died when she was very young. She was raised by an aunt and uncle who never really wanted children, but who couldn't bear the thought of their niece being taken into care. Duty done, when their ward leaves school, they set her up with her own flat, then they retire to Cornwall, leaving Dana to fend for herself. For Sam, circumstances couldn't have been more different. Ten years Dana's senior, he still lives at home in his own suite of rooms in the family mansion, he has enjoyed a privileged upbringing and social background, the only child of hardworking father and a devoted mother, both professional people and socialites, who are horrified by his choice of bride.
It is decided that Dana should give up her flat and move in with Sam until the wedding, although tensions are raised even further when the young couple announce that they will be looking to purchase their own house, rather than continue to live with Evelyn and Harold, which is what the older couple had assumed would happen. Sam dotes on his parents, particularly his mother, so when bad things begin happening to Dana, which she believes are down to Evelyn trying to break them up and stop the wedding, he tries to justify them as being down to Dana's pre-wedding nerves. Evelyn takes charge of the wedding preparations, with little input from Dana and more from Tamara, the daughter of close family friends, who seems just a little too cosy for comfort with Sam and is obviously Evelyn's daughter-in-law of choice.
Dana suffers one small injury after another in the run-up to the big day and even Lynne, Dana's only real friend and her maid of honour, eventually has to admit that something is definitely very wrong in the Corbett household. Even the new cleaner, Ruby, senses the bad vibes and bears the brunt of Evelyn's wrath more than once. Evelyn and Harold seem like the perfect couple, however Dana catches them arguing on more than one occasion and what she overhears rocks her to her core. She desperately wants to confide in Sam, but fears that he will be unwilling to believe what she needs to tell him, so she decides to hold her counsel until after the wedding and honeymoon, by which time the house they have bid on should be available to move into and she can choose her moment carefully.
When a distraught Ruby confides in Dana about who she really is and why she is working for Evelyn, Dana knows she can't prevaricate too long before laying things on the line for Sam, as the situation has the potential to spiral out of control quite quickly. Just how quickly Dana is about to find out, when small seemingly unrelated 'accidents' turn into something much more serious and two attempts are made on her life, but from a different source she hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, Sam witnesses both incidents for himself and what he sees rocks to its foundations, the stable family unit he had believed himself to be part of, particularly when Dana then reveals the secret she has been keeping for the last couple of weeks.
Is there destined to be any happy-ever-afters for this newly extended family - Now that would be telling!!
..
Narrated in the first person, by Dana herself, this multi-layered storyline is broken down into clearly signposted chapters, which whilst slightly longer than those designated by many of the author's contemporaries, still gave me plenty of opportunity to come up for air and kept the pace of the story moving along nicely, even though a few weeks must have seemed like a lifetime for Dana. Some clever red herrings and plenty of subtle twists and turns, meant I also had no idea that I was trying to uncover multiple suspects, although my many names in the frame did read like a shopping list with just about everyone on it, including Dana herself at one point. Suspects with completely diverse motives, but with Dana as their common focus and means to an end, and with totally different outcomes required.
The slow-burning, highly textured plot, unfolds day by day over a relatively short timeframe, and is definitely all in the anticipation. I just knew that bad things were going to keep happening to Dana, but exactly how, what and when, was always a shocking surprise when I least expected it. In themselves, these seemingly random events were not earth-shattering, however, they all contributed to an almost continual ramping up of the tension for our already anxious bride-to-be, particularly when she gets the impression that neither her fiance, nor her best friend Lynne, really think that things are as bad as they sound and put them down to clumsy pre-wedding nerves. Knowing Dana as well as Lynne does, she is aware of her friends long-term stress and anxiety issues and is increasingly fearful of where the ongoing situation might lead if things aren't stabilised sooner rather than later. What neither she or Sam realises however, is that Dana's disturbed background is nothing compared to someone else's sordid and dangerous secrets which they will do anything to keep hidden. Even when a partially revealed truth might have had me considering handing out the 'tea and sympathy' vote, I still couldn't get over the way in which Dana was being used as little more than a pawn in everyone's game.
Mind you, she doesn't really do much to help herself and I just kept thinking what a doormat she was allowing herself to be treated as. The way her naivety and eagerness to be accepted was being used and taken advantage of would have become quite annoying, if I hadn't known that things were probably going to escalate out of hand and the situation explode out of control at some point in time. Sam is too busy trying to appease 'mummy', who he has set on a very impressive pedestal, to see what is really happening right under his nose and although he makes all the right noises, it takes a life or death situation to stir him into decisive action.
Whilst the physical footprint the story occupies, is quite finely focussed, the narrative about specific places is very descriptive with good spatial awareness. However, for any seriously confirmed ‘armchair travellers’ among you, this one might be a little light on location.
There were so many difficult emotional issues bubbling away beneath the surface, any one of which would have made a storyline in their own right, although I felt that author Karen King, did an amazing job of dealing with each of them, without allowing any single one of them to dominate or overtake events. Hidden mental health issues, self-harm, illicit affairs, abuse and coercion, a woman's overwhelming need to establish her birth-right, a mother's desperate bid to keep her son beside her. All denouements which were woven together into a complex plot which I never completely managed to unravel for myself. Frustrating for me, but it kept me glued to the pages right until the bitter end. Job done by a consummate author and a clever storyteller.
..
Karen King is a new to me author, who seems equally as adept and confident when writing contemporary romantic fiction, as she is when upping the ante with a heart-stopping psychological mystery. This is the first book I have read from her extensive catalogue, however, I have no doubt that it will not be the last.
So, meet Dana...
..
Out of work and away from a bad relationship, Dana is on the interview trail. On a particularly windy and chilly January day, she has just come from an accountancy firm, almost hoping that she doesn't get offered the job, when a flyaway hat looks set to distract her. When she sees the wearer of the offending headgear, it wouldn't really have mattered what had happened in the last couple of hours, as with one look, she is bitten by the instant attraction bug. It seems as though the owner of the stray trilby, Sam, feels the same way about Dana and they are soon planning their whirlwind wedding day for June of the same year.
Dana comes from a very troubled, working class background, her parents having died when she was very young. She was raised by an aunt and uncle who never really wanted children, but who couldn't bear the thought of their niece being taken into care. Duty done, when their ward leaves school, they set her up with her own flat, then they retire to Cornwall, leaving Dana to fend for herself. For Sam, circumstances couldn't have been more different. Ten years Dana's senior, he still lives at home in his own suite of rooms in the family mansion, he has enjoyed a privileged upbringing and social background, the only child of hardworking father and a devoted mother, both professional people and socialites, who are horrified by his choice of bride.
It is decided that Dana should give up her flat and move in with Sam until the wedding, although tensions are raised even further when the young couple announce that they will be looking to purchase their own house, rather than continue to live with Evelyn and Harold, which is what the older couple had assumed would happen. Sam dotes on his parents, particularly his mother, so when bad things begin happening to Dana, which she believes are down to Evelyn trying to break them up and stop the wedding, he tries to justify them as being down to Dana's pre-wedding nerves. Evelyn takes charge of the wedding preparations, with little input from Dana and more from Tamara, the daughter of close family friends, who seems just a little too cosy for comfort with Sam and is obviously Evelyn's daughter-in-law of choice.
Dana suffers one small injury after another in the run-up to the big day and even Lynne, Dana's only real friend and her maid of honour, eventually has to admit that something is definitely very wrong in the Corbett household. Even the new cleaner, Ruby, senses the bad vibes and bears the brunt of Evelyn's wrath more than once. Evelyn and Harold seem like the perfect couple, however Dana catches them arguing on more than one occasion and what she overhears rocks her to her core. She desperately wants to confide in Sam, but fears that he will be unwilling to believe what she needs to tell him, so she decides to hold her counsel until after the wedding and honeymoon, by which time the house they have bid on should be available to move into and she can choose her moment carefully.
When a distraught Ruby confides in Dana about who she really is and why she is working for Evelyn, Dana knows she can't prevaricate too long before laying things on the line for Sam, as the situation has the potential to spiral out of control quite quickly. Just how quickly Dana is about to find out, when small seemingly unrelated 'accidents' turn into something much more serious and two attempts are made on her life, but from a different source she hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, Sam witnesses both incidents for himself and what he sees rocks to its foundations, the stable family unit he had believed himself to be part of, particularly when Dana then reveals the secret she has been keeping for the last couple of weeks.
Is there destined to be any happy-ever-afters for this newly extended family - Now that would be telling!!
..
Narrated in the first person, by Dana herself, this multi-layered storyline is broken down into clearly signposted chapters, which whilst slightly longer than those designated by many of the author's contemporaries, still gave me plenty of opportunity to come up for air and kept the pace of the story moving along nicely, even though a few weeks must have seemed like a lifetime for Dana. Some clever red herrings and plenty of subtle twists and turns, meant I also had no idea that I was trying to uncover multiple suspects, although my many names in the frame did read like a shopping list with just about everyone on it, including Dana herself at one point. Suspects with completely diverse motives, but with Dana as their common focus and means to an end, and with totally different outcomes required.
The slow-burning, highly textured plot, unfolds day by day over a relatively short timeframe, and is definitely all in the anticipation. I just knew that bad things were going to keep happening to Dana, but exactly how, what and when, was always a shocking surprise when I least expected it. In themselves, these seemingly random events were not earth-shattering, however, they all contributed to an almost continual ramping up of the tension for our already anxious bride-to-be, particularly when she gets the impression that neither her fiance, nor her best friend Lynne, really think that things are as bad as they sound and put them down to clumsy pre-wedding nerves. Knowing Dana as well as Lynne does, she is aware of her friends long-term stress and anxiety issues and is increasingly fearful of where the ongoing situation might lead if things aren't stabilised sooner rather than later. What neither she or Sam realises however, is that Dana's disturbed background is nothing compared to someone else's sordid and dangerous secrets which they will do anything to keep hidden. Even when a partially revealed truth might have had me considering handing out the 'tea and sympathy' vote, I still couldn't get over the way in which Dana was being used as little more than a pawn in everyone's game.
Mind you, she doesn't really do much to help herself and I just kept thinking what a doormat she was allowing herself to be treated as. The way her naivety and eagerness to be accepted was being used and taken advantage of would have become quite annoying, if I hadn't known that things were probably going to escalate out of hand and the situation explode out of control at some point in time. Sam is too busy trying to appease 'mummy', who he has set on a very impressive pedestal, to see what is really happening right under his nose and although he makes all the right noises, it takes a life or death situation to stir him into decisive action.
Whilst the physical footprint the story occupies, is quite finely focussed, the narrative about specific places is very descriptive with good spatial awareness. However, for any seriously confirmed ‘armchair travellers’ among you, this one might be a little light on location.
There were so many difficult emotional issues bubbling away beneath the surface, any one of which would have made a storyline in their own right, although I felt that author Karen King, did an amazing job of dealing with each of them, without allowing any single one of them to dominate or overtake events. Hidden mental health issues, self-harm, illicit affairs, abuse and coercion, a woman's overwhelming need to establish her birth-right, a mother's desperate bid to keep her son beside her. All denouements which were woven together into a complex plot which I never completely managed to unravel for myself. Frustrating for me, but it kept me glued to the pages right until the bitter end. Job done by a consummate author and a clever storyteller.
June 19, 2022
Karen King's novel The Mother-in-Law is lies, deceit, shocking mystery, and fascinating suspense neatly placed into a beautiful book cover.
Synopsis:
Sam and Dana meet, fall in love, and get engaged. Their plans to buy their first home fail due to an unexpected glitch. Sam's parents let them live with them until they find a permanent home and are married. Sam's mother Evelyn overprotects Sam, her only child, and consistently overrides Dana's boundaries. Dana puts up with Evelyn's intrusions until sudden unplanned accidents befall Dana which point to Evelyn's sinister plan to get rid of her. What lengths will a jealous mother resort to in order not to share her son's attention with another woman?
The Mother-in-Law hooked me from the first chapter. It kept me motivated and I finished the book in one day. Domestic thrillers are my favorite and this one had outstanding head-scratching turns. Some may argue that the plot had a few tiny holes, but it did not interfere with my enjoyment of Karen King's work. I liked the novel and look forward to reading more from Karen King.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
The Mother-in-Law is available on July 29th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for allowing me to review this exciting book. Your kindness is appreciated.
Synopsis:
Sam and Dana meet, fall in love, and get engaged. Their plans to buy their first home fail due to an unexpected glitch. Sam's parents let them live with them until they find a permanent home and are married. Sam's mother Evelyn overprotects Sam, her only child, and consistently overrides Dana's boundaries. Dana puts up with Evelyn's intrusions until sudden unplanned accidents befall Dana which point to Evelyn's sinister plan to get rid of her. What lengths will a jealous mother resort to in order not to share her son's attention with another woman?
The Mother-in-Law hooked me from the first chapter. It kept me motivated and I finished the book in one day. Domestic thrillers are my favorite and this one had outstanding head-scratching turns. Some may argue that the plot had a few tiny holes, but it did not interfere with my enjoyment of Karen King's work. I liked the novel and look forward to reading more from Karen King.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
The Mother-in-Law is available on July 29th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for allowing me to review this exciting book. Your kindness is appreciated.
July 25, 2022
Lovers of ‘Mother In Law’ tales, me being one, will be happy enough with this, the formula is there, poor unlucky in love girl meets Uber rich man who adores her…enter the Mother In Law from hell and let the battle commence, it’s a tried and tested base for a story and it works, not much deviation from this main story although there is a vile ever so perfect ‘family friend’ Tamara who sidles her way in with her catty remarks and ‘organising busybodieish ways’
There is naturally a bit more to it than is initially made out but lovers of this genre will figure it out and be happy to let the ride continue and enjoy a story they know they will relax with and be comfortable enjoying ( again like me )
You cant go wrong with a tale of a ferociously beady eyed Mum in Law and all that goes with it especially when well written
8/10
4 Stars
There is naturally a bit more to it than is initially made out but lovers of this genre will figure it out and be happy to let the ride continue and enjoy a story they know they will relax with and be comfortable enjoying ( again like me )
You cant go wrong with a tale of a ferociously beady eyed Mum in Law and all that goes with it especially when well written
8/10
4 Stars
July 1, 2022
It was love at first sight for Dana and Sam. And Dana could not believe how wonderful it was to be in love and to receive a marriage proposal after only four months of dating.
Sam was a successful accountant and from a well to do family. Sam was Dana’s dream come true — her knight in shining armor that would save her from her financial predicament.
But, her future mother-in-law, Evelyn, had different ideas. Evelyn was gracious and welcoming. But soon, Dana began to feel as thought something sinister lay behind Evelyn’s smile and thoughtfulness.
The Mother-In-Law is an engaging psychological thriller that will have the reader hooked from the get-go.
Because the plot is character driven, the players in the novel are well developed. Author, King has managed to capture the essence of each individual’s personality. And with just a handful of characters, it was easy to get a feel of who I liked and disliked.
The plot has a number of twists that made this novel a real page turner. However, some parts of the narrative were somewhat illogical. That being said, it is still an excellent novel if read for pure enjoyment.
Overall, The Mother-In-Law is a must read for fans of psychological suspense. Four stars.
I received a digital ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Sam was a successful accountant and from a well to do family. Sam was Dana’s dream come true — her knight in shining armor that would save her from her financial predicament.
But, her future mother-in-law, Evelyn, had different ideas. Evelyn was gracious and welcoming. But soon, Dana began to feel as thought something sinister lay behind Evelyn’s smile and thoughtfulness.
The Mother-In-Law is an engaging psychological thriller that will have the reader hooked from the get-go.
Because the plot is character driven, the players in the novel are well developed. Author, King has managed to capture the essence of each individual’s personality. And with just a handful of characters, it was easy to get a feel of who I liked and disliked.
The plot has a number of twists that made this novel a real page turner. However, some parts of the narrative were somewhat illogical. That being said, it is still an excellent novel if read for pure enjoyment.
Overall, The Mother-In-Law is a must read for fans of psychological suspense. Four stars.
I received a digital ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 26, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
As I put my beautiful white wedding dress on, I try to ignore my fears. I look in the mirror and feel more beautiful than I ever have before. I know marrying Sam is the right choice. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I reach for my bright yellow roses, and I force myself to be as cheerful and sunny as those flowers. I won't dwell on everything that's happened recently - ever since we agreed to stay with his parents for the weeks ahead of the wedding. Glancing down at my sparkling engagement ring, I pretend to myself I can forger about all the 'accidents' I keep having, or about his mother's barbed comments and the dark looks she gives me.
For Dana and Sam, it was love at first sight. After a few months, they decide to get married. They move in with Sam's parents, Evelyn and Harold, and Dana starts having accidents. Evelyn is a hard woman to please. She would have preferred Tamara to be Sam's wife. Then Dana hears Evelyn and Harold argue and a secret is revealed.
This is a well written, easy to read novel. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. The plotline is creepy and twisted. The last three chapters had me turning the pages at a faster pace.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KarenKing for my ARC of #TheMotherInLaw in exchange for an honest review.
As I put my beautiful white wedding dress on, I try to ignore my fears. I look in the mirror and feel more beautiful than I ever have before. I know marrying Sam is the right choice. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I reach for my bright yellow roses, and I force myself to be as cheerful and sunny as those flowers. I won't dwell on everything that's happened recently - ever since we agreed to stay with his parents for the weeks ahead of the wedding. Glancing down at my sparkling engagement ring, I pretend to myself I can forger about all the 'accidents' I keep having, or about his mother's barbed comments and the dark looks she gives me.
For Dana and Sam, it was love at first sight. After a few months, they decide to get married. They move in with Sam's parents, Evelyn and Harold, and Dana starts having accidents. Evelyn is a hard woman to please. She would have preferred Tamara to be Sam's wife. Then Dana hears Evelyn and Harold argue and a secret is revealed.
This is a well written, easy to read novel. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. The plotline is creepy and twisted. The last three chapters had me turning the pages at a faster pace.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KarenKing for my ARC of #TheMotherInLaw in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2022
Lacks the thrill and the characters aren't that interesting. There's lack of intensity in the writing and character description.
July 7, 2022
This was so juicy I finished it in one night!
The Mother-in-Law follows a couple named Sam and Dana, who after a whirlwind romance of 4 months, are engaged to be married! We find out early on that Dana has a serious nut allergy, which is terrible because she ends up moving in with her future in-laws and they're a bunch of nuts! Sorry, I had to.
Anyway, Sam is in his 30's and still living at home which isn't super odd for wealthy families, but Dana doesn't wanna shack up with them, at least not for long.
But they can't seem to get out of there! "Accidents" keep happening right as they're about to leave. I feel battered and bruised just from reading this! Is someone hurting Dana or is she just paranoid? She's suffered from paranoia before. She isn't high society but anyone would be lucky to have Dana in their family so why does she feel so unwelcome?
The walls have ears around here and you might turn a corner and find out something you werent supposed to and you know the old saying: if they tell you, they have to kill you.
This was great with some really whacky twists that kept giving right up to the end. The only negative is that I didn't feel much chemistry between any of the characters but I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I wouldn't have wanted it to be longer as it was a nice and quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
The Mother-in-Law follows a couple named Sam and Dana, who after a whirlwind romance of 4 months, are engaged to be married! We find out early on that Dana has a serious nut allergy, which is terrible because she ends up moving in with her future in-laws and they're a bunch of nuts! Sorry, I had to.
Anyway, Sam is in his 30's and still living at home which isn't super odd for wealthy families, but Dana doesn't wanna shack up with them, at least not for long.
But they can't seem to get out of there! "Accidents" keep happening right as they're about to leave. I feel battered and bruised just from reading this! Is someone hurting Dana or is she just paranoid? She's suffered from paranoia before. She isn't high society but anyone would be lucky to have Dana in their family so why does she feel so unwelcome?
The walls have ears around here and you might turn a corner and find out something you werent supposed to and you know the old saying: if they tell you, they have to kill you.
This was great with some really whacky twists that kept giving right up to the end. The only negative is that I didn't feel much chemistry between any of the characters but I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I wouldn't have wanted it to be longer as it was a nice and quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
June 19, 2022
This was a pretty good read. It centers on Dana, who is engaged to Sam, but Sam is just a little too close to his mom. The sale falls through on the house they were going to buy and they are stuck living in Sam’s parents’ house with them until their wedding, with Sam’s mom repeatedly overstepping on the wedding plans. Strange things keep happening to Dana and she fears that her jealous mother-in-law-to-be will ensure she doesn’t actually see her wedding day.
The things that happen to Dana throughout are pretty standard for the evil mother-in-law genre, but fun to read nonetheless. There are a couple twists in this story that make it stand out from similar stories, though, including a surprise ending that I enjoyed. My only real nit with the book was the characterization; I felt like I didn’t really KNOW Dana and also couldn’t figure out how she and Sam fell so helplessly in love right after meeting. I wish the author would have given me more into into what that connection looked like and what Dana’s life was like until that point.
Overall, fun and fast read with some twists that set it apart from similar stories in a crowded genre. I’d give it 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The things that happen to Dana throughout are pretty standard for the evil mother-in-law genre, but fun to read nonetheless. There are a couple twists in this story that make it stand out from similar stories, though, including a surprise ending that I enjoyed. My only real nit with the book was the characterization; I felt like I didn’t really KNOW Dana and also couldn’t figure out how she and Sam fell so helplessly in love right after meeting. I wish the author would have given me more into into what that connection looked like and what Dana’s life was like until that point.
Overall, fun and fast read with some twists that set it apart from similar stories in a crowded genre. I’d give it 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
Dana is a young woman from a working class background who was raised by a cold aunt and uncle who never let her forget they were doing so only out of obligation. she encounters Sam, a 35-year-old accountant from a wealthy family. The two have a whirlwind romance, getting engaged after only two months and planning to be married just six months after they met. Dana feels understandably insecure around Sam’s wealthy parents and their friends, especially Tamara, the daughter of family friends. Tamara makes nasty little digs at Dana and Sam’s mother makes it clear to Dana that Tamara would be her choice for daughter-in-law. But Sam remains blissfully unaware of all this.
Sam has been living in a suite in his parents’ huge mansion, and his mother clearly wants him to remain there. The house he and Dana plan to buy is suddenly (and conveniently) off the market due to a fire and Dana’s already given up her apartment, so she reluctantly moves in with Sam and his parents. That’s where the fun really begin.
Dana suddenly finds herself very, very “accident-prone”, as well as framed for a few incidents that make her look careless and even a theft. She suspects Sam’s mother is behind it all, but can’t prove it, and over and over, Sam believes his mother over her.
Sam has been living in a suite in his parents’ huge mansion, and his mother clearly wants him to remain there. The house he and Dana plan to buy is suddenly (and conveniently) off the market due to a fire and Dana’s already given up her apartment, so she reluctantly moves in with Sam and his parents. That’s where the fun really begin.
Dana suddenly finds herself very, very “accident-prone”, as well as framed for a few incidents that make her look careless and even a theft. She suspects Sam’s mother is behind it all, but can’t prove it, and over and over, Sam believes his mother over her.
April 7, 2023
Review coming soon.
September 20, 2022
A young woman marries the man she loves but has an anxiety about if she is doing the right thing or not. She has many unanswered questions in her head but goes ahead with the wedding anyway. Before her big day she has had many "accidents" which she has been unable to explain. Her grooms mother doesn't seem to care for her either and is always making comments that aren't truly nice. After the marriage things take on an even uglier appearance. She learns of secrets that change the way she sees her new family. Will she be able to keep such secrets or will someone kill her so they can do so?
Merged review:
A young woman marries the man she loves but has an anxiety about if she is doing the right thing or not. She has many unanswered questions in her head but goes ahead with the wedding anyway. Before her big day she has had many "accidents" which she has been unable to explain. Her grooms mother doesn't seem to care for her either and is always making comments that aren't truly nice. After the marriage things take on an even uglier appearance. She learns of secrets that change the way she sees her new family. Will she be able to keep such secrets or will someone kill her so they can do so?
Merged review:
A young woman marries the man she loves but has an anxiety about if she is doing the right thing or not. She has many unanswered questions in her head but goes ahead with the wedding anyway. Before her big day she has had many "accidents" which she has been unable to explain. Her grooms mother doesn't seem to care for her either and is always making comments that aren't truly nice. After the marriage things take on an even uglier appearance. She learns of secrets that change the way she sees her new family. Will she be able to keep such secrets or will someone kill her so they can do so?
July 31, 2022
Dana can't wait to marry Sam. But little accidents keep occuring and it seems someone doesn't want Dana to be around for the wedding day. All evidence seems to point to Sam's mother....
The annoying mother in law storyline can sometimes feel repetitive and it's always crazy to read about lengths some mother in laws will go to, to get their own way. With short chapters that leave you hanging and wanting to read on, I was able to finish this book fairly quickly. An engrossing and satisfying read, would recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The annoying mother in law storyline can sometimes feel repetitive and it's always crazy to read about lengths some mother in laws will go to, to get their own way. With short chapters that leave you hanging and wanting to read on, I was able to finish this book fairly quickly. An engrossing and satisfying read, would recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2022
I love reading books with horrible mothers-in-law and this is a good example. Evelyn is so over the top, if she wasn’t so mean and controlling you would laugh at her. She’s absolutely perfectly dressed and made up, is a terrific cook and knows exactly what she wants for her only son Sam. And that’s not Dana. Sadly for her Sam and Dana fall madly in love and are eager to start their own life. We read the whole story from Dana’s viewpoint, including the horrible ‘accidents’ that happen to her. Sometimes I wanted to shake her and tell her to speak up for herself, and I was glad when she finally did. The characters are not very deep, nor is the story, but it was a perfect holiday read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy.
July 28, 2022
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Karen King's tense domestic thriller THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.
"Too perfect to be true, a little voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. That was my first mistake."
The story opens with Dana all aglow in her beautiful wedding gown and her maid of honour beside her in her own lemon Grecian style dress. The day has finally arrived when all is said and done, Dana finally married Sam and becomes Mrs Corbett. Despite everything that has gone on before, why would Dana think that the day would run smoothly? After all, nothing has since their engagement was announced and she'd moved into Sam's suite of rooms in his parent's sprawling mansion in the Malvern Hills. But this was her day and she was determined NOT to let anything ruin it.
And everything did run smoothly...the ceremony, the service, the reception, the speeches, the meal...everything up until the happy couple cut the cake. Sam places her hand over his as they cut into the bottom layer of their three tiered cake and playfully fed each other a couple of crumbs and luscious icing. And then everything changed. Her world suddenly falls out of focus as she falls to floor, the voices yelling seemingly in the distance. The last thing Dana saw before she passed out was the triumphant gleam in her mother-in-law's eyes.
Rewind back to six months previously when, having just left her interview at Corbett and Sons Accountants, she meets Sam who had been chasing his favourite trilby hat which Dana had inevitably caught and returned to him. After a coffee, the pair exchanged numbers and before long began dating. Sam would text Dana 'good morning' and 'how was your day' each day and she was thrilled as she had never known such attention before. After a couple of months, Sam gets down on bended knee with a stunning sapphire and diamond ring and asks Dana to be his wife. "Yes! Yes! Please!" was her answer that the other patrons of the restaurant all clapped and cheered their congratulations.
And then it was time to meet his parents. "They'll love you" Sam assured her. But Dana wasn't so sure...particularly when she saw their house. Sam came from a very different world to her and she was sure his parents wanted more for him. But they were in love and not only were they engaged but they had both decided on a summer wedding...in just a few months time. His parents were stunned but accepting of their decision. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Too perfect to be true, a little voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. That was my first mistake."
The couple are adamant at wanting to buy a home together but when something happens to their impending purchase, Dana has no choice but to move in with Sam and his parents. And anyway, it will only be for a little while till find another place. But then little things begin to happen. Small things at first that Dana wondered if she had imagined them. Or was she just being silly? But then a few more concerning 'accidents' occurred. And yet, still Dana talked herself out of anything more than an accident or misunderstanding.
But one thing is more than clear. Sam's mother Evelyn is a dominating force who is controlling and would do anything to keep her son from leaving home. Wouldn't she? But as sweet as pie as she at first appeared, Evelyn was a force to be reckoned with. Particularly when she started bringing Tamara into everything. The unbridled conflicts between Dana and Evelyn, no matter how big or small, continue to rage although Sam is convinced his mother only means well. Dana is not so sure but doesn't want to come between Sam and his mother. Needless to say, whenever she does try to air her concerns, Sam dismisses them. No matter what happens, Dana just wants to marry Sam so she endures it all as she can see the end in sight when they will finally marry and move to their own house.
But if Dana thought it was going to be that easy, she was sadly mistaken. Gaslighting is prevalent in this wild thrill ride that both infuriated and had me glued to the pages until the end. Dana was a little annoying and very easy to allow others to walk over her but then I'm guilty of the same thing to keep the peace. If Dana is anything like me, she hates confrontation so her complacency and compliance would be to keep the peace.
Despite its title, you just know that THE MOTHER-IN-LAW was going to more than just another mother-in-law tale. It was going to be something deeper with twists to shock and leave you reeling. Evelyn was naturally unlikable, of course, she was penned that way. As was Tamara. But I had my suspicions elsewhere that I hadn't wanted to be true.
Compelling and addictive, THE MOTHER-IN-LAW is a dark and twisted tale as well as being an easy read that I devoured in a matter of hours. And I naturally loved the short snappy chapters that are always a winner for me as they keep the pace moving at a rapid speed.
While it may not have been as brilliant as her two previous thrillers "The Stranger in my Bed" and "The Perfect Stepmother" , it was still a fantastic thrill ride worth 5 stars that I enjoyed every delicious minute of.
I would like to thank #KarenKing, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMotherInLaw in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
"Too perfect to be true, a little voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. That was my first mistake."
The story opens with Dana all aglow in her beautiful wedding gown and her maid of honour beside her in her own lemon Grecian style dress. The day has finally arrived when all is said and done, Dana finally married Sam and becomes Mrs Corbett. Despite everything that has gone on before, why would Dana think that the day would run smoothly? After all, nothing has since their engagement was announced and she'd moved into Sam's suite of rooms in his parent's sprawling mansion in the Malvern Hills. But this was her day and she was determined NOT to let anything ruin it.
And everything did run smoothly...the ceremony, the service, the reception, the speeches, the meal...everything up until the happy couple cut the cake. Sam places her hand over his as they cut into the bottom layer of their three tiered cake and playfully fed each other a couple of crumbs and luscious icing. And then everything changed. Her world suddenly falls out of focus as she falls to floor, the voices yelling seemingly in the distance. The last thing Dana saw before she passed out was the triumphant gleam in her mother-in-law's eyes.
Rewind back to six months previously when, having just left her interview at Corbett and Sons Accountants, she meets Sam who had been chasing his favourite trilby hat which Dana had inevitably caught and returned to him. After a coffee, the pair exchanged numbers and before long began dating. Sam would text Dana 'good morning' and 'how was your day' each day and she was thrilled as she had never known such attention before. After a couple of months, Sam gets down on bended knee with a stunning sapphire and diamond ring and asks Dana to be his wife. "Yes! Yes! Please!" was her answer that the other patrons of the restaurant all clapped and cheered their congratulations.
And then it was time to meet his parents. "They'll love you" Sam assured her. But Dana wasn't so sure...particularly when she saw their house. Sam came from a very different world to her and she was sure his parents wanted more for him. But they were in love and not only were they engaged but they had both decided on a summer wedding...in just a few months time. His parents were stunned but accepting of their decision. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Too perfect to be true, a little voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. That was my first mistake."
The couple are adamant at wanting to buy a home together but when something happens to their impending purchase, Dana has no choice but to move in with Sam and his parents. And anyway, it will only be for a little while till find another place. But then little things begin to happen. Small things at first that Dana wondered if she had imagined them. Or was she just being silly? But then a few more concerning 'accidents' occurred. And yet, still Dana talked herself out of anything more than an accident or misunderstanding.
But one thing is more than clear. Sam's mother Evelyn is a dominating force who is controlling and would do anything to keep her son from leaving home. Wouldn't she? But as sweet as pie as she at first appeared, Evelyn was a force to be reckoned with. Particularly when she started bringing Tamara into everything. The unbridled conflicts between Dana and Evelyn, no matter how big or small, continue to rage although Sam is convinced his mother only means well. Dana is not so sure but doesn't want to come between Sam and his mother. Needless to say, whenever she does try to air her concerns, Sam dismisses them. No matter what happens, Dana just wants to marry Sam so she endures it all as she can see the end in sight when they will finally marry and move to their own house.
But if Dana thought it was going to be that easy, she was sadly mistaken. Gaslighting is prevalent in this wild thrill ride that both infuriated and had me glued to the pages until the end. Dana was a little annoying and very easy to allow others to walk over her but then I'm guilty of the same thing to keep the peace. If Dana is anything like me, she hates confrontation so her complacency and compliance would be to keep the peace.
Despite its title, you just know that THE MOTHER-IN-LAW was going to more than just another mother-in-law tale. It was going to be something deeper with twists to shock and leave you reeling. Evelyn was naturally unlikable, of course, she was penned that way. As was Tamara. But I had my suspicions elsewhere that I hadn't wanted to be true.
Compelling and addictive, THE MOTHER-IN-LAW is a dark and twisted tale as well as being an easy read that I devoured in a matter of hours. And I naturally loved the short snappy chapters that are always a winner for me as they keep the pace moving at a rapid speed.
While it may not have been as brilliant as her two previous thrillers "The Stranger in my Bed" and "The Perfect Stepmother" , it was still a fantastic thrill ride worth 5 stars that I enjoyed every delicious minute of.
I would like to thank #KarenKing, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMotherInLaw in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 14, 2022
This was fairly good
May 23, 2022
Sam and Dana meet one day and have an instant attraction! It's love at first sight. Everything is going perfect until Dana meets Sam's family. They are very wealthy and she feels very intimidated at first. After their quick engagement happens, a lot of bad things start to happen to Dana. She experiences all sorts of accidents that she believes are being caused by her mother-in-law, Evelyn. Why would Evelyn not want her son to marry Dana, or is there someone else causing these unfortunate events?
Wow what wild ride!! There was a lot going on here and I had a hard time putting this one down. It had a bunch a of twists that I did not expect and I was definitely not disappointed. If you're looking for an engaging read, I highly recommend picking up a copy of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW. It was a page-turner.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Wow what wild ride!! There was a lot going on here and I had a hard time putting this one down. It had a bunch a of twists that I did not expect and I was definitely not disappointed. If you're looking for an engaging read, I highly recommend picking up a copy of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW. It was a page-turner.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Read
July 11, 2022What a thrilling ride! This book starts off right after the vows are shared at a wedding. However, our bride, Dana, is on the floor and is passing out, possibly dying. She is suffering from an allergic reaction, and before she does fade out, she locks eyes with her brand new mother-in-law.
But, then, our book takes us back to six months previously. Sam and Dana began dating, and soon became engaged. Sam and Dana are truly in love, and their lives are about to start as a married couple before too long. However, things do not go smoothly. In fact, there are several hiccups, and these are major.
Sam still lives at home with his parents and Dana has her own place. But, the couple want to buy a home together. When something happens to their impending purchase, Dana has no choice but to move in with Sam and his parents. While not all that comfortable at first, Dana is rather relieved to see that Sam has a nice wing, with its own rooms. Maybe this won't be so bad. After all, they will marry soon and they will buy their own home.
However, one thing is more than clear. Sam's mother Evelyn is very controlling and gaslighting is rampant. No matter how small or how big the conflicts occur between Evelyn and Dana, Sam is convinced that his mother only means well. In fact, there are even times when Sam dismisses Dana's concerns. Dana just wants to marry Sam, so she endures trial after trial when it comes to Evelyn. She feels that their time living in the same house is only for a rather short duration and she doesn't want the rest of their lives soured by her having a bad relationship with Evelyn.
With surprising twists and turns, things go from bad to worse. This engaging read takes a sharp turn, one that was incredibly shocking, only to make this intriguing book even more compelling. The Mother-in-Law is a wonderful domestic thriller that kept me riveted from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
But, then, our book takes us back to six months previously. Sam and Dana began dating, and soon became engaged. Sam and Dana are truly in love, and their lives are about to start as a married couple before too long. However, things do not go smoothly. In fact, there are several hiccups, and these are major.
Sam still lives at home with his parents and Dana has her own place. But, the couple want to buy a home together. When something happens to their impending purchase, Dana has no choice but to move in with Sam and his parents. While not all that comfortable at first, Dana is rather relieved to see that Sam has a nice wing, with its own rooms. Maybe this won't be so bad. After all, they will marry soon and they will buy their own home.
However, one thing is more than clear. Sam's mother Evelyn is very controlling and gaslighting is rampant. No matter how small or how big the conflicts occur between Evelyn and Dana, Sam is convinced that his mother only means well. In fact, there are even times when Sam dismisses Dana's concerns. Dana just wants to marry Sam, so she endures trial after trial when it comes to Evelyn. She feels that their time living in the same house is only for a rather short duration and she doesn't want the rest of their lives soured by her having a bad relationship with Evelyn.
With surprising twists and turns, things go from bad to worse. This engaging read takes a sharp turn, one that was incredibly shocking, only to make this intriguing book even more compelling. The Mother-in-Law is a wonderful domestic thriller that kept me riveted from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
August 2, 2022
Blog tour: http://lianareads.home.blog/2022/08/0...
The premise of this story is one that has been written so many times before, but there are always small things that will make a story different and more interesting than others.
And here we get it right at the beginning when the prologue sets the tone for what's to come later in the novel.
A mother-in-law can be seen as mean and untrustworthy, within reasons. She will only want what's best for her child and not settle for anything less.
The story is woven in a manner that makes you doubt all characters at one point or another. And I must admit that while I thought I had it all solved and knew what the next steps will bring, I found myself intrigued by some of the unpredictable twists.
I can't say that I got to get close or feel sympathy for any of them in the end. Some cheesy scenes were definitely on the spot for the romance part.
Overall, it's an enjoyable read that many will love and find it entertaining.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy and blog tour spot.
The premise of this story is one that has been written so many times before, but there are always small things that will make a story different and more interesting than others.
And here we get it right at the beginning when the prologue sets the tone for what's to come later in the novel.
A mother-in-law can be seen as mean and untrustworthy, within reasons. She will only want what's best for her child and not settle for anything less.
The story is woven in a manner that makes you doubt all characters at one point or another. And I must admit that while I thought I had it all solved and knew what the next steps will bring, I found myself intrigued by some of the unpredictable twists.
I can't say that I got to get close or feel sympathy for any of them in the end. Some cheesy scenes were definitely on the spot for the romance part.
Overall, it's an enjoyable read that many will love and find it entertaining.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy and blog tour spot.
August 12, 2022
4.5/5 stars rounded up 🌟
First of all, thank you to NetGalley, publisher, & author for this ARC ✨I was honored to be given the opportunity to read this and give my honest thoughts about it.
This was definitely an entertaining popcorn thriller! It frustrated me sooo much, but in the most intriguing way possible lol. I couldn’t help but give 5 stars because it truly kept me going the entire time and was SUCH an easy read. I was constantly going back and forth wondering what the twists were going to be 😅 and I’ll admit, it definitely had me shocked with a few things. I do wish we could’ve received some sort of update on Dana’s friendship with Lynne, as it seemed kind to kind of fall off and not be brought up ever again. I would’ve liked to have seen if they still remained friends or not, though I do like to assume they had.
Overall, a great book filled with crazy family drama lol
First of all, thank you to NetGalley, publisher, & author for this ARC ✨I was honored to be given the opportunity to read this and give my honest thoughts about it.
This was definitely an entertaining popcorn thriller! It frustrated me sooo much, but in the most intriguing way possible lol. I couldn’t help but give 5 stars because it truly kept me going the entire time and was SUCH an easy read. I was constantly going back and forth wondering what the twists were going to be 😅 and I’ll admit, it definitely had me shocked with a few things. I do wish we could’ve received some sort of update on Dana’s friendship with Lynne, as it seemed kind to kind of fall off and not be brought up ever again. I would’ve liked to have seen if they still remained friends or not, though I do like to assume they had.
Overall, a great book filled with crazy family drama lol
July 27, 2022
The Mother-in-law was a wild ride, that both infuriated me and enticed me to finish. The MC got on my nerves and didn't have a backbone until the last 3-4 chapters, but I guess that is how the author wanted this domestic thriller to play out. I was was upset with the MC's fiance and best friend for not believing her stories though! I would drop the friend and fiance!
Narration of the audiobook was decent. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Narration of the audiobook was decent. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2022
⭐️⭐️
When Dana meets Sam, it’s love at first sight. They quickly decide they want to start their lives together and plan to get married only 7 months after they’ve met. Since Sam still lives with his parents, they need to find their dream home. Just a couple weeks before their wedding, the house catches fire and causes them to have to move in with Sam’s parents. Dana is not very happy about having to live with them, but she’s grateful for their generosity…until accidents start happening to Dana that make her question whether or not they are coincidental. Her mother-in-law Evelyn is obsessive over her son…would she do anything to make sure they didn’t end up together?? She’s barging into their room unannounced, making Dana look incompetent, and causing tiffs between Dana and Sam. Dana tries to convince herself that she is just imagining things, but is she? And just how far will Evelyn go to make sure that Sam stays close to her forever?
My thoughts:
Realllllyyyyy wanted to love this one. I thought it had great potential with the storyline. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and every single one of the characters drove me CRAZY.
I’m also just really not a fan of the trope where we make women look weak and stupid. I mean there were soooo many red flags that Dana should have caught on to. Like…he’s 35 and still lives with his parents and you still continued on with the relationship??? He sided with his mom every time something went wrong???
It was hard to even feel sorry for the main character because every time she was about to stand up for herself she would end up reminding herself that she’s in love…so who cares what happens?!?!
I didn’t even really find it suspenseful by the end because of how frustrating everyone was. It was fast paced and I read it in one day, so I enjoyed that!
This is just my opinion though, and if you like psychological suspense that has frustrating characters, you might enjoy this! It just wasn’t for me 😁
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
When Dana meets Sam, it’s love at first sight. They quickly decide they want to start their lives together and plan to get married only 7 months after they’ve met. Since Sam still lives with his parents, they need to find their dream home. Just a couple weeks before their wedding, the house catches fire and causes them to have to move in with Sam’s parents. Dana is not very happy about having to live with them, but she’s grateful for their generosity…until accidents start happening to Dana that make her question whether or not they are coincidental. Her mother-in-law Evelyn is obsessive over her son…would she do anything to make sure they didn’t end up together?? She’s barging into their room unannounced, making Dana look incompetent, and causing tiffs between Dana and Sam. Dana tries to convince herself that she is just imagining things, but is she? And just how far will Evelyn go to make sure that Sam stays close to her forever?
My thoughts:
Realllllyyyyy wanted to love this one. I thought it had great potential with the storyline. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and every single one of the characters drove me CRAZY.
I’m also just really not a fan of the trope where we make women look weak and stupid. I mean there were soooo many red flags that Dana should have caught on to. Like…he’s 35 and still lives with his parents and you still continued on with the relationship??? He sided with his mom every time something went wrong???
It was hard to even feel sorry for the main character because every time she was about to stand up for herself she would end up reminding herself that she’s in love…so who cares what happens?!?!
I didn’t even really find it suspenseful by the end because of how frustrating everyone was. It was fast paced and I read it in one day, so I enjoyed that!
This is just my opinion though, and if you like psychological suspense that has frustrating characters, you might enjoy this! It just wasn’t for me 😁
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
June 15, 2022
"Too perfect to be true, a little voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. That was my first mistake."
At first, Sam seemed like the culprit because he was just too perfect, too ready to jump in the deep end with Dana. And then his parents were introduced and it was easy to see where that came from. His mother, Evelyn, was so passive aggressively manipulative. Then I began to wonder if poor Dana was at the mercy of them both . . .
The mystery was thick, deep, and I was intrigued. The writing felt a but juvenile but it was good enough that I kept reading. The twists were small but surprising until the halfway mark and then they were earth shattering. The characters were mostly a bunch of wealthy jerks, and poor Dana, I liked her and related to her, wanted to know what happened to her and who was responsible. Who would set up such a sweet girl trying her best to fit in? And why?
The ending . . . was pretty underwhelming. I had guessed most of it and the rest was interesting but not terribly surprising. So, a bit of a let down but not too bad.
At first, Sam seemed like the culprit because he was just too perfect, too ready to jump in the deep end with Dana. And then his parents were introduced and it was easy to see where that came from. His mother, Evelyn, was so passive aggressively manipulative. Then I began to wonder if poor Dana was at the mercy of them both . . .
The mystery was thick, deep, and I was intrigued. The writing felt a but juvenile but it was good enough that I kept reading. The twists were small but surprising until the halfway mark and then they were earth shattering. The characters were mostly a bunch of wealthy jerks, and poor Dana, I liked her and related to her, wanted to know what happened to her and who was responsible. Who would set up such a sweet girl trying her best to fit in? And why?
The ending . . . was pretty underwhelming. I had guessed most of it and the rest was interesting but not terribly surprising. So, a bit of a let down but not too bad.
October 20, 2022
I enjoyed this read and will definitely read more of her books. 4* from me.
December 22, 2022
It was slow to begin with. It was somewhat repetitive. But it was interesting and I enjoyed it.
August 3, 2022
4.5 stars and so close to a 5
This is how you write a tense battle of wills. Right from the start you know things have gone horribly wrong for bride Dana……
Having no real family of her own she has perhaps rushed into marriage with Sam and living with future in-laws Harold and Evelyn. At times she screams desperate and I was urging her to leave the home of the crazy lady. It starts off with snide little comments and bringing in family friend Tamara to push her insecurities before escalating in accidents that could prove deadly. While meek, mild mannered or possibly hen pecked Harold hovers in the background doing as he’s told.
It is so well done and Evelyn is written to perfection as the mother in law from hell. Poor groom Sam is stuck in the middle loving both his mother and bride to be. I flew through this book itching to see how low Evelyn would stoop with the help of Tamara. I mean as if Tamara wearing a white dress to their wedding wasn’t bad enough! But when it goes back to before the wedding that seemed positively nice of her.
My only critique is the ending, which I understand gave the twist but I kind of hoped for a different outcome. But that’s just the twisted little reader I am!
This is how you write a tense battle of wills. Right from the start you know things have gone horribly wrong for bride Dana……
Having no real family of her own she has perhaps rushed into marriage with Sam and living with future in-laws Harold and Evelyn. At times she screams desperate and I was urging her to leave the home of the crazy lady. It starts off with snide little comments and bringing in family friend Tamara to push her insecurities before escalating in accidents that could prove deadly. While meek, mild mannered or possibly hen pecked Harold hovers in the background doing as he’s told.
It is so well done and Evelyn is written to perfection as the mother in law from hell. Poor groom Sam is stuck in the middle loving both his mother and bride to be. I flew through this book itching to see how low Evelyn would stoop with the help of Tamara. I mean as if Tamara wearing a white dress to their wedding wasn’t bad enough! But when it goes back to before the wedding that seemed positively nice of her.
My only critique is the ending, which I understand gave the twist but I kind of hoped for a different outcome. But that’s just the twisted little reader I am!
January 27, 2023
This is my first Karen King psychological thriller and it’s certainly not going to be my last.
After reading The Mother In Law, I’m now a fan.
Dana meets Sam.
They have a speedy romance.
Sam asks Dana to marry him.
Then she meets the future in laws
When the purchase of their new home falls through, Sam suggests moving in with his parents.
At first his mother Evelyn is sweet but fast becomes the mother in law from hell.
Accidents start to happen, mishaps begin and things go missing.
Then Dana overhears a argument between his folks.
Evelyn and his father Harold have secrets.
Will Dana make her wedding day alive or will the shocking truth destroy them all?
A quick, engaging read and a thrilling ride where things go from bad to worse quickly.
Very enjoyable and melodramatic filled with that satisfying ending.
Escapism read, smart writing, a tense plot, red herrings here and there, misfit characters, suspenseful atmosphere, it’s all here for your entertainment.
A family drama with twists and an unexpected ending.
After reading The Mother In Law, I’m now a fan.
Dana meets Sam.
They have a speedy romance.
Sam asks Dana to marry him.
Then she meets the future in laws
When the purchase of their new home falls through, Sam suggests moving in with his parents.
At first his mother Evelyn is sweet but fast becomes the mother in law from hell.
Accidents start to happen, mishaps begin and things go missing.
Then Dana overhears a argument between his folks.
Evelyn and his father Harold have secrets.
Will Dana make her wedding day alive or will the shocking truth destroy them all?
A quick, engaging read and a thrilling ride where things go from bad to worse quickly.
Very enjoyable and melodramatic filled with that satisfying ending.
Escapism read, smart writing, a tense plot, red herrings here and there, misfit characters, suspenseful atmosphere, it’s all here for your entertainment.
A family drama with twists and an unexpected ending.
June 3, 2022
psychological suspense novel that will make you never want to meet your future in laws. Plus this is a book that will make you second guess everyone , and will make you feel like everyone is out to get you right from the start as well make you wounder if what is happening really happening or if its all in Dana's mind. There was a few things I didn't like but just a few and they was how it kind of felt like Sam would make excuses for his mother .
February 12, 2023
This one was just OK for me and overall fell a bit short. Most of the characters in the story were either irritating or annoying, including Dana.
First off, the sheer number of red flags she ignored made her a bit of an unsympathetic character to me (aka, TSTL) including the fact that her fiance, Sam, was like 35 years old and fully capable of supporting himself yet still lived at home. This is explained towards the end of the book, but if anything, that made me dislike Sam even more for not believing Dana and almost gaslighting her when she had a series of strange accidents while they were living with his parents.
The fact that he says nothing when his mother just walks into his suite without even knocking, then blows off all of Dana's concerns, allows his mother and Tamara to plan the whole wedding and cut her out - all of this screams "terrible partner, do not marry this man!" yet Dana stupidly blows it all off because she loves him.
Even her BFF Lynne, who promises to always have her back thinks she is imagining things and making a big deal out of nothing. Let me tell you that if my friend told me that in the span of a few months after moving into her in-laws' house (who don't really approve of her and wanted a different woman for their DIL), she In short her BFF sucked.
There comes a point in the last 1/3 of the story when she suspects (major spoilers ahead)
All along, I kept waiting for Dana to grow a damn spine. I know that the setup with her childhood was intended to make her more emotionally vulnerable and hungry to be loved so she would be more prone to put up with certain things but it just wasn't enough for me. After every terrible thing that happened to her, she would basically say "that's ok, in x days, I'll be married and then everything will be fine". If ever there was a reason to call off a wedding, suspecting your in-laws may be trying to scare you off to the point of killing you and having your fiance blow things off should do it, but not for Dana.
The ending was not very satisfying. Major spoilers ahead!
First off, the sheer number of red flags she ignored made her a bit of an unsympathetic character to me (aka, TSTL) including the fact that her fiance, Sam, was like 35 years old and fully capable of supporting himself yet still lived at home. This is explained towards the end of the book, but if anything, that made me dislike Sam even more for not believing Dana and almost gaslighting her when she had a series of strange accidents while they were living with his parents.
The fact that he says nothing when his mother just walks into his suite without even knocking, then blows off all of Dana's concerns, allows his mother and Tamara to plan the whole wedding and cut her out - all of this screams "terrible partner, do not marry this man!" yet Dana stupidly blows it all off because she loves him.
Even her BFF Lynne, who promises to always have her back thinks she is imagining things and making a big deal out of nothing. Let me tell you that if my friend told me that in the span of a few months after moving into her in-laws' house (who don't really approve of her and wanted a different woman for their DIL), she In short her BFF sucked.
There comes a point in the last 1/3 of the story when she suspects (major spoilers ahead)
All along, I kept waiting for Dana to grow a damn spine. I know that the setup with her childhood was intended to make her more emotionally vulnerable and hungry to be loved so she would be more prone to put up with certain things but it just wasn't enough for me. After every terrible thing that happened to her, she would basically say "that's ok, in x days, I'll be married and then everything will be fine". If ever there was a reason to call off a wedding, suspecting your in-laws may be trying to scare you off to the point of killing you and having your fiance blow things off should do it, but not for Dana.
The ending was not very satisfying. Major spoilers ahead!
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