I kept putting reading this one off because there was always something else that grabbed my attention first. But when I finally cracked The Mother-in-Law open, I couldn't put it down! The story grabbed me immediately and I had to keep going to find out more about Lucy, Diana, and the complicated life of this family. The perspective switched back and forth from Lucy to Diana and from the past to present. The story gradually unfolds as you learn more about each women, their families, and their motivations. Who is the villian in this story? Is there one? As a new mother with a mother-in-law of my own, there was so much that I could relate to here from Lucy's side. I think a lot of us have the mother-in-law who has good intentions that aren't always communicated in the best way. This was a fantastic story and I can't wait to see what else Sally Hepworth has under her belt.

When scrolling through the reviews for <I>The Mother-in-Law</i>, it's hard not to notice the high amount of 5 stars that readers have given it. It has moved to the top of many people's favorite book list. I was excited to read this not only because of the reviews but because I am a fan of the author's previous books.

I went into this with high expectations and was a bit surprised while reading that people held it with such high regards. Sally Hepworth has such a talent for telling a story. She is capable of using different point of views from multiple characters all while telling the story for past and present time frames. And it is not at all confusing. The transitions are very smooth and natural.

In regards to the actual storyline for <I>The Mother-in-Law</i>, I'm at a bit of a crossroads. Ultimately we have a story on greed and the personal translation of a mother's love. The characters you are meant to dislike, I definitely disliked. The characters you were meant to like, I immediately liked. And the characters that you were meant to warm up to eventually, I definitely grew to understand and appreciate.

This story isn't a thriller or a whodunit in the sense of a murder mystery. It tells the story of a family that had it all, but who were taught to work for what they wanted. As children this made sense, but as adults, the thought of having an inheritance spurred certain decisions in their lives. But money isn't everything...

I would certainly recommend this book for the excellent writing and storytelling that Sally Hepworth is capable of.

Lucy was just like every other bride when she first got married. She envisioned a happy life with her new husband Oliver. However, his mother Diana treated Lucy with such contempt that it soon became apparent that things would not always be rosy with Lucy's marriage to Oliver. Diana was all but an icon, and Lucy would do anything to please her. In fact, she actually would like to be just like her. However, she was never afforded that opportunity.

Ten years pass, and Lucy's difficult relationship with Diana never got any better. Shockingly, Diana has been found dead and there was a suicide note. As soon as the autopsy is done, however, it is clear that Diana was suffocated. So, what happened? Who killed her?

This intriguing story is delivered in dual points of view. We get that of Lucy, and then also, Diana. What was interesting is how Diana's view was played throughout the pages of this book. This read was full of twists and turns as secrets were revealed, layer by layer, and this allowed the reader to slowly discover who the killer was.

An interesting fact about this book is the genres that it falls in. It is listed as a mystery/thriller but also a women's fiction. No doubt that is due to the dynamics explored with this family. I think it was done rather well.

However, I still managed to be surprised at the outcome. I love convoluted stories that can manage to shock me and that deliver a powerful conclusion. I enjoyed this book by Sally Hepworth and look forward to reading her previous titles, as well as whatever she has in store for the future.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book.

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth and my favorite aspect of the story we’re the dynamics and relationships between the characters. I’ve heard good things about her other novel, The Family Next Door, and have since added it to my need to read list.

The story is told through chapters by alternating perspectives of the mother in law and her daughter in law, which I loved seeing, and occurs both in the present and glimpses in the past. As I mentioned initially, my favorite aspect is the relationships and how the characters (especially the mother/daughter in law) played out, they were very relatable and really helped bring the characters to life. Without revealing too much of the plot, there’s also a mystery intertwined in the story as well. This was a fast and fun read and I’ll definitely be
checking out some of Hepworth’s previous novels.

Told mainly through the eyes of two women as the story traverses the past and the present. Diana (mother-in-law) is a force of assertive fortitude. Lucy having lost her mother early in life, hopes to build a close relationship with Diana. It's a gradual revelation of undercurrents of repressed hopes, desires, dreams and misconceptions.

Though the book is a mystery, I was more interested in the M-I-L / D-I-L dynamic that existed. Some might find Diana a difficult character. However I found her complex and sympathetic, a woman forged by life experience. For the right or wrong of it, I believe she had the best of intentions and love for her family. I found her to be the most compelling character in the book.

The book was well written. The author is new to me, and I will be looking out for more of her work.

Oh boy....Mother-in-law's! Sometimes they get a bad rep.....if you have a mother in law that you like (consider yourself lucky!)

What an great story. I finished reading it within 1 day. From the very first sentence it pulls you in and you don't want to put it down. I found myself flying through the pages. I really enjoyed the multiple POV story-telling that the author uses to show the different characters thoughts and interpretations of each other's actions. At first I wasn't a fan of Diana's but by the end of the story, she was my favorite. I loved to watch Diana and Lucy's relationship evolve..it really was amazing. The characters were well developed and I felt like I knew them (personally) by the end of it. I would definitely recommend this book....even if you LOVE (or HATE) your mother-in-law.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Thoughtful, raw and touching. All wrapped up in a solid domestic mystery.
Loved it!

Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors :)

ARC provided by NetGalley

Normally I find books written like this, alternating between past and present, and different voices hard to read.. The Mother-in-Law proved otherwise. It's expertly written plot and background stories only added to the flow of the book and allowed me to see both sides of marrying into a family. The daughter-in-law who can't wait to be embraced into the family and the mother-in-law whose past defines her and puts roadblocks in the way. This definitely plays into the old saying "The are two sides to every story". You were fully prepared to hate Lucy's mother-in-law, but as you see her life played out, you grow to understand and appreciate Diana, and her stoic presence. Mental illness is no joke, so I found the ending particularly sad in the way it played out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

Don't you love a deliciously good thriller in the summer months? I have a feeling if you are a Liane Moriarty fan that you will adore The Mother-In-Law this year.

It's no secret that the mother-in-law gets a bad rap sometimes in literature.  Hepworth though carves a marvelously complex character for her mother-in-law and builds all of these twists and tensions, among her family members, in a way that garners empathy for her role in the family.

Lucy knows right away that she is not the wife that Diana has envisioned for her son.  Lucy struggles with the distance that Diana seems to create within them, despite her charitable spirit and working tirelessly for others as an advocate for female refugees. 

When Diana unexpectedly dies of suicide, her family is surprised, but also realizes that her cancer diagnosis may have just been too much for her.

The problem?

The autopsy shows that she never had cancer, but the body does show traces of poison and evidence of suffocation.

Diana's complex relationships really come into play as you try to piece together what has happened. Told in alternating points of view, through past and present, you realize just how many people had a motive in Diana's death and how many layers she really did have to her own personal story.

I couldn't put this one down and would recommend it for a strong thriller that genuinely delivers on those complex thriller plot twists. Fans of The Other Woman, in particular, are sure to enjoy this one!

Please note, the review will appear in our June Reviews on June 1st. through the provided link!

Loved loved love. Easy read, intriguing storylines, good twist and just a fun book inside the twisted dynamics of family relations. Really enjoyed.

The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth

Brief Summary: You get to choose your partner but not your mother in law. Diana always made Lucy feel like she didn’t measure up. Diana is a community socialite but then she is found dead with a suicide note; despite evidence of suffocation and everyone is a suspect.

Highlights: This book is brilliantly written in a way many women will relate to aspects of Lucy and Diana’s up and down relationship and feeling unsure if they measure up. In this page turning family drama, I loved that the layers kept peeling back. I had so many different theories that and the turns just kept coming. I finished this in two days; it’s a clear your schedule read. This could be many families that I know. I don’t remember another character that I hated and understood at the same time. I don’t want to give any spoilers but the circumstances around the suicide and the ALS tie in were very well done.

What makes this book unique? This is not your typical mother in law/daughter in laws relationship. It brought me many different emotions. But the twists are just so marvelous and totally kept me guessing!

Explanation of Rating: 5/5 I could not give this enough stars. One of my favorite books this year!

This is a great book club or vacation read! And may make you appreciate your mother in law! I’m eagerly anticipating the next read from Sally Hepworth!


Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Here are my pros and cons:

Pros

- The book is told from alternating points-of-view (primarily Lucy and Diana’s POV) and switches between the past to present. The alternating POVs and timelines seemed a bit choppy at first, but eventually melded together nicely.
- All of the background stories, particularly for Diana, were very well done. Diana is clearly the “bad guy” in this story – at least from the viewpoint of her family – but as a reader you find out details about why she is the way she is. The fact that she never really explains to her family why she behaves the way she does is the truly sad part about the book. No one understands Diana. Right or wrong, she has values that are solidly formed from her life experience. She, however, doesn’t share the reasons for her actions or explain her values very well to her family. I felt sorry for Diana and I felt sorry for her family. The way the story is written you almost feel a bit voyeuristic – you get to know the details that others in the story do not know. This in turn makes the reader empathize with all the characters. At least I did. There are always two sides to every story.
- I just kept thinking to myself – I wish they would just talk to each other! The walls these characters put up around themselves – particularly Diana – were high and strong. Sadly, those walls blocked all chances for communication, affection, and understanding within the family. I liked the way the author wrote Diana – she wasn’t really wrong with regard to anything she said or did. She was just wrong for never explaining herself, even when asked.
- I’m feeling a bit repetitive here, but I think the author did a really good job with the Diana character. You will really dislike her, but you also feel sorry for her. It is absolutely great character development when you love and hate a character at the same time.
- I did not expect the ending. Kudos to the author on that as well, because I tend to figure out the plot in most books I read.

Cons

- Some of the story felt a little bit preachy to me.
- I liked the back and forth POVs and the various time periods, but I would have liked a little more story about relationship between Diana and her daughter-in-law. I just felt like I didn’t quite get enough… perhaps there should have been a scene where Lucy tried to get Diana to talk about her past or something? There were opportunities for this, but Lucy usually backed off when she was around Diana in general.

Summary
I really liked this book, but it was truly heartbreaking when all is said and done. It is terrible to watch families suffer because someone hides something or refuses to engage. This book is a great example of what can happen in that situation.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy's mother-in-law has been found dead, and the question is: who killed her? or did she kill herself?

The mother-in-law in question is Diana, and surprisingly, there are quite a few people who would benefit from her death and who might have a motive to kill her. Diana is not everyone's cup of tea, least of all her own childrens', because she believes in tough love and despite having financial means, she does not believe in helping her children out with their respective problems by writing them a check.

This book is told in alternating chapters by Lucy and Diana and goes back and forth in time. I can honestly say I did not know who was to blame until the very end of the book. I really liked how the book slowly uncovers the reasons for Diana's strange parenting style, and as usual, things are not always as they seem.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes domestic suspense novels.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for this honest review!**

Hepworth challenges the notion of who makes a good mother in law in her latest novel. Lucy never felt accepted by Diana, her husband’s mother. From their very first meeting, which was fraught with misunderstanding and unmet expectations, Lucy and Diana do not seem to see eye to eye or communicate well during Lucy’s entire marriage with Ollie. After learning of Diana’s death, the family has to figure out how to move forward; while they do so, secrets and revelations emerge that change the trajectory of their lives. The story is told in their two voices, in both the past and present. This insight is valuable and lays the groundwork for the exciting conclusion.

Oh my, this was extremely engaging and was nearly impossible to stop reading! I did NOT expect the ending that occurred, which is a great sign of a good mystery! I found the interactions between the family members to be both relatable and genuine. I highly recommend this book!

Holy cow!! What a ride! When Lucy's mother-in-law is found dead, it doesn't completely seem like she committed suicide, was someone else involved? Diana and Lucy's relationship was terribly bumpy, but then again, it seems like there are several people that could want to do Diana harm. I have never read a Sally Hepworth before, but I will definitely pick up more. She's an incredible writer!

The Mother-in-Law, by Sally Hepworth, was one of the most enjoyable and well-written books I have read this year. I raced through it, and I was sorry to get to the last page. Part family drama, part mystery, the story centers on the characters and relationship of the two women at its core. The mother/daughter-in-law relationship is often challenging, as many of us know. Like so many others, these two complex people try to connect, trip over their past, fumble good-hearted attempts, retreat into alienated silence, all in an attempt to achieve understanding. More than one person dies, and the motives of several are suspected as possible culprits.

Hepworth is a master of both character and plot definition. The two main characters sparkle as unique individuals, each shaped by her personal history and a particular view of the present. Each chapter is narrated by one of the main characters and moves seamlessly from past to present. A few times I was so immersed I did not notice that a new chapter had begun and was momentarily confused by the change in narrator.

Sally Hepworth is a new author to me. I highly recommend this novel. I cannot wait to read her other works. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was lucky enough to also win a Goodreads giveaway. It allowed me to get to know the author and identify her other novels.

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Sarah Joint
Sarah Joint's Reviews > The Mother-in-Law
The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
The Mother-in-Law
by Sally Hepworth (Goodreads Author)
19758811
Sarah Joint's review May 09, 2019 · edit
it was amazing

I had a lukewarm response to a book I read from this author before, but this one really defied expectations. I couldn't get through it fast enough, but then I had that sad, empty feeling when it was over that we're all familiar with. Not because it wasn't great, but that it was over.

Lucy lost her own mother some time ago, and she was determined to have an amazing relationship with her mother-in-law. After all, she loves her son and will provide what she's sure is much longed for grandbabies. That has to be enough to endear her to the matriarch of the family, right? ...Not so much. Diana is standoffish and almost cold. She's often rude and doesn't seem to even realize it. She is not an affectionate person, or even a very kind one. Which seems odd, because she does a lot of charity work and seems to genuinely care about the people she helps who don't have much.

Ten years later, Diana is dead. She's left a note that points to suicide, but the police aren't buying it. They are hovering around the family, asking a whole lot of questions. Diana and Lucy never had the relationship Lucy dreamed of, but she certainly wouldn't have hurt her... right? And if not her, who would?

I LOVED the different POVs in this book. The whole family has an interesting dynamic, and it's so fascinating to take a look at the same situations from different points of view so we can understand what went right and what went wrong: how a small slight or misunderstanding can create such a chasm when not resolved.

Genuinely surprising and engrossing, I was a big fan of this read. The character of Diana was really unique, and such fun to read. 4.5 stars from me for this domestic suspense/drama that remains unpredictable until the very end.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you! This in no way affects my opinion.

I enjoyed this very much. The cover and author had attracted me initially, but once I began to read, I just became immersed and enjoyed it to the end.

This story tells of a growing love between a mother in law and daughter in law. A bond of mutual respect grows, but is it too late for them to become friends?